Republican National Committee (U.S.) Opposition Research Group records (original) (raw)

Description

The records include research materials accumulated and acquired by the Republican Opposition Research Group during the 1984 presidential election for use in the campaign against Democratic presidential candidates. The records consist of materials such as clippings, press releases, other printed matter, speeches, debate transcripts, memoranda, and video tapes regarding specific Democratic Party leaders such as Walter F. Mondale, John Glenn and Geraldine Ferraro, and specific political issues and special interest groups.

Background

The Opposition Research Group operated as part of the Communications Division within the Republican National Committee, chaired by Michael Bayer. The group was formed "in 1984 with its own budget of $1.1 million, to create a master data bank of computerized voter research and opposition research. Staff amassed information on eight Democratic presidential candidates based on data from voting records, Congressional Record speeches, media clippings and transcripts, campaign materials, all of which was stored on a computer for easy access. In this way the party was able to track inconsistencies of its opponents and attack them. This original data base evolved into a network that linked information gleaned by Republicans in all 50 states, creating a master data base accessible to high-ranking Republican staff, even aboard Air Force One when Ronald Reagan was president."

Extent

64 manuscript boxes, 2 cubic foot boxes (27.5 Linear Feet)

Restrictions

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Availability

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.