Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Bayh, Birch, 1928-2019
- Abstract:
- Consists of the files generated by Bayh and his staff in the course of his political campaigns and his Indiana and national political activity.
- Extent:
- 45 linear feet (36 cartons)
- Language:
- Materials are in English.
- Preferred citation:
[item and date], [folder], [Subseries], Political Files, Birch Bayh Senatorial Papers, Modern Political Papers Collection, Indiana University Libraries, Bloomington.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
Inspired by the 1960 candidacy of John F. Kennedy for President, Bayh challenged 18-year Senator Homer Capehart in 1962 and won by a slim margin that he described as two votes in every precinct in Indiana. He and his wife immediately became close to both the Kennedys and the Johnsons, and in 1964 he was put in charge of the national Young Citizens for Johnson campaign, which sent him to speaking engagements all over the country.
Following his re-election in 1968 and the election of President Richard Nixon, Bayh began his own potentially successful campaign for the Presidential nomination in 1972, which was curtailed by his wife's breast cancer, diagnosed in October 1971. He won a hard-fought re-election campaign against Indianapolis mayor Richard Lugar in 1974 and again sought the Presidential nomination in 1976 but was derailed by a poor showing in the Massachusetts primary.
In his bid for re-election in 1980 he was defeated by U.S. Representative Dan Quayle.
- Scope and Content:
This series contains files relating to ongoing political activity in Indiana and nationally as well as files documenting the development of each of Bayh's political campaigns, including strategy, materials, fundraising, expenses, and reports.
Where possible to discern the files of specific members of Bayh's staff, these have been kept discrete, as in Bob Boxell's 1966 files as chair of the Indiana Democratic Campaign Committee and Jason (Jay) Berman's files relating to both the 1972 and 1976 Presidential campaigns. However, members of Bayh's legislative and Indiana department staff as well as his press secretary were also involved in political work and his campaigns, thus files relating to politics in Indiana may also be found in the Indiana Working Files, the Office Files Series, and the Press Department files.
Some files within a campaign may be cumulative from previous campaigns, as in Jay Berman's files and the state files. Fundraising files appear both within campaigns and as a separate subseries for ongoing activity between campaigns. There is also undoubtedly overlap between the presidential campaign fundraising and both the Fundraising and National subseries.
For an overview of the entire Birch Bayh Senatorial Papers collection, click here.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift, 1981.
- Processing information:
Processed by Kate Cruikshank.
Completed in 2017. Partial funding for processing was provided by a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission of the National Archives (2010-2012).
- Arrangement:
The series is divided into the subseries listed below. Folders are alphabetical within each subseries, with preservation of chronology where possible.
- Campaigns - Presidential: 1960
- Campaigns - Senate: 1962
- Campaigns - Presidential: 1964
- Campaigns - Presidential: 1968
- Campaigns - Senate: 1968
- Campaigns - President: 1972
- Campaigns - Senate: 1974
- Campaigns - President: 1976
- Campaigns - President: 1976 Jason Berman Files
- Campaigns - Senate: 1980
- Democratic Congressional Dinner Committee 1967-1968
- Democratic National Committee 1960-1968
- Democratic National Committee 1969-1979
- Democratic National Congressional Committee 1960-1968
- Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee 1962-1972
- Fundraising 1962-1968
- Fundraising 1969-1974
- Indiana 1960-1968
- Indiana 1969-1974
- Indiana 1975-1980
- Indiana Democratic Campaign Committee 1966 (Files of Chairman Bob Boxell)
- Indiana Democratic Party 1960-1968
- Indiana Democratic Party 1969-1974
- Indiana Democratic Party 1975-1980
- Indiana Democratic State Central Committee 1963-1980
- National 1960-1968
- National 1969-1974
- National 1975-1980
Letter-size documents and legal-size and other oversize documents are stored in separate containers. The folder list groups all folders on a given topic together regardless of size, with indications to the left of the relevant box number. Folders with no box number are in the box last indicated above them.
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
There are no access restrictions for this collection. However, it is in offsite storage, thus arrangements for use must be made in advance.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Researchers will be required to sign an agreement to protect third-party privacy with regard to all correspondence. Permission must be obtained for any use beyond conventional academic quotation and citation.
Photocopying and scanning are possible with permission.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[item and date], [folder], [Subseries], Political Files, Birch Bayh Senatorial Papers, Modern Political Papers Collection, Indiana University Libraries, Bloomington.
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
Herman B Wells Library E4601320 East Tenth StreetBloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
812-855-1538congpprs@indiana.edu