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In September 1992, Howard Phillips invited freedom-loving representatives from around America to New Orleans, LA, for the forming of the U.S. Taxpayers Party. In attendance at that inaugural convention were Darrell and Joan Castle of Tennessee.
Upon leaving the convention, which had nominated Howard Phillips as the U.S. Taxpayers Party presidential candidate and General Albion Knight as his running mate, the Castles returned to their home state and began working to ensure that the candidates were on the ballot for the November election. Darrell was the official chairman of the Tennessee affiliate organization, which he named the Taxpayers Party of Tennessee.
Between 1992 and 1996 the Taxpayers Party of Tennessee (TPOT) grew in number with fairly regular meetings in the Memphis area. Efforts to encourage each other led to joint meetings with folks from Northern Mississippi. Around 1998, the national party changed its name to the Constitution Party and Tennessee followed suit, becoming the Constitution Party of Tennessee (CPOT).
During the 1996 and 2000 Presidential campaigns, Howard Phillips toured the state – stopping in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville – which allowed anyone to meet him without having to travel very far.
In 2004, Michael Peroutka and his running mate Dr. Chuck Baldwin were, as in previous years, on the ballot in Tennessee, and the state headquarters was in the Castle home designed as a resource and campaign center. Volunteers helped send out letters and signs across the state and hosted a statewide meeting in Nashville with Mr. Peroutka as the keynote speaker. In 2004 Tennessee grossed approximately 2,400 votes for Peroutka/Baldwin and the Constitution Party.
In 2008, Dr. Baldwin was the Presidential Candidate with Tennessee’s own Darrell Castle as his running mate. Castle toured the state speaking at events to students, veterans and business owners. He participated in the Third-Party Presidential Debate in Nashville at Vanderbilt University. In the end, Tennessee grossed over 8,000 votes for Baldwin/Castle.
The Constitution Party of Tennessee is growing and county parties are springing up around the state. As Tennesseans begin to search for ways to protect or regain their freedom, the Constitution Party of Tennessee will be waiting with open arms to receive them and put them to work to ensure that the people of Tennessee and the United States of America maintain sovereignty for themselves, their children and their grandchildren.
