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Republican National Committee (U.S.) Opposition Research Group records
85085
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Title: Opposition Research Group records
Date (inclusive): 1960-1984
Collection Number: 85085
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
64 manuscript boxes, 2 cubic foot boxes
(27.5 Linear Feet)
Abstract: The records include research materials accumulated and acquired by the Republican Opposition Research Group during the 1984
presidential election for use in the campaign against Democratic presidential candidates. The records consist of materials
such as clippings, press releases, other printed matter, speeches, debate transcripts, memoranda, and video tapes regarding
specific Democratic Party leaders such as Walter F. Mondale, John Glenn and Geraldine Ferraro, and specific political issues
and special interest groups.
Creator:
Republican National Committee (U.S.). Opposition Research Group
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
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.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1985.
[Identification of item], Republican National Committee (U.S.) Opposition Research Group records, [Box no., Folder no. or
title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
The Opposition Research Group operated as part of the Communications Division within the Republican National Committee, chaired
by Michael Bayer. The group was formed "in 1984 with its own budget of $1.1 million, to create a master data bank of computerized
voter research and opposition research. Staff amassed information on eight Democratic presidential candidates based on data
from voting records, Congressional Record speeches, media clippings and transcripts, campaign materials, all of which was
stored on a computer for easy access. In this way the party was able to track inconsistencies of its opponents and attack
them. This original data base evolved into a network that linked information gleaned by Republicans in all 50 states, creating
a master data base accessible to high-ranking Republican staff, even aboard Air Force One when Ronald Reagan was president."
Source:
J. M. Bayer & J. Rodota, "Computerized Opposition Research,"
Campaigns & Elections, 6, p. 26-27.
Scope and Content of Collection
The records include research materials accumulated and acquired by the Republican Opposition Research Group during the 1984
presidential election for use in the campaign against Democratic presidential candidates. The records consist of materials
such as clippings, press releases, other printed matter, speeches, debate transcripts, memoranda, and video tapes regarding
specific Democratic Party leaders, such as Walter F. Mondale, John Glenn and Geraldine Ferraro, and specific political issues
and special interest groups.
Materials contain information about the Democratic Party presidential and vice-presidential nominees, Walter Mondale and Geraldine
Ferraro, including speeches, financial information, and political background and history.
Also present are the records generated by the Opposition Research Group regarding its work, including materials regarding
the Republican National Committee's innovative electronic research database and communications system, Voices for Victory,
which allowed key members of the Republican Party to maintain constant communication and disseminate information quickly and
efficiently regardless of geographic location.
Materials are arranged as they were received from the creator. Materials such as clippings files are arranged chronologically,
while other files are arranged alphabetically by topic. Topical folder names created by the organization have been retained.
Ronald Reagan subject collection, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Ronald Reagan radio commentary sound recordings, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1984
Reagan, Ronald
Democratic Party (U.S.)
Mondale, Walter F., 1928-
Glenn, John, 1921-2016
Ferraro, Geraldine