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T.H.R.O. records, 1974-2002, bulk 1990-1993, 1998-2002

 

Summary

Creator:
Gargan, John Joseph (1930-)
Abstract:
This collection contains correspondence and other political papers of the Throw the Hypocritical Rascals Out (T.H.R.O.), which was started by Jack Gargan in 1991 and organized reform-minded Americans together.  Contents of this collection include the national Reform Party's tumultuous transition into the 21st Century, as infighting between Jesse Ventura, Ross Perot, and Patrick Buchanan resulted in the implosion of the party.
Extent:
7.50 Linear Feet
8 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

T.H.R.O. Records, USF Libraries - Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains correspondence and other political papers of the Throw the Hypocritical Rascals Out (T.H.R.O.), which was started by Jack Gargan in 1991 and organized reform-minded Americans together. T.H.R.O. traveled the country, took out television ads, and Gargan began attempting to "draft" Ross Perot. T.H.R.O. began to wind down in 1993, while United We Stand America (WUSA) began to generate noise. In 1995 the Reform Party was formed. Some of the materials in this collection deal with the Independence Party, some of which affiliated and combined with the national Reform Party after its creation.

Contents of this collection include the national Reform Party's tumultuous transition into the 21st century, as infighting between Jesse Ventura, Ross Perot, and Patrick Buchanan resulted in the implosion of the party.

Biographical / historical:

Longtime insurance agent and financial consultant John "Jack" Gargan became involved in politics in 1990, funding a series of newspaper ads sharing his anger ("I'm Mad as Hell...") over the federal government's heavy spending and lack of individual accountability in politics. He founded a loose organization called T.H.R.O. (Throw the Hypocritical Rascals Out) that became a rallying point for a wide variety of political malcontents. Because Gargan remained indiependent form either major political party, his supporters came from both sides of the political aisle. In the early 1990s, his ads attracted the attention of Ross Perot, who ran for president in 1992 and 1996 under the banner of the Reform Party. Gargan joined the Reform Party leadership at a time of transition and conflict in the party. As fast as he climbed that hierarchy, he fell from it in 2000. In Florida, he ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1998 and 2002. He spoke at the Libertarian National Convention in 2000. He wrote books on how to avoid paying income and estate taxes. Disgusted with political gridlock and the runaway deficit, Gargan left the U.S. for Thailand in 2005, anticipating the financial crash of 2008.

Note written by A. Huse

Acquisition information:

Jack Gargan

Donation

Processing information:

Processed

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Politicians
Names:
Reform Party (U.S.)
Places:
Florida -- Politics and government

Access and use

Terms of access:

None. The contents of the collection may be subject to copyright.  Visit the United States Copyright Office's website at http://www.copyright.gov/ for more information.

Preferred citation:

T.H.R.O. Records, USF Libraries - Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

Location of this collection:
The University of South Florida, Tampa Campus
4202 East Fowler Ave. LIB122
Tampa
FL
33620-5400
USA