History
of the
Independent American Party

Ezra T. Benson, former Secretary of Agriculture, gave a speech entitled "The Proper Role of Government".  He said, "As an independent American for Constitutional government I declare that:", then listed, "Fifteen Principles which make for good and proper government".  The party name came from this speech.  We hope to attract those of an INDEPENDENT MIND who have a love for America and a belief in our divine destiny.  The fifteen points stated by former Secretary Benson provided the basis for our initial platform.

The national Independent American Party (IAP) is an indirect creation of the Utah Independent American Party. It was formally created May 27, 1998. 

Prior to that date, the Utah party at its state convention on May 16, 1998 voted by straw vote in favor of forming a new national party. Consequently, the state Executive Committee formed a National Organizing Committee of six with a commission to form the national IAP.  On November 7, 1998 the Utah IAP formally affiliated with the national IAP.

In January 1999 the national IAP began holding semi-annual National Conferences. The national chairman attended a number of state and national conventions of other like-minded third parties across the nation to build ties.  Our web site (launched in September 1998) flourished and we attracted individual members in about forty states.

In 2000 Howard Phillips (of Virginia and presidential nominee of the Constitution Party) and Earl Dodge (of Colorado and presidential nominee of the Prohibition Party) both sought the IAP nomination. Mr. Phillips subsequently won the IAP presidential nomination and Curtis Frazier (of Missouri) was the vice presidential nominee.

In 2001 the national party grew from one state party (Utah) to three organized state parties (Minnesota, Tennessee and Utah) and twelve prospective state parties.  Area Coordinators were assigned to each of four regions of the country.  

In 2002 the party fielded several candidates of its own in Tennessee and Minnesota; and "adopted" a host of like-minded candidates from the Constitution and Reform Parties in a number of other states. The IAP adopted its first National Platform in August.  The party ended the year with three organized and 18 prospective state parties.

In 2003 the party changed the structure of its officer positions (from the traditional Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) and elected a Chair and several Vice Chairs.  The party made tentative plans for the 2004 presidential election, and considered the possibility of nominating its own presidential candidate, co-nominating a presidential candidate with another third party, or adopting (endorsing) the presidential candidate of another party.

In 2004 the party did not have ballot status in any state, so members were encouraged to run as candidates in other like-minded parties. At the July National Conference, the National Committee unanimously endorsed Michael A. Peroutka for President, Chuck Baldwin for Vice President, and a host of candidates for other offices. Peroutka and Baldwin were the Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees of the Constitution Party.

In 2005 the IAP switched its National Conferences from Winter and Summer to Spring and Fall, and held new officer elections in April.

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The Utah Independent American Party was formed in 1993 by several individuals who wanted to form a truly conservative party. Initially, the Utah IAP had no national party to affiliate with. In 1995 they decided to affiliate with the national American Party (AP). 

In 1998 the Utah IAP held state conventions in February, May and November at which they debated whether to remain affiliated with the national American Party, affiliate with the national US Taxpayers Party (later renamed Constitution Party), or form and affiliate with a national Independent American Party.  

At the May convention, they resolved that a national IAP ought to be formed. At the November convention, they voted in a binding vote of 79% to affiliate with the new national IAP.