The Nation: The Secret Tax Form

It has become too difficult for a poor man to run for President and too easy for moneyed citizens to buy influence among the presidential candidates whom they support. In December 1971 Congress passed a simple rider to the Revenue Act that, while not solving all the problems, could at least provide candidates with the funds to launch a campaign without pressure from private backers. Under the bill, each taxpayer can now direct the Government to send $1 of his taxes to a presidential campaign fund—at no cost to himself—by making a simple check mark on his tax forms, indicating whether...