Clarke County (Ga.) McCarthy for President Records

Descriptive Summary
Title: Clarke County (Ga.) McCarthy for President Records
Creator: Clarke County (Ga.) McCarthy for President Organization
Inclusive Dates: 1967-1969
Language(s): English
Extent: 2 box(es) (1 linear foot)
Collection Number: RBRL050MPCC
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: Eugene McCarthy served in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate before making a run for the presidency in 1967. McCarthy ran as a liberal Democrat; he was very opposed to the war in Vietnam, but was defeated by Hubert Humphrey in the primary. The Clarke County (Ga.) McCarthy for President Organization was formed to promote Eugene McCarthy in the 1968 presidential election. Robert Griffith and Phinizy Spalding, two McCarthy campaign workers from Georgia and University of Georgia history professors, donated this collection, which consists of correspondence, speeches, news clippings, political ephemera, and notes reflecting their work and support for McCarthy's presidential campaign.

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Collection Description

Historical Note

The Clarke County (Ga.) McCarthy for President Organization was formed to promote Eugene McCarthy in the 1968 presidential election. Robert Griffith and Phinizy Spalding, two McCarthy campaign workers from Georgia and University of Georgia history professors, formed this organization. The Clarke County (Ga.) McCarthy for President Organization was one of thousands in Georgia that challenged the delegation chosen by Governor Lester Maddox for the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

Eugene J. McCarthy was born March 29, 1916 in Watkins, Minnesota. After attending public schools, he graduated from St. John's University in 1935, with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and from the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis in 1939, with a Master of Arts degree. He taught in public high schools until 1940. He returned to St. John's that same year as a professor of economics and education until 1943. In 1944, he went to work in the War Department as a civilian technical assistant in military intelligence and remained in that position until the end of the war. After leaving the War Department, McCarthy once again taught school and later became the chairman of the Sociology Department at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

McCarthy first entered politics with his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1949 as a Democratic Farmer-Labor candidate. He remained in the House until 1959, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate. During his term, he served on the Senate Finance and Foreign Relations Committees. With a liberal voting record, McCarthy was re-elected to the Senate in 1964. Although he supported the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964, by 1967 he was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War. On November 30, 1967, McCarthy announced that he would challenge President Lyndon B. Johnson for the Democratic nomination for president. Running as an anti-war candidate, McCarthy received much support from America's youth.

At the Democratic National Convention, McCarthy lost the nomination to Vice President Hubert Humphrey. In 1970, he chose not to seek re-election to the Senate, and Humphrey eventually won his seat. McCarthy sought the Democratic nomination for president again in 1972, but was defeated by Senator George McGovern. He was also defeated in his campaign for president as an independent in 1976 and for a Minnesota Senate seat in 1982.

Eugene J. McCarthy married Abigail Quigley in 1945, and the couple had four children. McCarthy now lives in Woodville, Virginia.

Scope and Content

The Clarke County (Ga.) McCarthy for President Records contain articles, campaign ephemera, photographs, correspondence, news clippings, notes and speeches of the Clarke County, Georgia, McCarthy for President Organization. An article by Professor Robert Griffith of the University of Georgia titled The Georgia Challenge: New Politics and Old is included in these materials. Researchers may find the bulletins of the Georgia Democratic Party Forum and the Democrat campaign strategy for McCarthy in Clarke County and Georgia informative. Although these files have some material related to the Clarke County McCarthy for President campaign activity, the preponderance of files relates to the national campaign efforts. There are also a number of McCarthy's speeches on topics like civil rights, economics and world trade, the CIA, the military establishment, and Vietnam in this collection.

Organization and Arrangement

This collection is organized in three series: I. Robert Griffith Files, II. Phinizy Spalding Files, and III. Photographs.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Clarke County (Ga.) McCarthy for President Records, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Processing Information note

Clippings and thermofax papers have been copied onto bond paper for protection of content. Photographs have been separated for preservation.

User Restrictions

Library acts as "fair use" reproduction agent.

Copyright Information

Before material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permission. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2008.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in Other Repositories

Phinizy Spalding Papers, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

I. Robert Griffith Files

1 box(es)

This series consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings, notes, campaign material and a typed draft of the speech The Georgia Challenge: New Politics and Old. The speech discusses the organization of the Georgia Democratic Party Forum in order to fill the vacuum created by the failure of the Georgia Democratic Party to organize at the local level. These were Robert Griffith's personal campaign files in support of McCarthy for President.

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I.1

1

Campaign material, notes, etc., October 1967-January 1969

I.1

2

Correspondence, April 1968–March 1969

I.1

3

Robert Griffith: The Georgia Challenge, Typedraft, undated

I.1

4

Clippings, June–August 1968

I.1

5

Clippings, September 1968–[?]

I.1

6

Campaign material, notes, etc. (Folder 1 of 2), Spring-Summer 1968

I.1

7

Campaign material, notes, etc. (Folder 2 of 2), Spring-Summer 1968

 

II. Phinizy Spalding Files

1 box(es)

This series consists of correspondence, newspaper clippings, notes, and campaign material covering the time and work Phinizy Spalding completed during his support of McCarthy's campaign. These were his personal files he compiled during this time.

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II.1

1

Campaign material, notes, etc., February–May 1968

II.1

2

Campaign material, notes, etc., June–July 1968

II.1

3

Campaign material, notes, etc., August–September 1968

II.1

4

Campaign material, notes, etc. (Folder 1 of 3), Summer 1968

II.1

5

Campaign material, notes, etc. (Folder 2 of 3), Summer 1968

II.1

6

Campaign material, notes, etc. (Folder 3 of 3), Summer 1968

II.1

7

Correspondence, May–July 1968

II.1

8

Correspondence, August 1968–[?]

II.1

9

Clippings, Summer 1968

 

III. Photographs

22 item(s)

The series consists of six color photographs and one black and white contact sheet of sixteen negatives. The images include McCarthy for President Campaign dinners and rallies. Campaign workers, supporters and McCarthy himself are pictured.

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II.1

10

Campaign workers and supporters, undated. ([8"x10" contact sheet of 16 negatives])

II.1

11

Campaign dinner and rally, July 1968. ([6, color, 3.5"x3.5"])