Citizens for Reagan

Historical Note

The Citizens for Reagan organization originated from a strong belief of some of his supporters that Ronald Reagan should be persuaded to run for the Republican nomination for president in 1976, becoming Reagan's official campaign committee for the 1976 election. A committee was formed for that purpose with Senator Paul Laxalt, former governor of Nevada, as its chairman. The goal of this committee was to set up an organization to lead an effective political campaign and raise money needed to conduct a successful campaign in the event of the announcement of Ronald Reagan's candidacy for the president of the United States.

In addition to Paul Laxalt, other prominent members of the Republican Party decided to signify their support of Ronald Reagan's candidacy. John P. Sears, a Washington attorney, was chosen to serve as the executive vice-chairman. Other office holders included Jack Courtimanche of Los Angeles to be in charge of financial operations; Loren Smith as legal counsel; Jeffrey Bell as head of research; Henry M. Buchanan as treasurer; and David Keene as the southern states coordinator. Other prominent members were former governor of Kentucky Louis B. Nunn; former California Republican National Committeewoman Mrs. Stanlope C. Ring; retired congressman H. R. Gross of Iowa; and Nebraska insurance executive George Cook. Jim Lake, David Keene, and Lyn Nofziger represented political staff.

Citizens for Reagan had a centralized administrative structure with state offices. All handbills, rally notices and other materials included a notation such as "paid for by the CFR." Each local unit had a chairman and a treasurer at all times, possibly a bookkeeper as well. All local contributions to Citizens for Reagan or to the local subdivision were sent to Washington, D.C. to be deposited. The Washington office also authorized all expenditures.

All activities were carried out on a state-by-state basis using a detailed list of state-level coordinators, members, and addresses. Although the 1976 presidential election results did not fulfill Ronald Reagan's political ambition, the operating procedures and organizational structure used in the Citizens for Reagan operations of 1975-1976, the organizational experience successfully supported his later political ambitions.

From the guide to the Citizens for Reagan Records, 1975-1986, (Hoover Institution Archives)