Henry D. Irwin (October 22, 1917 – September 3, 1988) was aRepublicanpresidential elector (fromOklahoma) for the1960 U.S. presidential election who became a "faithless elector" when he declined to vote as pledged.
In the 1960 presidential election, Irwin, who had been pledged to vote for then-Vice PresidentRichard Nixon (ofCalifornia) andSenatorHenry Cabot Lodge Jr. (ofMassachusetts), instead cast his presidential electoral ballot forHarry F. Byrd who was aconservative Democratic Senator fromVirginia. Unlike other electors who voted for Byrd for president, Irwin cast his vice presidential electoral vote forArizona Republican SenatorBarry Goldwater. Irwin later admitted in an interview withCBS that he "could not stomach" Nixon.[1]
Irwin made a public effort to attempt to convince his fellow Republican presidential electors to also change their votes. After the November 1960 presidential election, Irwin sent out the followingtelegram addressed to the other 219 Republican electors:
I am Oklahoma Republican elector. The Republican electors cannot deny the election toKennedy. Sufficient conservative Democratic electors available to deny laborSocialist nominee. Would you consider Byrd President, Goldwater Vice President, or wire any acceptable substitute. All replies strict confidence.[1]
Irwin received about 40 replies from other electors but all of the other pledged electors voted as pledged.[1] He claimed that national and state party officials knew of his plan though then-Oklahoma Republican chairHenry Bellmon stated that Irwin acted completely on his own. Irwin would be subpoenaed by aSenate committee to testify about his electoral vote after refusing an initial invitation.[2]
Also in the 1960 presidential election, 14unpledged electors (eight fromMississippi and six fromAlabama) cast their presidential votes for Byrd. However, none of them voted for Goldwater as vice president, instead giving their second vote to SenatorStrom Thurmond ofSouth Carolina.
Oklahoma voters had passed an amendment to theOklahoma Constitution in the summer of 1960 to allow the state parties to choose their own electors in presidential elections rather than allowing individuals to run inprimary elections for presidential electors (Irwin was unopposed in his 1960 primary). The state later passed a law that would fine electors if they did not vote for their party's nominee in the election.[2]
Irwin, born on October 22, 1917, in Oklahoma,[3] was a 1941West Point graduate, a graduate student at theUniversity of Tulsa, and an engineer for thePhillips Petroleum Company. While at the University of Tulsa, he advocated for the creation of aConstitution Party.[2]
He was married to Elizabeth J. Phillips, granddaughter ofFrank Phillips, the founder of the Phillips Petroleum Company. They owned houses inBartlesville, Oklahoma,New York City, andConnecticut but also bought a run down castle inIreland and refurbished it "Castlefergus" Ballyhannon, Quin in County Clare. Later in life, he attempted to promote his plans fornuclear-powered aircraft to the U.S. Senate. After divorcing Phillips in 1979, Irwin receivedalimony, the first man to be awarded it inNew York State following the 1979Orr v. Orr decision.[4] Irwin died on September 3, 1988, inSouthbury, Connecticut.[3]