Michael N. Bleicher Papers, 1961-1987


Summary Information
Title: Michael N. Bleicher Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1961-1987

Creator:
  • Bleicher, Michael N., 1935-
Call Number: Mss 643; PH 6463

Quantity: 7.0 c.f. (18 archives boxes) and 13 photographs

Repository:
Archival Locations:
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:
Political papers of Michael N. Bleicher, a Democratic Party activist, former state chairman of the Democratic Party (1978-1980), and mathematics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The collection documents Bleicher's service on the Democratic National Committee, his participation in several National Democratic Conventions as a delegate (1968-1976), and his support of various candidates for public office. Noteworthy campaigns Bleicher was involved with include the presidential campaigns of Eugene McCarthy (1968), George McGovern (1972), and Fred Harris (1976). Other campaign files are from Bleicher's position as campaign manager for Wisconsin Assembly candidate Midge Miller (1970) and Madison mayoral candidate Leo Cooper (1971). Also included are materials relating to Bleicher's tenure on the Energy Research Advisory Board and a small amount of material pertaining to Bleicher's mathematical career.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00643
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Biography/History

Michael N. Bleicher was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1935 to David and Rachel Bleicher. After receiving his undergraduate degree from the California Institute of Technology, Bleicher sought to become a mathematician, and continued his graduate education at Tulane University, receiving his M.S. in 1959 and his Ph.D. in 1961. He also had the opportunity to serve as a fellow at the University of Warsaw during 1960-1961, where he received a second Ph.D. In 1962 he came to Madison, Wisconsin to become a member of the Mathematics Department faculty at the University of Wisconsin.

Not long after he began teaching in Madison, Bleicher began to get involved in Wisconsin politics. In 1964 he was elected 10th Ward Chairman of the Dane County Democratic Party, and he became involved on the local party level in other ways as well. Much of his political work in Madison consisted of campaigning for Democratic candidates for local office. Initially his involvement was as a member of advisory committees (such as for Toby Reynolds, a Madison mayoral candidate in 1969). In 1970, he was the campaign manager for Midge Miller, who ran for the Wisconsin Assembly. The next year, he was the campaign manager for Leo Cooper, a candidate for mayor of Madison.

Concurrently, he was a regular delegate to the Wisconsin Democratic Conventions, and in 1971, was elected on the Administrative Committee of the Wisconsin State Democratic Party. He served on this committee until 1977, when he successfully ran for the office of Wisconsin State Democratic Party Chairman. His term as chairman lasted until 1979. Bleicher's involvement in politics at the national level came in 1968, when he served as Vice-Chairman of the Wisconsin Primary campaign for the Presidential candidacy of Eugene McCarthy. Later that year, Bleicher served on the Credentials Committee of the National Democratic Convention. In 1972 he again held this position, and was Vice-Chair of the Wisconsin Primary for another Presidential candidate, George McGovern. Between the 1972 and 1976 elections, Bleicher served as a member of the Democratic National Committee, and was also a delegate to the 1974 Democratic Mid-Term Convention. In 1976, he became the co-chair of the Wisconsin Primary for Fred Harris, another Democratic Candidate for President, and once again was a delegate to the National Convention.

Much of Bleicher's political activity was based on his attempts to reform the rules and organization of the party to make participation more democratic. As a member of the Credentials Committee in 1968, he oversaw several challenges to state delegations due to the failure of several states to adequately allow the participation of all races. In 1972, he again served on the Credentials Committee, and many of the challenges were based on the failure of some delegations to include a minimum percentage of women and minorities, as was mandated by new rules at the time. Bleicher's membership on the Administrative Committee of the Wisconsin Democratic Party involved complying with organization reforms mandated by the National Committee.

Bleicher continued to serve as a mathematics professor as well. Between 1972 and 1974 he was the chairman of the University of Wisconsin's Mathematics Department. He began writing for mathematical journals after receiving his Ph.D., and in 1968 co-authored Excursion in Mathematics; a new edition was published in 2000. Currently, Bleicher teaches Mathematics at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia, while also holding the position of Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin.

1935 Born in Cleveland, Ohio
1957 Received B.S. degree from California Institute of Technology
1959 Received M.S. degree from Tulane University
1961 Received Ph.D. degrees from Tulane University and University of Warsaw
1964 Joined the faculty at University of Wisconsin at Madison as member of Mathematics Department
1964 10th Ward Chairman of the Dane County Democratic Party
1965-1966 Dane County Ward Organization Chairman
1968 Delegate to National Democratic Convention; Member of the Credentials Committee
1968 Vice-Chairman of the Wisconsin McCarthy for President Spring Primary (in charge of Western half of state)
1968 Distribution Chairman, Kastenmeier for Congress Committee, Fall election
1969 Chairman of the Wisconsin State Democratic Party Resolutions Committee
1969-1970 Acting Chairman of the Wisconsin New Democratic Coalition
1970 Campaign Manager of the Midge Miller for Assembly Fall election
1970-1977 Member of the Wisconsin Democratic Party Delegate Selection Commission
1971 Campaign Manager of the Leo Cooper for Mayor Spring election
1971-1973 Elected to the Wisconsin State Democratic Party Administrative Committee as a member-at-large
1971-1973 Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party of the 2nd Congressional District, Wisconsin
1972-1979 Member of the Democratic National Committee
1972 Delegate to National Democratic Convention, Member of the Credentials Committee
1972 Vice Chairman of the Wisconsin McCarthy for President Spring Primary campaign
1972 Floor Manager of the McGovern forces on Credentials Committee, National Democratic Convention
1972 Member of the National Steering Committee of the New Democratic Coalition
1972 Steering Committee, Leo Cooper for Mayor
1972-1973 Co-editor of the Wisconsin Progressive Democrat (defunct after three editions)
1973 Steering Committee, Paul Soglin for Mayor
1973 Member (ex-officio, voting) of the Wisconsin State Democratic Party Administrative Committee
1974 Chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party Development Commission
1974 Delegate to the Democratic National Mid-Term Conference
1975 Finance Committee Chairman, Paul Soglin for Mayor
1975-1976 Co-Chairman of the Wisconsin Harris for President primary campaign
1976 Delegate to National Democratic Convention; Member of the Rules Committee
1977-1979 Chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party
1979-1981 Staff, U.S. Department of Energy
Scope and Content Note

The Michael N. Bleicher Papers consists of papers documenting the political activities of Michael Bleicher during the years 1961 to 1987 (particularly focusing on the years 1968-1977). The papers are divided into six series based primarily on Bleicher's roles or activities: NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, DANE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY, CAMPAIGNS, OTHER PROJECTS, and PHOTOGRAPHS.

The NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE series consists of files documenting Bleicher's involvement in national politics, mostly through his positions on the Democratic National Committee and as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1968, 1972, and 1976. Many of these documents were generated by other entities, such as the documents issued by the Democratic National Convention, or correspondence addressed to Bleicher regarding decisions made as a member of various committees. Bleicher himself was also involved in the creation of many of these documents, usually as a member of a committee (the reports issued by the Rules Committee are examples of this). The series covers a wide range of subjects, including the development of a charter for the Democratic Party, procedural changes for selection of the Vice Presidential candidate at conventions, and evaluating the credentials of delegates to the National Convention. The latter topic in particular is heavily documented in the series, due to Bleicher's membership on the Credentials Committee while a delegate to the National Convention.

The STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE series documents Bleicher's activity as a member of various committees of the Wisconsin Democratic Party. Delegate selection is the major subject documented in this series. In addition to the records from the Delegate Selection Commission, Bleicher received materials from other committees which provided input on the issue. Other groups represented are the Executive Committee and the Legislative Liaison Committee. There is some documentation of Bleicher's race for Party Chair in 1977, but the collection contains no material on his chairmanship itself. The folders are labeled by subject and organized alphabetically.

The DANE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY series documents Bleicher's involvement at the local level of the Democratic Party. The most noteworthy files relate to Bleicher's position as head of the Tenth Ward of the Dane County Democratic Party in 1964. Also included are general circulars (1973-1975) printed by the Dane County Democratic Party, of which Bleicher was a National Committee Liaison.

Within the CAMPAIGNS series, the bulk of material pertains to the Presidential campaigns of Eugene McCarthy, George McGovern, and Fred Harris. The McCarthy subseries consists mostly of campaign literature, as well as a transcript of Bleicher's interview by the McCarthy Historical Project. The McGovern subseries consists of campaign literature, lists of contributors, and several issue and endorsement files. The Harris subseries is the most extensively documented of the campaigns, with records concerning events Bleicher coordinated, correspondence with other campaigners, and files on rival candidates. The other subseries consist of an assortment of campaign literature and correspondence documenting the campaigns of Toby Reynolds, Midge Miller, Leo Cooper, and Paul Soglin.

The OTHER PROJECTS series is divided into three subseries: Energy Research Advisory Board (ERAB), Organization and Issues Files, and Mathematics Files. The Energy Research Advisory Board Files consist of minutes and subject files of the ERAB although Bleicher's role is unclear from the record. The Organization and Issues Files document two types of records: those authored by various groups that Michael Bleicher may have either belonged to or received mailings from, and general subject files. The organizations include the New Democratic Coalition, a liberal political advocacy group of which Bleicher was a member, and the Wisconsin Political Education Foundation, which published a newsletter co-edited by Bleicher, the Wisconsin Progressive Democrat. The issue folders document Bleicher's interest in the Vietnam War, impeachment of Richard Nixon, and the Spanish government. The Mathematics Files document a portion of Michael's work as a mathematics professor, including printed class handouts, notes, and copies of articles he authored. It consists of a single folder.

The PHOTOGRAPHS series includes photographs of Michael Bleicher, Eugene McCarthy, and Fred Harris.

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

Presented by Michael N. Bleicher, 1975 and 1990.


Processing Information

Processed by Carolyn J Mattern, 1984. Additions processed by Benjamin Ferguson (Practicum student), May 2006.


Contents List
Mss 643
Series: National Democratic Committee
Box   1
Folder   1
Advisory Council DNC, 1973
Americans for Democratic Action
Box   1
Folder   2
1975-1977
Box   19
Folder   1
Oversize Files
Box   1
Folder   3-4
Charter Commission, 1973-1974
Box   1
Folder   5
Coalition for a Democratic Majority, 1973-1974
Box   1
Folder   6
Conference on Organization & Policy, 1973
Box   1
Folder   7-8
Convention Correspondence, 1968
Convention Delegate Information
Box   1
Folder   9
Other States, 1968
Box   1
Folder   10
Wisconsin, 1968
Credentials Committee
Box   1
Folder   11-12
1968
Box   2
Folder   1-7
1968, continued
Box   2
Folder   8
Alabama Challenge
Box   3
Folder   1
Various States
Box   3
Folder   2
Wisconsin Challenges
Box   3
Folder   3-9
1972
Box   4
Folder   1-7
1972, continued
Box   4
Folder   8-9
Delegate Selection, 1972
Democratic National Committee
Box   4
Folder   10-11
1973, 1975
Box   5
Folder   1-6
1975, 1976, 1977, 1978
Box   5
Folder   7
Correspondence, 1976
Democratic National Convention
Box   5
Folder   8-12
1968-1976
Box   19
Folder   2
1976
Box   6
Folder   1-5
1976-1980
Box   6
Folder   6
Democratic Planning Group, 1973-1975
Box   6
Folder   7
Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, 1975
Box   6
Folder   8
Election Information, 1973
Box   6
Folder   9
Jobs, 1977
Box   6
Folder   10
Meetings, 1968
Box   6
Folder   11-13
Midterm Conference, 1974
Box   7
Folder   1-2
Midterm Conference, continued
Box   7
Folder   3
Midwest Democratic Conference, 1973-1975
Box   7
Folder   4
Polls, 1977
Box   7
Folder   5
Polls, Delegates, & Misccellaneous, 1968
Box   7
Folder   6
Platform & Rules, 1968
Box   7
Folder   7
Presidential Candidates, 1976
Box   7
Folder   8
Reform Caucus, 1973-1974
Box   7
Folder   9-13
Rules Committee (of National Democratic Convention), 1976
Box   7
Folder   14
Senatorial Campaign Committee, 1974
Box   7
Folder   15
Vice Presidential Committee, 1974
Box   7
Folder   16
Winograd Commission, 1977
Series: State Democratic Committee
Box   8
Folder   1-5
Administrative Committee, 1971-1976
Box   8
Folder   6
Compliance Review, 1975
Box   8
Folder   7
Congressional Districts, 1976
Box   8
Folder   8-14
Delegate Selection, 1972-1976
Box   9
Folder   1
Development Commission, 1969-1972
Box   9
Folder   2
Executive Committee
Box   9
Folder   3
Legislative Liaison Committee, 1974
Box   9
Folder   4-5
National Committeeman Campaign, 1972,1976
Box   9
Folder   6-9
Party Chair Race, 1977
Box   9
Folder   10
Performance Committee, 1974
Box   9
Folder   11
Peterson Challenge, 1972
Box   9
Folder   12
Peterson, Donald, 1973-1974
Box   10
Folder   1
Primary Election, 1973-1975
Box   10
Folder   2
Second Congressional District, 1972-1974
Box   10
Folder   3-5
State Democratic Convention, 1974, 1976
Box   10
Folder   6
Wisconsin Democratic Party Research Material, 1964, 1969
Series: Dane County Democratic Party
Box   10
Folder   7
General, 1973-1975
Box   10
Folder   8
District 7, 1973-1975
Box   10
Folder   9
Madison Federation of Labor, 1973
Box   10
Folder   10
Madison Tenth Ward Association, 1964
Series: Campaigns
Subseries: Eugene McCarthy
Box   10
Folder   11-14
General, 1968
Box   10
Folder   15
McCarthy Campaign Literature, 1968
Box   10
Folder   16
McCarthy Historical Project, 1969-1973
Box   10
Folder   17
McCarthy Literature, 1968
Box   10
Folder   18
McCarthy on Issues, 1968
Subseries: George McGovern
Box   11
Folder   1
Buttons, etc. Suppliers, 1972
Box   11
Folder   2
Contributors: McGovern, 1971-1972
Box   11
Folder   3-4
Delegate Information Sheets, 1972
Box   11
Folder   5
Designs (silk screen), 1972
Issue & Endorsement Files
Box   11
Folder   6
Agriculture and Rural Development
Box   11
Folder   7
Draft & Amnesty
Box   11
Folder   8
Drugs
Box   11
Folder   9
Ecology
Box   11
Folder   10
Economic Reconversion
Box   11
Folder   11
Economic Policy
Box   11
Folder   12
Education
Box   11
Folder   13
Education Funding
Box   11
Folder   14
Environment
Box   11
Folder   15
Farmers
Box   11
Folder   16
Health
Box   11
Folder   17
Hunger
Box   11
Folder   18
Key & Legislative Record
Box   11
Folder   19
Labor
Box   11
Folder   20
Native Americans
Box   11
Folder   21
Nixonomics
Box   11
Folder   22
POWs
Box   11
Folder   23
Rural Development
Box   11
Folder   24-25
Senior Citizens
Box   11
Folder   26
Several
Box   11
Folder   27-28
Taxes
Box   11
Folder   29
U.S. Role in the World
Box   11
Folder   30
Veterans
Box   11
Folder   31
Vietnam
Box   11
Folder   32
The War
Box   11
Folder   33-34
Welfare
Box   11
Folder   35-36
Women
Box   11
Folder   37-39
McGovern
Box   11
Folder   40
Daily Cardinal
Box   11
Folder   41
Pat Gorman
Box   11
Folder   42
Miami Herald
Box   11
Folder   43
Minnesota Daily
Box   11
Folder   44
New Democrat
Box   11
Folder   45-47
New York Post
Box   11
Folder   48-50
New York Times
Box   11
Folder   51
Progressive
Box   11
Folder   52
Rolling Stone
Box   11
Folder   53
Rural Electrification
Box   11
Folder   54
St. Louis Dispatch
Box   11
Folder   55-56
Time
Box   11
Folder   56
Village Voice
Box   11
Folder   57
Worthington Daily Globe
Box   11
Folder   58
Lists--Basic Contact, 1972
Box   12
Folder   1-2
Literature, 1971-1972
Box   19
Folder   3
Literature
McGovern Campaign
Box   12
Folder   3-8
1971-1972
Box   13
Folder   1
1972, continued
Box   13
Folder   2-5
McGovern Handbook, 1971-1972
Box   13
Folder   6
New Names, 1972
Subseries: Fred Harris, 1975-1976
Box   13
Folder   7
Advertising
Box   13
Folder   8
Bayh, Birch
Box   13
Folder   9
Bentsen, Lloyd
Box   13
Folder   10
Buttons
Box   13
Folder   11
Camper Trip
Box   13
Folder   12
Canvassing
Box   13
Folder   13-15
Carter, Jimmy
Box   13
Folder   16
Carter, UW Letter
Box   13
Folder   17
Clippings
Box   13
Folder   18
Communication
Box   13
Folder   19
Election
Box   13
Folder   20
Events
Box   14
Folder   1
Finances
Box   14
Folder   2
Fred Harris
Box   14
Folder   3
Harris Herald
Box   14
Folder   4
Headquarters
Box   14
Folder   5
Hightower, Jim
Box   14
Folder   6
Iowa (names)
Box   14
Folder   7-8
Iowa (organization)
Box   14
Folder   9
Issues Handbooks
Box   14
Folder   10
Jackson, Henry
Box   14
Folder   11
Johnson, Cecil F.
Box   14
Folder   12
Kaye, Jan & Ken
Box   14
Folder   13
Labor
Box   14
Folder   14-15
Laws
Box   14
Folder   16-19
Lists
Box   15
Folder   1-2
Lists, continued
Box   15
Folder   3-4
Literature
Box   15
Folder   5
Mailings
Box   15
Folder   6
Maps
Box   19
Folder   4
Maps (oversize)
Box   15
Folder   7
Minnesota
Box   15
Folder   8
Miscellaneous
Box   15
Folder   9
McCarthy, Eugene
Box   15
Folder   10
McGovern, George
Box   15
Folder   11
Neighbors Night
Box   15
Folder   12
Organization
Box   15
Folder   13
Other Candidates
Box   15
Folder   14
Phones
Box   15
Folder   15
Polls
Box   15
Folder   16
Posters
Box   19
Folder   5
Posters (oversize)
Box   15
Folder   17
Primaries
Box   15
Folder   18-19
Press Releases
Box   16
Folder   1
Questions
Box   16
Folder   2
Radio
Box   16
Folder   3
Sanford, Terry
Box   16
Folder   4
Shapp, Milton
Box   16
Folder   5
Shriver, Sargent
Box   16
Folder   6
Siefert, John
Box   16
Folder   7
Slide Show
Box   16
Folder   8
Speeches
Box   16
Folder   9
Stationery
Box   16
Folder   10
Toledo
Box   16
Folder   11
Udall, Morris
Box   16
Folder   12
Vote Counts
Box   16
Folder   13
Subseries: Toby Reynolds, 1969
Box   16
Folder   14
Subseries: Midge Miller, 1970
Box   16
Folder   15
Subseries: Leo Cooper, 1971
Box   16
Folder   16
Subseries: Paul Soglin, 1973
Series: Other Projects
Subseries: Energy Research Advisory Board
Box   16
Folder   17-18
1978-1980
Box   17
Folder   1-3
1978-1980, continued
Subseries: Organization and Issues Files
Box   17
Folder   4
J. H. Gore, 1961
Box   17
Folder   5
Impeachment, 1974
Box   17
Folder   6
Legislator's Peace Petition, 1971
Box   17
Folder   7
Midwest NDC, 1973
Box   17
Folder   8-9
Miscellany, 1969-1974
Box   17
Folder   10-12
New Democratic Coalition, 1969-1973
Box   17
Folder   13
Spain, 1973
Box   18
Folder   1
Wisconsin Political Education Foundation, 1973
Box   18
Folder   2
Wisconsin Progressive Democrat, 1973
Box   18
Folder   3
Subseries: Mathematics Files, 1987
PH 6463
Series: Photographs
PH Box   1
Folder   1
State Democratic Party: Michael Bleicher
PH Box   1
Folder   2
Eugene McCarthy Campaign Photographs
PH Box   1
Folder   3
Fred Harris Speaking Event Photographs