They wanted to be President of the United States
Despite the Curse of Tecumseh, more than a dozen prominent Americans ran for the U.S. presidency in the year 2000. Here’s a list of the major-party entrants.
Democrats
Bill Bradley (dropped out on 9 March 2000): Former Princeton and New York Knicks basketball star, former U.S. senator from New Jersey. Has considered running before, but this is the first time he has actually tossed his hat in the ring.
Al Gore: Former senator from Tennessee and U.S. vice president since 1993. Son of longtime Tennessee senator Albert Gore, Sr. Powerful party connections. Gore was named the Democratic Party candidate in August of 2000 and choseJoe Lieberman as his running mate.
Republicans
Lamar Alexander (dropped out on 16 August 1999): Former Education secretary under George Bush, former governor of Tennessee. This was his second try for the presidency; he also ran in 1996. He ended his candidacy after a poor showing in the first Iowa straw poll.
Gary Bauer (dropped out on 4 February 2000): Conservative activist and former Reagan administration advisor; head of the powerful Family Research Council. His first run at the presidency.
George W. Bush: Governor of Texas since 1994. Powerful pedigree: son of former president George W. Bush (1989-93), brother of Florida governor Jeb Bush. First time running for president. Bush was named the GOP candidate at the party convention in August, 2000, and chose Dick Cheney as his running mate.
Elizabeth Dole (dropped out on 20 October 1999): Her first run for president. Served as Secretary of Transporation (Reagan administration) and of Labor (Bush administration). Her husband, former Senator Bob Dole, was the GOP nominee in 1996. The GOP’s first prominent female presidential candidate.
Steve Forbes (dropped out on 10 February 2000): Also a candidate in 1996. Wealthy son of the late publisherMalcolm Forbes.
John Kasich (dropped out on 14 July 1999): Ohio congressman since 1982 and chairman of the House Budget Committee; called “hyperkinetic” by the Washington Post.Kasich never formally declared himself a candidate; he formed an exploratory committee but then gave up the race in July of 1999.
Alan Keyes (dropped out on 25 July 2000): Former Reagan administration official and radio talk show host. He also ran for president in 1996.
John McCain (suspended campaign on 9 March 2000): Former POW and sitting senator from Arizona. His first run for the presidency.
Dan Quayle (dropped out on 27 September 1999): Former representative and senator from Indiana. Vice Presidentunder George Bush from 1989-1993. First run at the presidency.
Other
Pat Buchanan: former Nixon aide, former Reagan advisor, longtime TV political commentator. Ran for president in 1992 and 1996; in the latter year he won the New Hampshire primary. Buchanan began the 2000 race as a GOP candidate, but on October 25, 1999 he announced that he was leaving the Republican party to seek the nomination from the Reform Party. He won the nomination at a contentious Reform convention, but won less than 1% of the popular vote on Election Day.
Bob Smith (dropped out on 28 October 1999): Senator from New Hampshire since 1990; formerly a state and US representative. His first run at the presidency. Smith started the race as a Republican, but in July 1999 declared he would leave the GOP and run as an independent. He gave up the race in October 1999, saying he couldn’t raise enough money to mount an effective campaign.
Donald Trump (changed his mind at some point): A billionaire real estate developer and casino owner, Trump publicly considered a run as a candidate from the Reform Party. It would have been his first run for the presidency, had he been serious.Ralph Nader: The famed consumer activist mounted a campaign under the banner of the Green Party. He stayed in the race until the end, receiving about 3% of the popular vote.