This is a book about exceptional people doing exceptional things to build a new political party that can make the nation a healthier, safer, more prosperous place to live. Many of these men and women are in the public eye; many labor behind the scenes.

First and foremost, I would like to thank all those who have come before the Natural Law Party. These are men and women who have battled to make ballot access laws fair, and who have worked hard to give independent and third-party candidates their rightful place in public debates and on the public airwaves. You have helped to keep the flame of democracy in America burning bright.

My deepest appreciation goes to Natural Law Party presidential candidate John Hagelin, vice presidential candidate Mike Tompkins, chair Kingsley Brooks, the founding chair Dr. Bevan Morris; as well as Michael Spivak, Elaine Reding, Rafael David, and Cindy Schirmer-the chief architects of the the party-for their wisdom, conviction, and persistence against incredible odds, to guide the party to where it is today. More than anyone you have given me the content-and inspiration-for this book.

I am also deeply grateful to Patti Breitman, my agent, who read the first 18 pages of the manuscript and felt right away that this was a message that needed to be heard. Her ongoing wisdom and guidance through the entire process have been deeply appreciated. I feel the same for my editor at St. Martin's Press, George Witte. Your support for the book meant more to me than you will ever know.

This book took its shape through the insight and dedicated efforts of many: Rona Abramson, Leslie Brooks, Bill Crist, Bill Crosson, Laura Couture, Denise Droese, Zanna Feitler, Mark Goodman, Fred Gratzon, David Hawthorne, Buck Montgomery, John Moore, Lincoln Norton, Lindsay Oliver, Sally Peden, Jane Pitt, Coral Scranton, Mark Schoenfeld, David Shapiro, Jeff Smith, and most especially, Mike Tompkins. You did your job with care and tenacity. I trusted your judgement and it shows.

I would also like to thank Dr. Robert Herron and Gerry Geer for their invaluable assistance in helping to research and document the party's stand on the issues. This is a solid platform and you deserve much credit. Thanks also to Linda Bettinger and Craig Herndon for their willingness to transcribe interviews at a moment's notice.

A few of the people who have made the Natural Law Party successful are featured in this book. But there are hundreds, even thousands, of people who you will not meet. They are the party leaders, candidates, volunteers, and supporters in every state whose dedication to the high principles of the Natural Law Party make the party go. Without their support, the successes the party has enjoyed would be significantly diminished. Thanks to all of you including: Jeffrey Abramson, Abaan Abu-Shumays, Louise Allison, Jane Allon, Anthony Antimuro, Kurt Arbuckle, Elizabeth Rice Arnold, Elizabeth Ashrook, Bill and Lois Avery, Rogers and Candace Badgett, Ron and Bonnie Barnett, Jeanie Bates, Marsh and Diana Belden, Craig Berg, Warren and Harriet Berman, Bob Beskangy, Richard and Jane Bialosky, John Black, Judy Bararth-Black, Rick Blake, Warren Blank, Shirley Boncheff, Sandi BonSell, Art Boucher, Eric and Barbara Bourdette, Carolyn Boyce, Dr. Jim Brooks, Mike Busch, Veronica Butler, Jim Cahaney, Tony Camero, Tom Carlisle, Cathy Carter, Catherine Carter, Mary Jo Christian, Larry and Susan Chroman, Lauri Clegg, Donna Colby, Lane Cole, Mary Ann Cooke, Danny Corn, Michael and Elizabeth Cosgrove, Patricia Cox, John Cornell, Michael Cuddehe, Richard and Gail Dalby, Jim and Diane Davis, Dean Draznin, Bobbi and Barbara Dreier, Kai and Julie Druhl, Bill and Helen Dunn, Billie Eastman, Peter Ecob, Tony and Mo Ellis, Annette Estes, Clarence Evjen, Tom and Roxanne Factor, Sam Farling, Paul and Josie Fauerso, George and Felicity Foster, Steven and Gillian Foster, Jonathan Freeman, Dale Freidgen, Jim and June French, Gary Gill, Jim Gerhard, Sonja and Vesna Glavina, Susan Glickman, Ira and Janet Goldberg, Ted Goldstein, Kathy Goodman, Shelley Gratzon, Sarina Grosswald, Monty Guild, Ruth Guilliard, Michael Haig, Ayres Hall, Tom Hall, Key Halverson, Ken and Carol Hardin, Chris and Linda Hartnett, Sharalyn Harris, Gail Herson, Ute Hopker, Steve and Miriam Hospodar, Michael Huddleston, Bill and Stacey Hurlin, Kent Hyde, Joe and Valerie Janlois, Charles Johanson, Ellen Jones, Richard Kahn, David Kaplan, Earl Kaplan, Barry Katz, Dick Kaynor, Ann Keith, Walter Keith, Pegi Kempner, Bruce Kendall, David Kidd, David and Eleanor Laird, Peter Lamoureux, Jane Lazzareschi, Dr. David and Lee Leffler, Margaret Lewis, Charley and Toby Lieb, Randall Longstroth, Randy MacKenzie, Ed and Vicki Malloy, Bob and Carol Markowitz, Jay and Susan Marcus, Curtis and Sherry McDonald, Tina McQuiston, Jane Meade, Rebecca Meisner, Mary Mellen, Patti Metten, Tony and Sharon Miles, Susan Minx, Cathy Montgomery, Barbara Morgan, Brenda Narducci, Bernie and Terry Nevas, Tom and Terry Newmark, June Norton, Martha Oaas, Gerry Ogle, Joseph Victor Pardo, Cynthia Parker, Linda Parmet, Michael and Andrea Pflaumer, Paul and Ann Pigue, Barry Pitt, Jonathan Poneman, Adam Pressman, John Pronchik, Bill and Gail Quarton, Judy Raymond, Doug Rexford, Rodney Robbins, Ernie and Barbara Robson, Chris Rogers, Alan and Susan Rosenfield, Kate Ross, Steve and Karen Rubin, Peter Salk, Barry Scherr, Becky Scott, Tom Shirah, Allan and Anne Shook, Julia Simon, Brynne Sissom, Helen Smith, Rosemary Spivak, Rob Stowe, Keith and Cathy Thompson, Mark Thompson, Randall Tolpinrud, Tom Traynor, Jeff Turnbull, Kristina Van Dyke, Susan Vegors, David Verrill, Gary and B.J. Wacknov, Doug and Nancy Walker, Michael Warner, Charlotte Watson, Chris and Margie Wegge, Patrick West, Toni Wilder, Paul Wilson, Ron Wilson, Richard Winger, Charles Winter, Rob Wofford, Russ Wollman, Ken and Blanche Woodward, Jerry Yellin, Stacy Zemon, David Zimmer, and Stuart and Moki Zimmerman.

And finally, I want to thank my family. My late father, Merall, and my mother, Susan, raised me in a loving household where politics really did matter, and where conviction for ideas-and the willingness to work for them-were not options for a life well lived, but the foundation for one. I am grateful to my brothers, Bill and Tom; my sister, Ellen; and my brother-in-law, Brian, for their constant love and support, and for our deep friendship. And, of course, my young nephews Michael and Jonathan. You are the only ones to whom I would give up time on my computer to write this book so that you could surf the Net. Thanks.