“Some men are born great” Shakespeare’s Mavalio says in Twelfth Night. “Some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.” If Shakespeare had met Ross Perot, he might have considered adding another line, that some men also back their way into greatness. During a short conversation on Larry King Live, Perot made a seemingly casual, offhand, announcement that he was considering a run for president, provided that his supports would get him on the ballot. No explicit instructions to his followers, no real calls to action, just a stunned Larry King asking if that means Perot is running.

On this day, January 20, in 2002, Ross Perot used the national television platform provided by CNN’s most watched show to announce his entry into the race as a third-party candidate. Perot’s campaign promises endeared him to many voters who were not happy with either of the established national parties, and for a while allowed him to poll evenly with George Bush and Bill Clinton.

Perot’s downfall came partly because of a temporary withdrawal from the race, brought on by conflict within his political camp, but mostly due to a controversial tactic adopted by the Bush campaign. Bush reminded voters that no third party had ever won an election, and as Perot was still trailing in the polls, there was no possible way he could win. A vote for Perot thus became a “wasted vote,” more likely to elect Clinton, by taking votes away from Bush.