California Democratic Council

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The California Democratic Council (CDC), a federation of local volunteer clubs, was established in 1953; under the direction of founding president Alan Cranston, the CDC was able to balance its electoral and legislative goals; CDC endorsements and campaign support led to the first full statewide slate of Democrats in 40 years (1954) and also figured prominently in the election of Edmund G. "Pat" Brown as CA governor in 1958; as the CDC's focus became increasingly ideological, tensions led to a steady decline in its membership and presence in CA politics; membership peaked at 75,000 in 1964.

From the description of Records, 1963-1980 bulk 1970s. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 38287338

Biography

The California Democratic Council (CDC), a federation of local volunteer clubs, was established in 1953; under the direction of founding president Alan Cranston, the CDC was able to balance its electoral and legislative goals; CDC endorsements and campaign support led to the first full statewide slate of Democrats in 40 years (1954) and also figured prominently in the election of Edmund G. Pat Brown as California governor in 1958; as the CDC's focus became increasingly ideological, tensions led to a steady decline in its membership and presence in California politics; membership peaked at 75,000 in 1964.

From the guide to the California Democratic Council Records, 1963-1980 bulk 1970s, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)

Historical Note

The California Democratic Council is a voluntary affiliation of local activist Democratic Party clubs, formed in 1953 by individuals interested in improving the status of the Party in California. The Council was one of the first Democratic Party groups to recognize a gay caucus (1972). A gay caucus was recognized within the official structure of the California Democratic Party in 1977.

From the guide to the California Democratic Council Collection, Bulk, 1976-1981, 1971-1985, (ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)

Organizational History

The California Democratic Council (CDC) was founded in 1953 by a group of concerned Democrats. They were galvanized by State Senator George Miller, Jr., who called a meeting in Asilomar to discuss "What's wrong with the Democratic Party in California." In the early 1950s, even though the majority of California voters were registered Democrats, there had only been one Democratic Governor in the 20th Century and the Republicans held the majority in both houses of the Legislature, and a total of 111 out of the 162 elective, partisan offices in the state. The CDC was created as a link between the volunteer democratic clubs and district councils, and the official party structure (State and County Central Committees and elected officials). Besides encouraging membership in the local clubs, one of the CDC's primary responsibilities was to arrange for pre-primary endorsements of candidates (which the Central Committees were not allowed to do). This was needed to cut down on problems caused by the cross-filing of Republican candidates in Democratic primaries and divisive primary campaigns that carried over to the general election and allowed the Republican candidate to win the seat.

The CDC's first convention was held, November 1953, in Fresno. Alan Cranston (later State Controller and then U.S. Senator from California) was elected the first President, serving until 1957. The CDC began seeing improvements immediately, and, by 1958, there were more than 500 local clubs with almost 40,000 members, and even more importantly the Democrats had gained dominance in elected positions, in many cases reversing the 1952 numbers: eleven Democratic to 29 Republican State Senators in 1952 to 28 Democrats and 12 Republicans in 1958. For statewide offices the numbers switched from 2 Democrats and 10 Republicans in 1952 to 10 Democrats and 2 Republicans by 1958.

In 1957 the CDC organized a Resolutions Committee to increase the grass-roots influence on party platforms and policies and in 1959 held the first "full-blown" issues conference as the center of the annual convention, where small groups "discussed topics ranging from nuclear fission to election reform law." This successful format was repeated in 1960, while the 1961 convention focused on "Organization." Club membership and convention attendance continued to increase into the early 1960s (with 60,000 members and 2300 delegates in 1962); convention attendance began to decrease in the later 1960s.

The CDC was involved in a number of civil rights issues: promoting Black and Brown Caucuses, pressing the president in 1963 to appoint Mexican-Americans to government positions, calling for the seating of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Delegation at the 1964 Democratic National Convention, and direct and economic support of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers in 1966. The CDC also took a stand on the Vietnam War, calling for a "political settlement" in 1965. After President Johnson failed to remove US troops by September 1967, the CDC held a Special Convention in Long Beach where they decided to run a Peace and Equality Slate. CDC President Joseph Wyatt is credited with being instrumental in convincing Eugene McCarthy to join the 1968 Presidential race. Martin Luther King Jr., graced the 1968 Convention with a speech just three weeks before his assassination. The CDC's Women's Caucus started in 1968 and the CDC was one of the first Democratic groups to recognize a Gay Caucus (1972). In 1969 the board of directors added five positions, giving representation to women, youth, labor, Black and Brown caucuses. However, it was not until 1975 that a woman (Wallace Albertson) was elected CDC President. Albertson served until 1981.

The CDC has remained active over the years as the progressive voice in Democratic Party politics. In 2001 they honored the memory of their first President Alan Cranston at the annual dinner at the May convention.

  • 1953 - 1957 : Alan Cranston -- 1st
  • 1957 - 1961 : Joseph Wyatt -- 2nd (appointed at Cranston's resignation)
  • 1961 - 1965 : Tom B. Carvey -- 3rd
  • 1965 - 1966 : Simon (Si) Casady -- 4th
  • 1966 - 1969 : Gerald Hill -- 5th
  • 1969 - 1970 : John Burton -- 6th
  • 1970 - 1971 : Ernie Hartz -- 7th (interim appointee)
  • 1971 - 1975 : Nathan (Nate) Holden -- 8th
  • 1975 - 1981 : Wallace Albertson -- 9th
  • 1981 - 1985 : Lia Triff Belli -- 10th
  • 1985 - 1991 : Robert W. Farran -- 11th

From the guide to the California Democratic Council (CDC) Records, 1947-1988, (Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Donated oral histories collection, 1962-1996, bulk 1962-1981. University of California, Los Angeles
referencedIn Wyatt, Joseph L., 1924-. Collection of California Democratic Council records, 1953-1967. University of California, Los Angeles
creatorOf California Democratic Council (CDC) Records, 1947-1988 Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research.
referencedIn Fadem, Joyce A. Papers, 1959-1967. University of California, Los Angeles
referencedIn Larry N. Gerston California Democratic Council Collection, 1960-1981 University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
referencedIn Cameron, Ronald B., 1927-. Oral history interview with Ronald B. Cameron, 1990. Transcript. / by Phillip L. Gianos, Oral History Program, California State University, Fullerton for the State Government Oral History Program, California State Archives. California State Archives
referencedIn Shields, Currin V. Papers, 1953-1957. University of California, Los Angeles
referencedIn Rees, Thomas M., 1925-. Oral history interview with Thomas M. Rees, 1987. Transcript. [electronic resource] / by Carlos Vasquez, University of California, Los Angeles for the State Government Oral History Program, California State Archives. OCLC Econtent Synchronization Program
referencedIn Dills, Ralph C., 1910-. Oral History Interview with Ralph C. Dills, 1989. Transcript. / by Carlos Vasquez, University of California, Los Angeles for the State Government Oral History Program, California State Archives. California State Archives
referencedIn Joseph L. Wyatt Collection of California Democratic Council Records, 1953-1967 University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
referencedIn Zetterberg, Stephen I., 1916-. Oral history interview with Stephen I. Zetterberg : oral history transcript / by Enid H. Douglass, Oral History Program, Claremont Graduate School, for the State Government Oral History Program, California State Archives, 1993. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Joyce A. Fadem Papers, 1959-1967 University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
creatorOf California Democratic Council Records, 1963-1980 bulk 1970s University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
referencedIn Charles G. Gant California Democratic Council Records, 1960-1967 University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
referencedIn Mellon, Knox. California Democratic Council papers, 1957-1969. University of California, Los Angeles
creatorOf California Democratic Council. Records, 1963-1980 bulk 1970s. University of California, Los Angeles
referencedIn Tom B. Carvey Papers, 1948-1968 University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
referencedIn Baxandall, Rosalyn Fraad, 1939-. Reformers and radicals. California State University, Long Beach
referencedIn Oral history interview with Daniel M. Luevano, 1988. Transcript. By Carlos Vasquez UCLA. Library. Center for Oral History Research
referencedIn Myers, Helen Linder, 1914-. Oral history interview with Helen Linder Myers : oral history transcript / By Enid H. Douglass, Claremont Graduate School Oral History Program for the State Government Oral History Program, California State Archives, 1990. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Gerston, Larry N. California Democratic Council collection, 1960-1981. University of California, Los Angeles
referencedIn Knox Mellon California Democratic Council Papers, 1957-1969 University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
referencedIn Currin V. Shields Papers, 1953-1957 University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
creatorOf California Democratic Council Collection, Bulk, 1976-1981, 1971-1985 ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.
referencedIn Schiller, Hans Joachim, 1917-1998. Germany, Palestine, Northern California : political and architectural activities, 1993 / Hans Schiller ; interviews conducted by Malca Chall, Eleanor Glaser, and Suzanne Riess, Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Henson, Burt M., 1926-. Oral history interview with Burt M. Henson : oral history transcript / By Enid Hart Douglass, Oral History Program, Claremont Graduate School, for the State Government Oral History Program, California State Archives, 1988. California State Archives
referencedIn Carvey, Tom B., 1922-. Papers, 1948-1968. University of California, Los Angeles
referencedIn Gant, Charles G., 1916-. California Democratic Council records, 1960-1967. University of California, Los Angeles
referencedIn Swadesh, Nancy. Nancy Swadesh papers, 1960-1966 (inclusive), 1960-1961 (bulk). UC Berkeley Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Cameron, Ronald B., 1927- person
associatedWith Carvey, Tom B., 1922- person
associatedWith Democratic Party (Calif.) corporateBody
associatedWith Dills, Ralph C., 1910- person
associatedWith Fadem, Joyce A. person
associatedWith Fadem, Joyce A. person
associatedWith Gant, Charles G., 1916- person
associatedWith Gerston, Larry N. person
associatedWith Henson, Burt M., 1926- person
associatedWith Luevano, Daniel M., 1923-. person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith Mellon, Knox person
associatedWith Mellon, Knox. person
associatedWith Myers, Helen Linder, 1914- person
associatedWith Rees, Thomas M., 1925- person
associatedWith Schiller, Hans Joachim, 1917-1998. person
associatedWith Shields, Currin V. person
associatedWith Shields, Currin V. person
associatedWith Swadesh, Nancy. person
associatedWith Wyatt, Joseph L., 1924- person
associatedWith Zetterberg, Stephen I., 1916- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
California
California
Subject
Democratic Party (Calif.)
Homosexuality
Political activists
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1963

Active 1980

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