Following Ross Perot's impressive showing during the 1996 presidential election, the Reform Party of the United States of America became the country's largest third party. The party's 2000 presidential candidate would be entitled to $12.5 million in matching funds. Several high-profile candidates vied for the nomination, including future President Donald Trump, Pat Buchanan, and Transcendental Meditation leader John Hagelin. For a brief time, Congressman John B. Anderson and Congressman Ron Paul, who previously ran third party campaigns for President in 1980 and 1988 respectively, were considered potential candidates. Paul ultimately declined to seek the nomination. Anderson's name was placed on the ballot, but he failed to gain significant traction.
Read more on Wikipedia