What’s the history on the challenge of George Romney’s eligibility to run for president. Was it ever an issue?
Yes and it came up in the press. Devvy Kidd had a article about it 2 weeks ago. From her research she found this from the congressional record:
Mitt Romney’s, father George W. Romney, Not A Natural Born Citizen of the United States of America, and was NOT, eligible for the Office of President, by Pinckney G. McElwee of D.C. Bar.)
Congressional Record (House) June 14, 1967
“I find no proper legal or historical basis on which to conclude that a person born outside of the United States could ever be eligible to occupy the Office of the President of the United States. In other words, In my opinion, Mr. George Romney of Michigan Is Ineligible to become President of the United States because he was born In Mexico and is, therefore, not a natural-born citizen as required by the United States Constitution.”
http://www.scribd.com/doc/20829167/Natural-Born-Citizen-Congressional-Record-6-14-1967-p-15875-80
From Devvy Kidd with a lot more infornation:
http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd520.htm
George Romney’s eligibility was never a serious issue back in 68. And I’ll guarantee you that the same will be true for Mitt.
Indeed it was.
Before the ‘68 primary season it was fairly controversial. Of course, the elites pooh-poohed it but some commentators brought it up.
It became a moot point once George Romney messed up by talking about “brainwashing” over Vietnam. He was out of the race soon thereafter.
Yes it was, George was my Governor at the time (I was a college sophomore) but he bailed out of the 1968 campaign before reaching a critical point.
Yes, it was raised as an issue.
It was dropped when he didn't become the nominee.
Quite a lot of coverage of George Romney’s citizenship problem: http://wtpotus.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/mitt-romney-natural-born-citizenship-and-media-bias/