Opposition Research Group records, 1960-1984

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Summary

Creators:
Republican National Committee (U.S.). Opposition Research Group
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.
Extent:
64 manuscript boxes, 2 cubic foot boxes (27.5 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Republican National Committee (U.S.) Opposition Research Group records, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1985.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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], Republican National Committee (U.S.) Opposition Research Group 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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