washington john anderson former republican congressman challenge party conservative drift take chief symbol ronald reagan run president independent 1980 die sunday 95. anderson ill time family friend dan johnson tell reuters telephone interview anderson wife keke daughter diane side die washington diane anderson say phone anderson finish distant third almost percent vote 1980 presidential election give almost million voters alternative conservative reagan election unpopular democratic president jimmy carter anderson win single precinct political analysts say ultimately may contribute reagan electoral landslide take vote carter anderson first venture politics come 1956 elect state attorney illinois 1960 first 10 term u.s. house representatives run conservative late move leave break conservatives 1968 vote bill outlaw racial discrimination house anderson serve chairman house republican conference next 10 years even become critical republican president richard nixon especially handle vietnam war one first republican house members call nixon resignation watergate scandal smart guy congress insist vote conscience instead party republican u.s. representative gerald ford late become president say anderson 1973 1980 carter low opinion poll administration mire iran hostage crisis many republicans include anderson jump party presidential primaries chance oppose democrat november election reagan come close win republican presidential nomination 1976 quickly move front race main opponent former u.n. ambassador george h.w bush anderson drop republican primaries spring 1980 announce run independent enter race enthusiastically greet alternative major party get around 25 percent support least one poll poll number begin slide even though see best reagan survey televise debate republican presidential nominee carter boycott debate refuse face reagan anderson include carter finally agree debate reagan shortly election sponsor league women voters agree invite anderson four years late anderson break conservative republicans complete support democratic presidential nominee walter mondale lose reagan landslide bear rockford illinois feb. 15 1922 anderson educate university illinois urbana-champaign harvard law school serve second world war join foreign service station germany family say statement presidential defeat anderson become visit professor various universities write extensively serve many board include fairvote vote right organization formerly know center vote democracy 2000 presidential election anderson see possible presidential candidate reform party found texas billionaire ross perot end endorse ralph nader diane anderson say father believe two-party system break appal happen republican party everything want prevent unfortunately come pass say john anderson liberal republican challenge reagan die 95