Collection Guide
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Inventory of the Citizens for Reagan Records
81141
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Title: Citizens for Reagan Records
Date: 1975-1986
Collection Number: 81141
Creator:
Citizens for Reagan
Collection Size:
109 manuscript boxes, 2 cubic foot boxes, 9 oversize boxes, 605 video tapes, 12 phonodisks, 8 phonotapes
(112 linear feet)
Contributing Institution:
Hoover Institution Archives
Language of Material:
English
Abstract: The collection relates to the campaign of Ronald Reagan for the Republican Party presidential nomination in 1976. Materials
include correspondence, position papers, press releases, memoranda, public opinion polling data, financial records, sound
recordings, and video tapes. Includes a few post-1976 records of Citizens for the Republic, the successor organization to
Citizens for Reagan.
Boxes 2-3 and 110-111 are closed. The remainder of the cllection is open for research.
The Hoover Institution Archives only allows access to
copies of audiovisual items. To listen to sound recordings or to view videos or films during your visit, please contact the Archives
at least two working days before your arrival. We will then advise you of the accessibility of the material you wish to see
or hear. Please note that not all audiovisual material is immediately accessible.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Archives.
[Identification of item], Citizens for Reagan records, [Box number], Hoover Institution Archives.
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 1981.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. To determine if this has occurred, find
the collection in Stanford University's online catalog at
http://searchworks.stanford.edu/ . Materials have been added to the collection if the number of boxes listed in the online catalog is larger than the number
of boxes listed in this finding aid.
Richard Wirthlin papers, Hoover Institution Archives
Peter Hannaford papers, Hoover Institution Archives
Ronald Reagan subject collection, Hoover Institution Archives
Lyn Nofziger papers, Hoover Institution Archives
Edwin Meese papers, Hoover Institution Archives
To see a complete listing of all the related collections, please go to Hoover Institution Archives catalog web site at
http://library.stanford.edu/webcat and enter the search term Reagan, Ronald
The Citizens for Reagan organization originated from a strong belief of some of his supporters that Ronald Reagan should be
persuaded to run for the Republican nomination for president in 1976, becoming Reagan's official campaign committee for the
1976 election. A committee was formed for that purpose with Senator Paul Laxalt, former governor of Nevada, as its chairman.
The goal of this committee was to set up an organization to lead an effective political campaign and raise money needed to
conduct a successful campaign in the event of the announcement of Ronald Reagan's candidacy for the president of the United
States.
In addition to Paul Laxalt, other prominent members of the Republican Party decided to signify their support of Ronald Reagan's
candidacy. John P. Sears, a Washington attorney, was chosen to serve as the executive vice-chairman. Other office holders
included Jack Courtimanche of Los Angeles to be in charge of financial operations; Loren Smith as legal counsel; Jeffrey Bell
as head of research; Henry M. Buchanan as treasurer; and David Keene as the southern states coordinator. Other prominent members
were former governor of Kentucky Louis B. Nunn; former California Republican National Committeewoman Mrs. Stanlope C. Ring;
retired congressman H. R. Gross of Iowa; and Nebraska insurance executive George Cook. Jim Lake, David Keene, and Lyn Nofziger
represented political staff.
Citizens for Reagan had a centralized administrative structure with state offices. All handbills, rally notices and other
materials included a notation such as "paid for by the CFR." Each local unit had a chairman and a treasurer at all times,
possibly a bookkeeper as well. All local contributions to Citizens for Reagan or to the local subdivision were sent to Washington,
D.C. to be deposited. The Washington office also authorized all expenditures.
All activities were carried out on a state-by-state basis using a detailed list of state-level coordinators, members, and
addresses. Although the 1976 presidential election results did not fulfill Ronald Reagan's political ambition, the operating
procedures and organizational structure used in the Citizens for Reagan operations of 1975-1976, the organizational experience
successfully supported his later political ambitions.
Scope and Content of Collection
Citizens for Reagan records are a document the process leading up to Ronald Reagan's bid for the Republican Party presidential
nomination in 1976, which he lost to Gerald Ford at the convention. The materials include correspondence, position papers,
press releases, memoranda, public opinion polling data, financial records, sound recordings, and video tapes. They reveal
elaborate planning, organization, publicity, preparation, and advertisement required to launch a political campaign. The papers
are arranged in their original order, with the original folder titles and organizational system devised by the Citizens for
Reagan office staff.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Citizens for the Republic.
Reagan, Ronald.
Republican Party (U.S.: 1854- )
Phonotapes.
Presidents--United States--Election--1976.
Videotapes.