John Hospers - Definition and Overview

John Hospers (born 9 June 1918) was the first presidential candidate of the United States Libertarian Party, running in the 1972 presidential election. He and his vice-presidential running mate, Theodora Nathan, received one electoral vote from Roger MacBride, a Republican elector from Virginia.

Following his unsuccessful presidential campaign, Hospers also ran for governor of California as a Libertarian in 1974.

Hospers earned advanced degrees from the University of Iowa and Columbia University and taught in the fields of philosophy and aesthetics. Early in his career he taught philosophy at Brooklyn College and at California State University, Los Angeles. He is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California.

Hospers was an editor of Liberty magazine. He endorsed George W. Bush for president in 2004.