David Bergland

David Peter Bergland (June 4, 1935 – June 3, 2019) was an American politician who was the United States Libertarian Party's nominee for President of the United States in the 1984 presidential election,[1][2][3][4] and also served twice as the Chair of the Libertarian National Committee.

David Bergland
4th and 12th Chair of the Libertarian National Committee
In office 1998–2000
Preceded by	Steve Dasbach
Succeeded by	Jim Lark
In office 1977–1981
Preceded by	Ed Crane
Succeeded by	Alicia Clark
Personal details
Born	David Peter Bergland June 4, 1935 Mapleton, Iowa, U.S.
Died	June 3, 2019 (aged 83)
Political party	Libertarian
Spouse(s)	Sharon Ayres
Alma mater	Long Beach City College University of California, Los Angeles University of Southern California

Background

Bergland was born June 4, 1935 in Mapleton, Iowa, the son of Gwendolyn (née McCalman) and Cedores P. Bergland.[5]

Political campaigns and activities

A resident of California and a lawyer, Bergland ran unsuccessfully for office several times, always as a Libertarian.[6] In 1974, he ran as a write-in candidate for California Attorney General.[6] In 1978, Bergland ran for the California state senate district 36, receiving 5.8% of the vote to finish third out of the three candidates on the ballot.[7]

Bergland received the party's vice-presidential nomination in the 1976 presidential election, sharing the ticket with Roger MacBride.[8] The MacBride/Bergland ticket received 172,553 votes (0.2%).

He served as the party's national chair from 1977 to 1981, and from 1998 to 2000.

In 1980, Bergland ran for the United States Senate, finishing third of five with 202,410 votes (2.4%).

Bergland received the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination in the 1984 presidential election. He and his running mate, Jim Lewis, received 228,111 (0.3%).[6]

He managed the 2000 Libertarian presidential campaign of Harry Browne. Bergland endorsed the Free State Project in January 2006.[9]

Views

In the 1980s Bergland wrote a book entitled, Libertarianism in One Lesson (ISBN 0-9754326-4-8).[10] The book explained the libertarian philosophy and touched on issues including the government as a nature of coercion, how libertarianism developed in America and how it is different from both liberalism and conservatism, the contention that taxation is theft, support of a foreign policy of non-intervention, free trade with other countries, gun rights, and criminal justice reform, opposition to drug and alcohol prohibition, public education, and Social Security.[11]

Death

Bergland died on June 3, 2019, one day short of his 84th birthday, of prostate cancer.[12][6]

References

1. David Bergland - Libertarian Archived April 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Advocates for Self-Government
2. Greiner, John (April 9, 1984). "United Sovereign, Libertarian Votes Pursued in State". Retrieved June 6, 2019.
3. Reid, T.R. (September 4, 1983). "Libertarians Pick Candidate For President". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
4. Goodman, Walter (September 28, 1984). "Libertarian Asking Less Government". The New York Times. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
5. Havel, James T. (1996). The candidates: Volume 1 of U.S. Presidential Candidates and the Elections: A Biographical and Historical Guide. Macmillan Library Reference USA. p. 43.
6. Doherty, Brian (June 7, 2019). "David Bergland, R.I.P." Reason.com. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
7. "JoinCalifornia - 11-07-1978 Election". JoinCalifornia.com.
8. Associated Press (June 15, 1976). "Libertarian Party Confirms Its Presidential Campaign". The New York Times. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
9. "David Bergland's endorsement of the Free State Project". Archived from the original on 2004-10-11. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
10. Hill, A. J. (February 9, 1997). "On Libertarians". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
11. "LIBERTARIANISM IN ONE LESSON By David Bergland Fifth Edition 1990 ..." DocSlides. June 21, 2016.
12. Winger, Richard (June 4, 2019). "David Bergland, RIP: 1984 Libertarian Party Candidate for President". Ballot Access News. Retrieved June 5, 2019.

External links

• Downloadable audio interview with Free Talk Live
• Appearances on C-SPAN (David Bergland)
• Appearances on C-SPAN (Dave Bergland)