A collection of political material representing the Venezuelan third-way political party, the Partido Social Cristiano de Venezuela. The collection documents circulated political materials leading up to the election of its party founder and head, Rafael Caldero, to the Venezuelan presidential office in 1968. It includes both public propaganda and internal organizational reports.

The Comité de Organización Política Electoral Independiente ("Political Electoral Independent Organization Committee"), or Copei, otherwise called the Partido Social Cristiano de Venezuela, is a political party in Venezuela. The party's stated 1948 principals call for the repudiation of totalitarianism in the name of democracy, and the goal of encouraging social justice and national liberty through an embrace of Christian ideals, community ethics, and family values. The party was officially established on January 13, 1946 by founding member Rafael Caldera. Caldera, who taught sociology and law at various universities early in his career before becoming a politician, had a failed run for Venezuelan presidency in 1947, but he succeeded in winning the election in 1968. He was sworn into office in 1969, and this election became the first peaceful transition of political in Venezuela's post-colonial history. Before Caldera's split from the party, Copei was one of the two dominant Venezuelan parties for the greater part of the late twentieth century. Luis Herrera Campins was the only other Copei member to preside over Venezuela. His presidency lasted from 1979 to 1973. Some of the party's more notable leaders include Lorenzo Fernández, Eduardo Fernández, and Oswaldo Álvarez Paz.

1.5 linear feet (3 boxes)

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