1996 Natural Law National Convention

United States political event June 2026 1996 1992 2000 Natural Law John S. Hagelin.jpg Presidential nominee (Hagelin) August 21–24, 1996 Mayflower Hotel Washington, D.C. John Hagelin Iowa Mike Tompkins Massachusetts ~250 The 1996 Natural Law National Convention was held August 21–24, 1996, in Washington, D.C. It functioned both a presidential nominating convention as well as the annual conference of the Natural Law Party, a third party which advocated Transcendental Meditation. At the convention, party founder John Hagelin was formally nominated for president in the 1996 United States presidential election, with Mike Tompkins nominated as his vice presidential running mate. Logistics thumb|Mayflower Hotel, which was the venue of the convention The convention was held August 21–24Campaign Calendar https://www.newspapers.com/image/574798722 Newspapers.com subscription The Spokesman-Review August 10, 2026 August 11, 1996 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.Tompkins Mike On the Vision of the Natural Law Party https://www.newspapers.com/image/980657939 Newspapers.com subscription News and Messenger August 10, 2026 5 October 14, 196 The convention marked the party's second presidential nominating convention, with the party having only been started in 1992. In addition to being a presidential convention, the convention also served as an iteration of the Natural Law Party's annual conference. In the 1996 United States elections, the party was poised to run as many as 700 or 1,000 candidates for various offices.The Natural Law Party https://www.democracynow.org/1996/8/22/the_natural_law_party Democracy Now! June 18, 2026 en August 22, 1996 It ultimately ran more than 400, who cumulatively received more than 2 million votes in the 1996 United States elections.AllPolitics - Natural Law Party https://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/gen/resources/pol.parties/natural.law.html CNN August 10, 2026 The convention occurred in the week between the conclusion of the 1996 Reform National Convention and the start of the 1996 Democratic National Convention.Roache Marlo Party Charts Novel Course; The Natural Law Party Wants to Avoid Partisan Bickers and Special-Interest Donations https://www.newspapers.com/image/1249623056 Newspapers.com subscription Sarasota Herald-Tribune August 10, 2026 56 August 22, 1996 The convention was described as a "modest affair that drew a few hundred to a downtown ballroom." It featured approximately 250 delegates.Natural Law Party Opens Convention https://www.newspapers.com/image/891427253 Newspapers.com subscription Omaha World-Herald August 10, 2026 10 August 22, 1996In Washington https://www.newspapers.com/image/1146859217 Newspapers.com subscription USA Today August 10, 2026 4 August 23, 1996 In addition to party business, it also featured seminars on subjects such as healthcare. Nominations The included the formal nomination of the party's 1996 presidential ticket, voted on during the convention's second day. As was anticipated, the convention nominated the same ticket that the party had run four years earlier, with physics professor and party founder John Hagelin as its presidential nominee and scientist Mike Tompkins as its vice presidential nominee. This ticket was broadly anticipated, and had been treated as the party's presumptive nominees in advance of the convention.1996 California Voter Information: Natural Law Party https://vigarchive.sos.ca.gov/1996/primary/party/naturallaw.htm vigarchive.sos.ca.gov August 10, 2026 1996 Both nominees were employees of the public policy think tank at the Maharishi University of Management.The New Politics of Meditation Natural Law Party Aims To Be On Ballot for U.S. Presidency https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1996/rt9603/960319/03190092.htm scholar.lib.vt.edu The Associated Press Roanoke Times August 10, 2026 March 19, 1996 Platform A party platform was adopted at the convention. The party's main distinguishing position was its advocacy of Transcendental Meditation, which received numerous mentions in the party's 1996 platform.1996 Natural Law Party Platform Draft Copy https://janda.org/politxts/PartyPlatforms/OtherParties/natural.996.html janda.org August 10, 2026 June 1996 References Natural Law Party Natural Law National Convention Category:Natural Law Party Natural Law National Convention Category:United States presidential nominating conventions in Washington, D.C.