Ed Clark papers, 1972-1994

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Clark, Ed, 1930-
Abstract:
The collection includes correspondence, speeches and writings, press releases, clippings, election campaign literature, polling data, minutes, financial records, video tapes, sound recordings, and photographs related to Libertarian Party electoral activity, especially in the presidential election of 1980.
Extent:
12 manuscript boxes, 1 card file box, 1 film reel (5.26 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Ed Clark papers, 1972-1994, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

Ed Clark was the Libertarian Party candidate for governor of California in 1978 and for president of the United States in 1980. His papers, which predominately document these two campaigns, include correspondence, speeches and writings, press releases, clippings, election campaign literature, polling data, minutes, financial records, video tapes, sound recordings, and photographs.

In his gubernatorial campaign, Clark received more than 5 percent of the popular vote. Although he campaigned as a Libertarian candidate and was the nominee of the Libertarian Party of California, Clark appeared on the ballot as an independent candidate. Important issues in his campaign included education, taxes, and job growth. He supported Proposition 13, which sought to limit property taxation, and campaigned against Proposition 6, also known as the Briggs Initiative, a proposition that would have limited gay and lesbian rights. The California gubernatorial campaign of 1978 file, which documents Clark's campaign, includes his correspondence and statements on issues.

In 1980, Clark campaigned for president of the United States as the Libertarian Party candidate. He appeared on the ballot in all fifty states and received more than 1 percent of the popular vote. In his campaign, Clark argued for curbing inflation, reducing taxes, and providing tax credits for education. He supported a non-interventionist foreign policy and opposed the draft and energy subsidies. The campaign ran national television advertisements that were largely funded by Clark's running mate, David Koch. The United States presidential campaign of 1980 file includes a clippings scrapbook covering Clark's campaign; correspondence between Clark and David Nolan, who was the founder of the Libertarian Party; and files of Alicia Clark, who campaigned for her husband, Ed Clark. The Audiovisual material includes a sound recording of Clark's speech upon accepting the presidential nomination as the candidate for the Libertarian Party, as well as other sound recordings and films related to his presidential campaign.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1930 May 4
Born, Middleboro, Massachusetts
1952
B.A. in international relations, Dartmouth College
1952-1954
Lieutenant (junior grade), gunnery officer and destroyer escort, United States Navy
1954-1965
Lieutenant, United States Naval Reserve
1957
Graduated from Harvard Law School
1970
Married Alicia Garcia Cobos
1972-
Founding state chair of the Libertarian Party of New York State
1972-1974
Vice chair, Libertarian Party
1972-1978
Member, National Committee, Libertarian Party
1974, circa
Elected state chair of the Libertarian Party of California
1974-
Attorney for Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), specializing in anti-trust law
1977
Elected to area governing council of the Health Systems Agency in Los Angeles County
1978
Candidate for governor of California, nominated by the Libertarian Party of California
1980
Candidate for president of the United States on the Libertarian ticket
2000
Received Thomas Jefferson Award from Libertarian Party
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2002.
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], Ed Clark papers, 1972-1994, [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