McCarthy Presidential Campaign Collection

Collection

Identifier: SPC-2021-013

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The McCarthy Presidential Campaign Collection (1967-1968; circa 1968; undated) contains 1 box and .21 linear feet of flyers, brochures, essays, memorandums, clippings, essays, mailing and contact lists, instructions for canvassing and phoning, campaign buttons and a bumper sticker, and other material related to the Eugene J. McCarthy’s presidential campaign in 1968. A majority of the materials are from organizations located in Northern California such as the McCarthy for President Campaign, Northern California Headquarters; Californians for An Alternative; McCarthy for President Campaign Committee on Platform and Issues; and the McCarthy Headquarters located in Marysville, CA. Also included are brochures related to youth organizations dedicated to the McCarthy campaign, material generated by the McCarthy for President National Headquarters, Viet-nam Veterans for McCarthy, and others. Finally, this collection contains a material related to the 1968 Democratic National Convention, and a few campaign flyers and brochures regarding other candidates running in the 1968 election, such as the Humphrey-Muskie campaign.

Dates

1967-1968; circa 1968; undated

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

On November 30, 1967, Eugene McCarthy, a Minnesota Democratic Senator announced his plan to run for President of the United States. His opposition to the Vietnam War was the main focus of his campaign, which gained the support of many younger voters and college students and helped him to effectively challenge Lyndon Johnson in the race. After McCarthy was able to obtain 42 percent of the vote in the New Hampshire primary, Robert F. Kennedy entered the race, and Johnson withdrew on March 31, 1968. After Johnson’s exit, Vice-President Hubert Humphrey entered the race, but didn’t participate in the primaries. Initially, McCarthy went on to win three primaries, but then lost four to Kennedy. After Kennedy’s assassination on June 6, McCarthy went on to lose the nomination to Humphrey at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August 1968.

Extent

1 box

.21 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains flyers, brochures, essays, memorandums, clippings, and other material related to the Eugene J. McCarthy’s presidential campaign in 1968. A majority of the materials are from grassroots organizations located in Northern California such as the McCarthy for President Campaign, Northern California Headquarters; Californians for An Alternative; McCarthy for President Campaign Committee on Platform and Issues; and the McCarthy Headquarters located in Marysville, CA. Also included are brochures related to youth organizations dedicated to the McCarthy campaign, material generated by the McCarthy for President National Headquarters, Viet-nam Veterans for McCarthy, and others.