Buchanan served as an advisor to three United States presidents: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan.
He then became a conservative columnist and co-hosted Crossfire, a political program on CNN.
In 1992, never before having sought elected office, Buchanan challenged incumbent president George H. W. Bush for the Republican Party presidential nomination.
[1] He again sought the GOP presidential nomination in 1996, winning three contests and garnering almost 21 percent of the vote; Kansas Senator Bob Dole ultimately won the party's nomination.
He received more than 25 percent of the popular vote in the primary, then secured the nomination at the convention, selecting conservative activist Ezola Foster for his running mate.