Born in Boston, Massachusetts,[1] he graduated from Harvard University in 1970 and completed his post-graduate studies at Maharishi European Research University (MERU) in Seelisberg, Switzerland in 1984, where he received a doctorate in the Science of Creative Intelligence.
"[3] In 1992, Tompkins joined John Hagelin as the first national candidates for the Natural Law Party.
Hagelin and Tompkins received ballot placement in 32 states and their campaign qualified for federal matching funds.
During a campaign stop at the University of Houston, Tompkins defended the party's place in the U.S. political landscape by stating, "The Natural Law Party was founded as an alternative to the Republicans and Democrats, and an answer to the great many issues and great many solutions that were not being brought to the public.
In 2000, Hagelin ran for president again on the Natural Law Party, but Tompkins was replaced as the vice presidential candidate by Internet entrepreneur Nat Goldhaber.