Title: McCarthy for President. Wisconsin: Records
Inclusive Dates: 1967-1968

Creator:

• McCarthy for President. Wisconsin

Call Number: Mss 246; Tape 563A; PH Mss 246

Quantity: 2.8 c.f. (7 archives boxes), 3 tape recordings, and 5 photographs

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Records of the Wisconsin campaign committee for Senator Eugene J. McCarthy's 1968 candidacy for the Democratic nomination for President. Included is correspondence, clippings, lists of supporters, biographical sketches of delegates, photographs, financial information, and recorded radio spot advertisements with endorsements by Lauren Bacall, Dustin Hoffman, Paul Newman, Tony Randall, Lee Remick, and Joanne Woodward. Photographs include images of McCarthy with students at the University of Wisconsin and campaign displays in Antigo and Deerbrook, Wis.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00246

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

In December 1967, the Wisconsin McCarthy for President Committee was formed shortly after Senator Eugene J. McCarthy announced his candidacy for president. Although headquartered in Madison, the committee was active in the entire state. It had close ties to the Concerned Democrats, a previously established anti-war group which intended to make the 1968 election a forum for national debate on the Vietnam war. Reflecting these ties, Donald O. Peterson, chairman of the McCarthy Committee, was state chairman and national co-chairman of the Concerned Democrats. Other officers of the McCarthy Committee included:

Vice Chairmen	Michael Bleicher (also chairman, Dane Co. Democrats)
	Ted Warshafsky
	Jack Nikolay
State Organization Director	Arnold Serwer
State Headquarters Director	Midge Miller
State Communications Director	Jay Sykes
State Campaign Director and Field Coordinator	Robert L. Reynolds

Prior to the Wisconsin primary on April 2, 1968, the committee concentrated on the primary; it formed county organizations, canvassed voters, and waged a wide media campaign. Following McCarthy's primary victory, the committee prepared for the Democratic National Convention -- especially to insure that Wisconsin sent the proper number of delegates pledged to McCarthy.

The Wisconsin McCarthy for President Committee records relate to the Committee's activities on behalf of Senator McCarthy in Wisconsin from December 1967 to August 1968. They include correspondence, county files, subject files, clippings, photographs, and recorded radio advertisements.

The Committee's correspondence is arranged chronologically and consists of staff letters and letters of encouragement from grassroot supporters. The staff correspondence pertains primarily to the routine business operations of the committee, and from it emerges little of the real flavor of the McCarthy campaign. The letters from supporters are filled with spontaneous reactions to the McCarthy candidacy.

The county records are mainly composed of clippings from local Wisconsin newspapers on the McCarthy campaign. These were provided by a clipping service and are arranged by county. The collection does not include records of the county and local campaign organizations concerning their campaign activities.

The subject files reflect both state and national activities, and are made up of printed material, correspondence, and a variety of records compiled during the campaign. Among the more significant data are McCarthy's schedule, short biographical outlines of McCarthy delegates composed by the committee staff, many lists of supporters, and information on various campaign projects and on the committee's internal operations and record keeping. The financial records, largely lists of expenditures and contributions, are incomplete. There is also a folder of staff notes on meetings and some minutes.

The collection also contains two boxes of unorganized clippings re the state and national campaign. The committee collected these unsystematically.

The recorded radio spots prepared for the campaign include endorsements by George Vukelich, Tony Randall, Joanne Woodward, Paul Newman, Lee Remick, Dustin Hoffman, Lauren Bacall, and Kevin McCarthy.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Michael Bleicher, Madison, Wisconsin, August 1968, and January 1973. Source of the tape recordings is unknown. Accession Number: M68-284, M73-4

Processing Information

Processed by Phillip Driscoll and T. Kent Gulley, July 19, 1973.

Mss 246 Box   1 Folder   1-4	Correspondence, 1967-1968 August; undated
	Counties
Box   1 Folder   5	Ashland-Brown
Box   1 Folder   6	Buffalo-Douglas
Box   2 Folder   1	Eau Claire-Grant
Box   2 Folder   2	Green Lake-La Crosse
Box   2 Folder   3	Lafayette-Monroe
Box   2 Folder   4	Oconto-Pierce
Box   2 Folder   5	Polk-Price
Box   3 Folder   1	Racine-Rusk
Box   3 Folder   2	Sauk-Sawyer
Box   3 Folder   3	St. Croix-Washburn
Box   3 Folder   4	Washington-Vilas
	Subject File
Box   3 Folder   5	Background Statements and Information Booklet
Box   3 Folder   6	Delegates to the Democratic National Convention (Wisconsin)
Box   3 Folder   7	Financial Records
Box   3 Folder   8	Internal Organization
Box   4 Folder   1-2	Lists of Supporters
Box   4 Folder   3	M-Day Rally
Box   4 Folder   4	National Democratic Convention , (1968) Information
PH Mss 246	Photographs
Mss 246	Press Releases and Speeches
Box   4 Folder   5-6	1967-April 1968
Box   5 Folder   1-4	May 1968-August 1968
Box   5 Folder   5	Schedules
Box   5 Folder   6	Speaking Requests
Box   5 Folder   7	Staff Notes and Minutes of Meetings
Box   5 Folder   8	Volunteer Assignments
Box   5 Folder   8a	Memorabilia, Wisconsin produced
Box   6-7	Clippings
Tape 563A	Radio Spot Recordings
No.   1&2	George Vukelich
No.   1&2	Tony Randall
No.   1&2	Joanne Woodward
No.   1&2	Paul Newman
No.   1&2	Lee Remick
No.   2	Dustin Hoffman
No.   2	Lauren Bacall
No.   3	Kevin McCarthy