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Title: Citizens for Reagan records
Date (inclusive): 1975-1986
Collection Number: 81141
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
109 manuscript boxes, 15 cubic foot boxes, 9 oversize boxes, audiovisual materials
(125.0 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Correspondence, position papers, press releases, memoranda, public opinion polling data, financial records, sound recordings,
and video tapes relating to the campaign of Ronald Reagan for the Republican Party presidential nomination in 1976. Includes
a few post-1976 records of Citizens for the Republic, the successor organization to Citizens for Reagan.
Creator:
Citizens for Reagan
Creator:
Citizens for the Republic
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Boxes 2-3 and 110-111 closed. The remainder of 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 1981.
[Identification of item], Citizens for Reagan records, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
The Citizens for Reagan organization originated from a strong belief of some of his supporters that Ronald Reagan should be
persuaded to run for the Republican nomination for president in 1976, becoming Reagan's official campaign committee for the
1976 election. A committee was formed for that purpose with Senator Paul Laxalt, former governor of Nevada, as its chairman.
The goal of this committee was to set up an organization to lead an effective political campaign and raise money needed to
conduct a successful campaign in the event of the announcement of Ronald Reagan's candidacy for the president of the United
States.
In addition to Paul Laxalt, other prominent members of the Republican Party decided to signify their support of Ronald Reagan's
candidacy. John P. Sears, a Washington attorney, was chosen to serve as the executive vice-chairman. Other office holders
included Jack Courtimanche of Los Angeles, in charge of financial operations; Loren Smith as legal counsel; Jeffrey Bell as
head of research; Henry M. Buchanan as treasurer; and David Keene as the southern states coordinator. Other prominent members
were former governor of Kentucky Louis B. Nunn; former California Republican National Committeewoman Mrs. Stanlope C. Ring;
retired congressman H. R. Gross of Iowa; and Nebraska insurance executive George Cook. Jim Lake, David Keene, and Lyn Nofziger
represented political staff.
Citizens for Reagan had a centralized administrative structure with state offices. All handbills, rally notices, and other
materials included a notation such as "paid for by the CFR." Each local unit had a chairman and a treasurer at all times,
possibly a bookkeeper as well. All local contributions to Citizens for Reagan or to the local subdivision were sent to Washington,
D.C. to be deposited. The Washington office also authorized all expenditures.
All activities were carried out on a state-by-state basis using a detailed list of state-level coordinators, members, and
addresses. Although the 1976 presidential election results did not fulfill Ronald Reagan's political ambition, the operating
procedures and organizational structure used in the Citizens for Reagan operations of 1975-1976 successfully supported his
later political ambitions.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Citizens for Reagan records document the process leading up to Ronald Reagan's bid for the Republican Party presidential
nomination in 1976, which he lost to Gerald Ford at the convention. The materials include correspondence, position papers,
press releases, memoranda, public opinion polling data, financial records, sound recordings, and video tapes. They reveal
elaborate planning, organization, publicity, preparation, and advertisement required to launch a political campaign. The papers
are arranged in their original order, with the original folder titles and organizational system devised by the Citizens for
Reagan office staff.
Richard Wirthlin papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Peter Hannaford papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Ronald Reagan subject collection, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Lyn Nofziger papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Edwin Meese papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
To see a complete listing of all related collections, please go to Stanford University's online catalog at https://searchworks.stanford.edu, enter the search term "Reagan, Ronald," and then limit the results to the Hoover Library or the Hoover Archives.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Audiotapes
Video tapes
Sound recordings
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1976
Reagan, Ronald
Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )