15 Facts About Meldrim Thomson

Meldrim Thomson made his fortune publishing law books, founding the Equity Publishing Corporation in 1952.

In 1966, as chairman of the Orford School Board, Meldrim Thomson refused to accept federal education aid because he said there were too many strings attached.

Meldrim Thomson lost races for governor in Republican primaries in 1968 and 1970, running again in the 1970 general election on the third-party American Independent party.

In 1972, Meldrim Thomson ran for governor again as a Republican.

In 1974, Thomson ran for a second term against Democrat Richard W Leonard.

In 1976, Thomson ran for a third term against Democrat Harry V Spanos.

In 1978, Meldrim Thomson ran for a fourth term, defeating former governor Wesley Powell in the Republican primary and faced Democrat Hugh Gallen.

In 1980, Meldrim Thomson initially ran for president as a third party candidate but dropped out and ran for governor again as a Republican, defeating Lou D'Allesandro for Republican nomination.

Meldrim Thomson coined the slogans "Low taxes are the result of low spending" and "Ax the Tax" to represent his fiscal philosophy.

When Meldrim Thomson learned that Massachusetts tax agents were at New Hampshire liquor stores taking down the numbers on cars with Massachusetts license plates, he had them arrested.

In 1978, Meldrim Thomson appointed David Souter to the Superior Court bench.

Meldrim Thomson appointed Ivorey Cobb, the first African-American judge in New Hampshire state history, to the New Hampshire Commission for Civil Rights.

Meldrim Thomson was one of Ronald Reagan's staunchest supporters in 1976, as the former California governor challenged President Gerald Ford for the Republican presidential nomination.

Meldrim Thomson then ended his campaign for president and returned to the Republican Party.

Meldrim Thomson died in 2001 aged 89 from Parkinson's disease and heart problems in Orford, New Hampshire.