Libertarian Party

Libertarian Party, U.S. political party that upholds the unfettered right of private property and a laissez-faire, free-market economy, and opposes restrictions on individual rights. Libertarians regard the state as the greatest threat to liberty and oppose government inteference in private lives. Founded in 1971, the party nominated a 1980 presidential candidate, Ed Clark, who was on the ballot in every state. He polled 921,188 votes, or 1.1% of the total cast.