Guide to the John G. Schmitz campaign materials MS.R.047

Machine-readable finding aid created by Tami Morse McGill, 2001.
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
(cc) 2001
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu

Note

Social Sciences--Political Science--Political PartiesSocial Sciences--Political Science--Politics, United States and Non U.S.Social Sciences--Political Science--Elections and Voting BehaviorGeographical (By Place)--California--Los Angeles AreaHistory--California History--Los Angeles Area


Contributing Institution: Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries
Title: John G. Schmitz campaign materials
Creator: Schmitz, John G.
Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.047
Physical Description: 0.6 Linear Feet (1 box and 2 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): 1968-1976
Date (bulk): 1972
Abstract: This collection comprises news clippings, correspondence, memoranda, press releases and other papers related to the 1972 campaign of John G. Schmitz as the nominee of the American Party for President of the United States. Also included are news stories and publications by and about the national American Party and its affiliated state parties.
Language of Material: English .

Access

Collection is open for research. Access to fragile originals is restricted when preservation photocopies are available.

Publication Rights

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Preferred Citation

Guide to the John G. Schmitz Campaign Materials. MS-R47. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Acquisition Information

Gift of John G. Schmitz, 1979.

Processing History

Arranged in labeled folders and a brief inventory created in 1996. Fully processed by Tami Morse McGill in 2001.

Biography

John G. Schmitz was born on August 12, 1930 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1964 Schmitz was elected as a Republican to the California State Senate and was reelected in 1966. He successfully ran for a seat in the United States Congress in 1970, where he represented Newport Beach, California (35th District) for a single term. After losing his congressional reelection bid in the June primaries in 1972, Schmitz was nominated to run for President of the United States by the American Party, known in California as the American Independent Party. Although unsuccessful, he and his running mate Tom Anderson received over a million votes in the 1972 presidential election. Schmitz returned to the Republican Party after this election and ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1976. He served again in the California State Senate from 1978-1982. Schmitz died on January 10, 2001, in Washington, D.C.

Collection Scope and Content Summary

This collection comprises news clippings, correspondence, memoranda, press releases and other papers related to the 1972 campaign of John G. Schmitz as the nominee of the American Party for President of the United States. Also included are news stories and publications by and about the national American Party and its affiliated state parties.
Clippings include those collected by the Schmitz-Anderson campaign office. They consist of both publicity (press releases) and unsolicited campaign coverage, and a few articles on Schmitz's activities before and after the campaign.
There are also a large number of letters and telegrams received by Schmitz or the campaign office. They include expressions of support, requests for materials, statistics on the election results, and letters calling Schmitz's attention to particular issues. Much of the correspondence also includes news clippings enclosed by the senders.
The collection includes newsletters and other documents concerning the history, activities, and platform of the American Party and affiliated state parties, for example, the American Independent Party, the Courage Party, and the Kansas Conservative Party. It does not contain any materials relating to Schmitz's terms in the California State Senate or the United States Congress.
The collection is arranged topically.

Related Collections

A related collection of political ephemera from Schmitz's senatorial office and campaigns can be found in the California Political Publication and Ephemera Collection (MS-R14), Special Collections and Archives, the UC Irvine Libraries.
Papers relating John G. Schmitz's term in the United States Congress are at the Wichita State University Special Collections and University Archives. A finding aid is available online at their Web site. Two sound tape reels and one film reel of commercials used in Schmitz's presidential campaign are at the University of Oklahoma Political Commercial Archive, Department of Communication, Burton Hall, Norman, OK 73019.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

United States -- Politics and government
Politicians -- United States.
Campaign paraphernalia -- United States.
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1972 -- Archives
American Party -- Archives
American Independent Party of California -- Archives

box 1, folder 1-2

American Party nationwide party materials

box 1, folder 1

A Brief history of the organization and development of California's American Independent Party, and of the state party's conflict with the national Wallace campaign , photocopy of a report ca. 1968

box 1, folder 2

American Party and affiliated state parties, correspondence, clippings, fliers, and newsletters, and undated 1972-1976

box FB-022, folder 3

Platform brochure, undated

box FB-022, folder 3

Oversize newsletters, and undated, use copies 1972-1974

box FB-024, folder 1

Oversize newsletters, and undated 1972-1974

Conditions Governing Access note

Access to fragile originals is restricted.
box 1, folder 3-8

Campaign materials

box 1, folder 3

American Party convention program and approved platform 1972

box 1, folder 4

Campaign file, and undated 1972-1973

box 1, folder 5-6

Correspondence received by Schmitz-Anderson campaign 1972-1975

Physical Description: 2 folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box FB-022, folder 3

Oversize material, use copies 1972

box FB-024, folder 1

Oversize material 1972

Conditions Governing Access note

Access to fragile originals is restricted.
box 1, folder 7-8

News clippings, and undated 1971-1976

Physical Description: 2 folders.
General Physical Description note: no content
box FB-022, folder 3

Oversize material 1972

box 1, folder 9

Writings of John G. Schmitz on the American Party and his Presidential campaign 1972-1973