In 1972 Roger MacBride, a Virginia elector for Richard Nixon, voted instead for John Hospers of the Libertarian Party.1 For vice president he voted for Hospers's running mate, Theodora (Tonie) Nathan, rather than Spiro Agnew.2 That vote made Nathan the first woman in American history to receive an electoral vote.3 The National Archives table for 1972 records one presidential vote for Hospers and one vice presidential vote for Theodora Nathan.4
MacBride, an author and former legislator, had been elected on the Republican slate.5 Electors who vote this way are commonly called faithless electors.6 Nathan was a radio-television producer in Eugene, Oregon, when she attended the first presidential nominating convention of the Libertarian Party in 1972.7 She was chosen to run with Hospers, a philosophy professor, and their ticket received only 3,671 official votes.8
MacBride ran as the Libertarian candidate for president in the next election but did not receive any electoral votes.9
Spiro T. Agnew resigned as Vice President October 10, 1973. He was succeeded by Gerald R. Ford. Richard M. Nixon resigned as President August 9, 1974. He was succeeded by Gerald R. Ford. V.P. Ford was succeeded by Nelson A. Rockefeller.
National Archives, Electoral College results for 1972, archives.gov, read October 3, 2026. Quoted as published.
Sources for each sentence
Each numbered entry quotes the words that support that sentence, as they appear on the linked page.
- Back to sentence 1
Roger MacBride, a Virginia elector for Richard M. Nixon (R), voted for John Hospers of the Libertarian Party
everycrsreport.com/reports/RL30804.html - Back to sentence 2
Virginia elector Roger L. MacBride chose to vote for Hospers and Nathan rather than Nixon and Agnew
cato.org/blog/rip-tonie-nathan-first-woman-receive-electoral-vote Theodora (Tonie) Nathan, the 1972 Libertarian Party vice presidential nominee
cato.org/blog/rip-tonie-nathan-first-woman-receive-electoral-vote - Back to sentence 3
thus making Nathan the first woman in American history to receive an electoral vote.
cato.org/blog/rip-tonie-nathan-first-woman-receive-electoral-vote (making Nathan the first woman to receive an electoral vote).
archive.fairvote.org/?page=973 - Back to sentence 4
V.P. Opponents R. Sargent Shriver (17), Theodora Nathan (1)
archives.gov/electoral-college/1972 Votes for Others John Hospers (1) Vice President Spiro T. Agnew (520)
archives.gov/electoral-college/1972 - Back to sentence 5
MacBride, an author and former legislator, had been elected on the Republican slate.
cato.org/blog/rip-tonie-nathan-first-woman-receive-electoral-vote - Back to sentence 6
"faithless electors" have voted for presidential and vice presidential candidates other than those to whom they were pledged
everycrsreport.com/reports/RL30804.html - Back to sentence 7
Tonie Nathan was a radio-television producer in Eugene, Ore., when she attended the first presidential nominating convention of the Libertarian Party in 1972.
cato.org/blog/rip-tonie-nathan-first-woman-receive-electoral-vote - Back to sentence 8
She was selected to run for vice president with presidential candidate and philosophy professor John Hospers. Although the ticket received only 3,671 official votes
cato.org/blog/rip-tonie-nathan-first-woman-receive-electoral-vote - Back to sentence 9
MacBride ran as the Libertarian candidate for president in the next election but did not receive any electoral votes.
archive.fairvote.org/?page=973
Sources checked on October 3, 2026
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