Burch, Dean, 1927-1991

Roy Dean Burch was born December 20, 1927 in Enid, Oklahoma, the son of Bert A. Burch and Leola Atkisson. While his father was employed as a guard, he lived at the Alcatraz penal institution in San Francisco Bay, and graduated from Galileo High School in San Francisco, California in 1945. In January, 1946 he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and served in the 7th Cavalry Regiment in Tokyo until his discharge in 1948. In 1953 he earned an LLB degree from the University of Arizona, and served as assistant to the Arizona Attorney General, 1953-1955.

In 1955, Senator Barry Goldwater selected him to be an administrative assistant, and in Washington, D.C. he participated in the Rackets Committee investigation of labor union practices and was active in Senator Goldwater's campaign for reelection to the Senate in 1958. Mr. Burch became a member of the law firm of Dunseath, Stubbs and Burch in Tucson in 1959, and worked as regional campaign manager for Arizona Governor Paul Fannin.

In November 1963, Senator Goldwater invited Burch to become the Deputy Director of the Goldwater for President Committee. Upon his nomination as the GOP presidential candidate in July 1964, Senator Goldwater selected Burch to become the Republican National Committee Chairman. He and his family relocated to Washington, D.C., and at age thirty-six became one of the youngest GOP Chairs. In the succeeding four months he presided over the hectic presidential campaign activities. Immediately following the stunning political defeat in the November election, he became the lightning rod for intense criticism. At the same time, November-December 1964, he was at the center of the Republican Party's internal struggle to define its future leadership and direction.

In January 1965, Mr. Burch resigned as Chairman in an attempt to forge unity by appeasing various factions in the Republican Party. At the same time, he and Senator Goldwater resisted a strong grass roots movement to form a new conservative political party. In April 1965, Mr. Burch left the Chairmanship position and returned to his law practice in Tucson. In 1968 he was a significant participant in managing Goldwater's Arizona Senate campaign. In January 1969, Governor Jack Williams appointed Burch to the Arizona Board of Regents.

Mr. Burch was named Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission by President Nixon and again relocated to Washington, D.C. in 1969. Under his tenure, October 31, 1969-spring 1974, he was influential in improving television programming for children.

Mr. Burch was the White House political counselor in the last months of the Nixon administration in 1974 and the first months of the Ford administration. Eight years later in 1980 he served as chief of staff for George Bush's vice presidential campaign, and also served as his counsel and a personal advisor.

From 1975-1987 he was a partner in the law firm of Pierson, Ball and Dowd in Washington, D.C. involved with telecommunications, and from 1987 to his death he was Director General of Intelsat, the global communications satellite consortium of 121 nations.

He received the Alumni Achievement Award by the University of Arizona in 1972.

Mr. Burch died of bladder cancer on August 4, 1991 at age 63.

Burch was married on July 7, 1961 to Patricia Meeks, a school teacher. They had three children, Shelley Burch Bennett, Dean Alexander Burch, and Dianne Ruth Burch Butterfield.

From the description of Dean Burch papers, 1964-1973 [manuscript]. (Scottsdale Public Library). WorldCat record id: 608751445

Roy Dean Burch was born on December 20, 1927 in Enid, Oklahoma, the son of Bert A. and Leola Atkisson Burch. While his father was employed as a guard, he lived at the Alcatraz penal institution in San Francisco Bay and graduated from Galileo High School in San Francisco, California in 1945. In January of 1946 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the 7th Cavalry Regiment in Tokyo until his discharge in 1948. In 1953, he earned an LLB degree from the University of Arizona and served as assistant to the Arizona Attorney General from 1953 to 1955.

In 1955, Senator Barry Goldwater selected Burch as an administrative assistant. In Washington D.C. Burch participated in the Rackets Committee investigation of labor union practices and was active in Senator Goldwater's campaign for reelection to the Senate in 1958. Burch became a member of the law firm of Dunseath, Stubbs and Burch in Tucson in 1959 and worked as regional campaign manager for Arizona Governor Paul Fannin.

In November of 1963 Senator Goldwater invited Burch to become the Deputy Director of the Goldwater for President Committee. Upon his nomination as the GOP presidential candidate in July of 1964, Senator Goldwater selected Burch as Republican National Committee Chairman. He and his family relocated to Washington D.C. and at age thirty-six he became one of the youngest GOP Chairs. In the following four months he presided over the hectic presidential campaign activities. Immediately following Goldwater's defeat in the November election, Burch became the lightning rod for intense criticism. At the same time (November–December 1964) he was at the center of the Republican Party's internal struggle to define its future leadership and direction.

In January of 1965 Burch resigned as Chairman in an attempt to forge unity by appeasing various factions in the Republican Party. At the same time, he and Senator Goldwater resisted a strong grass roots movement to form a new conservative political party. In April of 1965 Burch left the Chairmanship position and returned to his law practice in Tucson. In 1968, he was a significant participant in managing Goldwater's Arizona Senate campaign. In January of 1969, Governor Jack Williams appointed Burch to the Arizona Board of Regents.

Burch was named Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission by President Nixon and again relocated to Washington D.C. in 1969. During his tenure (October 31, 1969-Spring 1974), Burch was influential in improving television programming for children. Burch was the White House political counselor in the last months of the Nixon administration in 1974 and in the first months of the Ford administration. Eight years later, he served as chief of staff for George Bush's vice presidential campaign and as his counsel and personal advisor.

From 1975 to 1987, Burch was a partner in the law firm of Pierson, Ball and Dowd in Washington D.C., which was involved with telecommunications. From 1987 to his death, he was Director General of Intelsat, the global communications satellite consortium of 121 nations. He received the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Arizona in 1972. Dean Burch died of bladder cancer on August 4, 1991 at age 63.

Burch was married on July 7, 1961 to Patricia Meeks, a school teacher. They had three children: Shelley (Burch) Bennett, Dean Alexander Burch, and Dianne Ruth (Burch) Butterfield.

From the guide to the Dean Burch Papers, 1964-1973, (Arizona State University Libraries Arizona Collection)