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Collection Inventory
Series V. Campaign for United States Congress, 1966
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Scope and Content Notes: "Because of the depleted state of the local party and my persistent inquisitiveness about how to improve the community and help solve its problems, party official approached me to run for mayor of Pittsburgh. And although I begged off at that time, I was nevertheless hooked on politics and did succumb to the 1966 congressional campaign" ("From Star Car to the Governor's Office,"
JFK School Bulletin, Fall, Winter, 1987).
And so it was in 1966, Thornburgh made his first run for public office as a Republican candidate for U.S. Congress from Pittsburgh's Fourteenth Congressional District, wholly contained within the City of Pittsburgh, and where Democrat registered voters outnumbered Republicans by over 3:1. Thornburgh faced running against William S. Moorhead, Jr., who was the four-year Democrat incumbent who had won election easily twice before. As stated in his book, "Ginny and I had no particular issues on which to challenge Moorhead and no illusions about our ability to win the seat. We knew, however, that we had to test our interest in running for public office" (
Evidence, p. 25).
This was a lonely endeavor at the start when news of Thornburgh for Congress, delivered to Pittsburgh's two newspapers, the
Post Gazette and
Press, merited small mentions, in one case not even mentioning Thornburgh's name in the headline: "Lawyer Seeking Moorhead Seat." Most of spring of 1966 was spent attending various Republican ward meetings and soliciting endorsements. On Primary Day, May 17, Thornburgh, in what he describes as a "smashing victory," corralled 78% of the meager Republican turnout, but as he further states "the greater challenge lay ahead" ("Evidence" draft, p. 106).
By Primary Day the campaign, now chaired by John Heinz, had come together quite well. Finances were handled smoothly and a group of volunteer supporters provided a strong research team. Briefing books were prepared on issues of importance, and ultimately a compendium of positions was put together including topics such as: hard line against organized crime and official corruption, concern for the elderly, urban problems, strong civil rights position, support for United Nations, conservative fiscal policies, transportation issues, job training, improved public education, and concern about Vietnam. It is notable that many, even most, of these topics of concern in 1966 recurred in Thornburgh's continued career and are well documented in the archives.
The General Election campaign included attending a three-day candidates' conference sponsored by the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington. Of interest is that another "rookie" challenging a Democrat incumbent and attending this conference was President George H.W. Bush. The fall was busy with events and campaign appearances. Travel around the district was by what became known at the "Star Car," a clunker Rambler station wagon. There were three debates between Moorhead and Thornburgh, and Ginny Thornburgh energetically master-minded a dedicated volunteer organization. These were the times of door-to-door canvassing of voters, handing out emery boards and calorie counters with "Thornburgh for Congress," and billboards picturing Thornburgh holding a large wooden spoon entitled "Thornburgh Will Stir Things Up in Congress."
Despite all the hard work, solid research, and dedicated volunteer activity, ultimately Thornburgh lost to William Moorhead on Election Day, 82,732 to 38,528. As Thornburgh concludes in his book: "All, of course, was not for naught. Ginny and I discovered how much we actually enjoyed the campaign process - meeting and mingling with the voters, puzzling through our positions on difficult issues, and feeling that there was indeed a way to make a difference for the better in people's lives" (
Evidence, p. 30). Even the
Post Gazette noted "In Mr. Thornburgh the GOP has presented an exceptionally attractive candidate of the sort who should be encouraged to run for public office. While he did not pick the right office at the right time, we hope he will be encouraged to stay active in politics so that the public can avail itself of his services on another occasion" ("Evidence" draft, p. l14).
Researchers should take note that issue background material here relates and interconnects with other Pittsburgh and Allegheny County reports and articles in these other sections of the archive: "Civic Activities," "Politics," and "Constitutional Convention." These campaign archives are organized in nine sections: "Campaign Plans and Ephemera," "Issues and Position Papers," "Opposition Research," "News Releases and Media," "Campaign Volunteer Effort," "Candidate Thornburgh's Files," "Election Results," "Campaign Finances," and "Correspondence."
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Subseries 1. Campaign Plans and Ephemera
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Scope and Content Notes: These files are arranged in five sections: GOP candidate information, campaign plans, campaign headquarters, Thornburgh for Congress, and campaign mailings. The "GOP candidate files" include materials on the '66 Democrat candidates, supplied by the Republican National Committee. "Campaign plans" include information gathered on voters, polling places and congressional districts. "Campaign headquarters" provides information on the headquarters opening, includes campaign correspondence and even the flower covered guest registry. "Thornburgh for Congress" includes materials that relate to the campaign kick-off and progression, as well as campaign ephemera. "Campaign mailings" consist of correspondence and mailings to and from the Thornburgh campaign headquarters.
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Section: GOP Candidate Information
Box 22
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Republican National Committee Candidates Information 1966
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2 |
Republican National Committee Fact Book 1966 Election Campaign 1966
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1966 Candidates Conference June 29, 1966 - July 12, 1966
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Section: Campaign Plans
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Fourteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania 1966
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5 |
Campaign References (published reports) (annotated) 1966
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Allegheny County GOP and Voter Data 1966
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Campaign Binder: County Analysis 1966
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Fourteenth Congressional District: Analysis and Statistics 1966
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9 |
Polling Places 1966
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Section: Campaign Headquarters
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10 |
Open House June 13, 1966
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Opening September 12, 1966
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Correspondence 1966
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13 |
Guest Registry 1966
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Section: Thornburgh for Congress
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Thornburgh for Congress Announcement February 1966
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15 |
Thornburgh's Biography 1966
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16 |
Thornburgh for Congress Committee 1966
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Fourteenth Congressional District Campaign Kick-off Rally April 13, 1966
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Endorsements of Thornburgh for Congress 1966
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19 |
Schedules, Invitations and Event Material 1966
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20 |
Editorial Fall, 1966
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Thornburgh address for Republican Nomination for U.S. Congress in the 14th Congressional District April 13, 1966
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Section: Ephemera
Section: Campaign Mailings
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Pittsburgh Letterheads 1966
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25 |
Pittsburgh Letterheads 1966
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26 |
Addresses for campaign mailings, form letters, correspondence 1966
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GOP Mailings 1966
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Subseries 2. Issues and position papers
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Scope and Content Notes: Thornburgh delivered twelve position papers on topics of concern to voters. In addition to the issued papers, and drafts, there are binders and folders of research materials designed for debate preparation and issue discussions.
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Box 23
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1-3 |
Issue References (published materials) (annotated); some with historical material pre 1966 1966
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Position papers (bound copy) November, 1966
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Position Paper #1: Help for the Aged October 10, 1966
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Position Paper #2: We Need Better Law Enforcement October 13, 1966
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Position Paper #3: Pittsburgh Can Solve its Transportation Problems October 18, 1966
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Position Paper #4: A Better Way for Urban Renewal October 20, 1966
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Position Paper #5: Education: Top Priority October 24, 1966
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Position Paper #6: Vietnam as a Subject for Concern and Debate October 28, 1966
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Position Paper #7: Civil Rights October 30, 1966
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Position Paper #8: International Trade: When it Helps, When it Hurts October 31, 1966
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Position Paper #9: Problems of Foreign Policy November 1, 1966
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Position Paper #10: Economic Problems November 2, 1966
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Position Paper #11: Poverty Programs Should Help the Poor, Not the Politicians November 3, 1966
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Position Paper #12: Labor Problems November 4, 1966
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Political and legal newsletters regarding the Thornburgh campaign 1966
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18-19 |
Research Binder: Issues (annotated) 1966
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Research Plans, Drafts and Memos 1966
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Question and Answer Session (annotated) August 27, 1966
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Neighborhood Youth Corps (annotated) 1966
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Moorhead Debate 1966
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The League of Women Voters Questionnaire (annotated) 1966
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Scranton/Shafer Administration Accomplishments September 7, 1966
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Subseries 3. Opposition research
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Scope and Content Notes: Thornburgh's team carefully researched the various candidates for Congress, including their campaign materials, particularly about Thornburgh's general election opponent, William Moorhead.
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Miscellaneous Candidates 1966
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William Moorhead Opposition Research (annotated) 1966-1969
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"Your Senator's Report," Transcripts of radio broadcasts with Senators Hugh Scott (R) and Joseph Clark (D) March, 1965-October,1966
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Voters Guides 1966
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Subseries 4. News releases and media
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Scope and Content Notes: These items are arranged chronologically and cover the dates February 12, 1966 - November 7, 1966. These reflect campaign debates, personal appearances and endorsements and are available here online. The media files relate both to the Thornburgh campaign efforts to gain media coverage as well as collections of newspaper clippings regarding the campaign.
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Media Campaign (annotated) 1966
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News Releases (annotated) February 12, 1966 - October 18, 1966
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News Releases October 20, 1966 - 1967
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News Releases (bound copy) 1966
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Campaign Clips (annotated) 1965-1967
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Subseries 5. Campaign volunteer effort
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Scope and Content Notes: Materials include individual volunteer instructional materials as well as extensive information reflecting the entire volunteer effort. Ginny Thornburgh was primarily responsible for this grassroots support and the files include her volunteer records and the binders that she created to track volunteer activities throughout the Fourteenth District. One of the sad moments associated with the campaign was a fire at campaign headquarters in the wee hours of the morning after Election Day. In the pouring rain the Thornburghs rushed there especially to rescue the volunteer files, only to find the gutter awash with their invaluable 3"x 5" cards.
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Box 24
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Ginny Thornburgh Campaign File 1966
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Ginny Thornburgh Door-to-Door Canvass File 1966
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Door-to-Door Canvassing 1966
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Sample Canvass Kit for Area Chairmen 1966
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Campaign Volunteer Instructions 1966
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Campaign Volunteers 1966
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Binder: 14th Congressional District Door-to-Door Canvass Chairmen and Volunteers: Areas I-XV 1966
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Binder: 14th Congressional District Door-to-Door Canvass Chairmen and Volunteers: Areas XVI-XXX 1966
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Subseries 6. Thornburgh's files
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Scope and Content Notes: These consist of items that Thornburgh kept close at hand during the campaign, and include his campaign and speech notes, and personal campaign files. As is typical for him, much of this material is handwritten and/or annotated and reflects his thinking as well as his actions as candidate.
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Campaign Notes (annotated) 1966
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Thornburgh's Personal Congressional Campaign File: notes, strategy and issue research (annotated) 1966
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Thornburgh's General Congressional Campaign File: notes, issue research, correspondence and ephemera (annotated) 1966
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Speech and annotated Speech Notes 1966
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Subseries 7. Election results
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Scope and Content Notes: Election results from both the Primary and the General Election are here. Also included is a report written about the unsuccessful Thornburgh campaign: "The Broken Spoon: a study in failure" by Jeffrey A. Ernico, a Pitt student and campaign volunteer. The title refers to the photograph widely used in Thornburgh campaign literature and billboards of Thornburgh standing next to a giant wooden spoon with the slogan "Dick Thornburgh will stir things up in Congress."
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Primary Election Results 1966
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General Election Results 1966
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"The Broken Spoon: A Study in Failure," by Jeffrey A. Ernico 1966
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Subseries 8. Campaign finances
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Scope and Content Notes: The bulk of the materials here relates to the campaign budget and contributions and is arranged chronologically.
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Thornburgh for Congress Committee: Financial Matters (annotated) 1966
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Contributions: Alphabetical Copies of Letters 1966
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Lists of Contributors from Various Organizations (annotated) 1966
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Form Letters Regarding Contributions 1966
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Campaign Budget 1966
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Subseries 9. Correspondence
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Scope and Content Notes: Correspondence in these folders, arranged chronologically, covers the campaign effort. The correspondence is separated as follows: pre-primary, post-primary, pre-election and post-election. Correspondence is to and from voters, peers, co-workers, and constituents.
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Box 25
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1 |
1966 GOP Candidates and Ward Chairmen Letters 1966
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2-5 |
Thornburgh's Campaign Correspondence 1966
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Correspondence from Voters 1966
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7 |
Post Election Lists for Thank You Letters 1966
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Post Election Thank You Letters 1966
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