Citizens for Reagan records, 1975-1986

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Summary

Creators:
Citizens for Reagan and Citizens for the Republic
Abstract:
Correspondence, position papers, press releases, memoranda, public opinion polling data, financial records, sound recordings, and video tapes relating to the campaign of Ronald Reagan for the Republican Party presidential nomination in 1976. Includes a few post-1976 records of Citizens for the Republic, the successor organization to Citizens for Reagan.
Extent:
109 manuscript boxes, 15 cubic foot boxes, 9 oversize boxes, 1 small object box, audiovisual materials (125.2 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Citizens for Reagan records, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The Citizens for Reagan records 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.

Biographical / historical:

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, 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 successfully supported his later political ambitions.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1981.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Boxes 2-3 and 110-111 closed. Box 134 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Citizens for Reagan records, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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