California Republican Assembly

The California Republican Assembly (CRA) is a grassroots, political organization that promotes conservative values, policies, and candidates within the Republican Party. Dr. Robert Craig and Edward Shattuck began the CRA in 1932, with the intention of it being free and open to all Republicans, but for the first ten years, CRA sought the membership solely of men under the age of forty. Over the years CRA has supported several winning candidates in the national political arena and has helped shape politics in California. Although the CRA supports Republican values and candidates, it does not officially represent the Republican Party.

The California Republican Assembly (CRA), a statewide volunteer organization, was founded in 1934; furnishing Republican candidates with preprimary endorsements and financial and volunteer support, the CRA was the preeminent force in CA Republican politics; from 1942 through 1952 each of its 22 endorsed statewide candidates was nominated and it dominated CA's state party committee and national convention delegations; in the 1950s CRA's electoral influence declined, and by the early 1960s CRA was controlled by the party's conservative faction; CRA wielded a major influence on modern American politics by serving as a model for other party auxiliaries, such as the CA Democratic Council, and by its support of Republican leaders including Earl Warren, Thomas Kuchel, Goodwin Knight, William Knowland, Richard Nixon, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan.

Biography

The California Republican Assembly (CRA), a statewide volunteer organization, was founded in 1934; furnishing Republican candidates with preprimary endorsements and financial and volunteer support, the CRA was the preeminent force in California Republican politics; from 1942 through 1952 each of its 22 endorsed statewide candidates was nominated and it dominated California's state party committee and national convention delegations; in the 1950s CRA's electoral influence declined, and by the early 1960s CRA was controlled by the party's conservative faction; CRA wielded a major influence on modern American politics by serving as a model for other party auxiliaries, such as the California Democratic Council, and by its support of Republican leaders including Earl Warren, Thomas Kuchel, Goodwin Knight, William Knowland, Richard Nixon, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan.

Historical Background

Organizational History

The California Republican Assembly (CRA) is a grassroots, political organization that promotes conservative values, policies, and candidates within the Republican Party. Dr. Robert Craig and Edward Shattuck began the CRA in 1932 with the intention of it being free and open to all Republicans, but for the first ten years, CRA sought the membership solely of men under the age of forty. Shortly after its incorporation in 1935, the CRA had over 8,000 members in 47 of the 48 counties in California. The CRA had 12,000 members by 1940, over 11,000 by 1956, and over 14,000 by 1963. Although membership in CRA was free initially, a bylaw requiring paid memberships was eventually adopted.  CRA's founding fathers maintained an open and liberal philosophy; Dr. Robert Craig felt that paid membership betrayed the original concept and goals of CRA.  By 1955, there were many members whose philosophy was opposed to that of CRA's founders.  The liberals lost control of CRA with the election of moderate president Fred Hall in 1962, and CRA has been dominated by a conservative philosophy since 1972.

Over the years CRA has supported several winning candidates in the national political arena and has helped shape politics in California. Although the CRA supports Republican values and candidates, it does not officially represent the Republican Party.

The following chronology lists CRA presidents through 1969, the most recent date of the materials in the collection.