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State Campaign Information - Kansas
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1561675
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State Campaign Information - Kansas
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collections
Richard B. Cheney Files
Richard Cheney's Campaign Subject Files
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Kansas
Presidential campaign, 1976
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1976-10-31
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 19, folder "State Campaign Information -
Kansas" of the Richard B. Cheney Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 19 of the Richard B. Cheney Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Dane
STATE OF KANSAS
met
POLITICAL STRUCTURE
Senator Bob Dole - Bob Dole, at this point in time, is
clearly the most identifiable and popular Republican in
the state of Kansas. Having just gone through a very
difficult campaign, the Senator has assembled, with the
help of former Lt. Governor Dave Owen, the largest and
most viable political organization in the state. Most
Republican leaders look to him for leadership in party
oriented matters. The Senator is in the process of
establishing regional offices throughout the state and
his rapport with the constituents should continue to
grow over the next few years.
Senator James B. Pearson - Senator Pearson has a substantial
following in the state, although not nearly of the magnitude
of Senator Bob Dole. Senator Pearson has never participated
very actively in Republican party affairs, taking a much less
partisan role than Senator Dole has taken. At this point in
time, Senator Pearson has very little organization of his own
and until very recently, his field offices were operated at
an extremely low key. However, assuming that the Senator plans
to run for re-election in 1978, it would be reasonable to assume
that he will begin organizing within the next year.
Governor Robert Bennett - Governor Bennett was elected by a very
narrow margin in the last general election, after having served
in the State Senate for several terms. At the beginning of his
last term, he was elected President of the Senate. He has an
excellent rapport with the Legislature and particularly, the
legislative leadership. Bennett was elected primarily on a back-
lash vote against his Democratic opponent, former Attorney General
Vern Miller, and has very little in the way of a political organi-
zation of his own. However, with the vast number of appointments
that the Governor can make and recognizing it has been eight years
since a Republican has occupied the Governor's seat in Kansas, it
would seem that Bennett's popularity and political influence can
only grow in the next four years. Bennett owes a great deal of
his victory to Jack Ranson, the Chairman of the Republican Party
in Kansas, and by virtue of that political debt, will be very
cooperative in party matters.
Jack Ranson, Chairman of the Republican Party - Jack Ransan
GERALD FORD
State of Kansas
Political Structure
Page 2
is an outstanding Chairman and pulled off a near miracle in
the last election campaign. At the beginning of the 1974
election, the Republican Party situation in Kansas could not
have been bleaker. It appeared that the Democrats could easily
win the Governor's seat, retain the 2nd District Congressional
seat given up by Bill Roy, and defeat Bob Dole with Bill Roy
in the Senate race. The results speak for themselves. The
Republican Party captured all of the state offices with the
exception of Attorney General and Treasurer, and Bob Dole
was returned to the U. S. Senate. We did, however, lose the
2nd District Congressional seat to Martha Keys. Ranson has
excellent rapport with party leaders and with those people
who have in the past financed the election campaigns in Kansas.
Ranson can be counted on for support by President Ford at the
convention. He owes his position as Republican State Chairman
to former Lt. Governor Dave Owen among others.
Kansas Leadership League - During the last general election
campaign, an organization was formed, under the leadership of
Jack Ranson, called the Kansas Leadership League. This organi-
zation now numbers approximately 80 members, who each contribute
$2,500.00 annually, to be used as the Leadership League deems fit
in election campaigns. The organization is composed of the most
influential political activists in the state, who have the where-
withal to finance campaigns. The Leadership League played an
important role in both the Dole victory and the Bennett victory
in 1974. The organization is now chaired by Howard Wilkens, a
young entrepreneur from Wichita. Howard is a most capable in-
dividual and the Leadership League will continue to grow and
function with more political clout under his guidance.
Huck Boyd, Republican National Committeeman - Huck Boyd has been
a very hard and faithful party worker in Kansas for many years.
His political allegiance is primarily to Bob Dole. Huck is one
of the most knowledgeable sources for political background in the
state; however, he has attained an age that is beginning to render
him less and less effective in party matters. It is very likely
that he will choose not to run for re-election to the position
in 1976, or be defeated in the race for re-election.
Beth Rogers, Republican National Committeewoman - Beth Rogers
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
State of Kansas
Political Structure
Page 3
is also very active and effective in party circles over the
past few years. She is the wife of State Senator Richard
Rogers from Manhattan, Kansas, who serves as President of the
Kansas Senate. Senator Rogers is one of the leading candidates
for a federal judgeship and should he be appointed, Mrs. Rogers
will resign. She would probably face a serious challenge in the
next re-election in any event.
Minority Groups - Minority groups in Kansas are primarily located
in the Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita areas. They have had
very little impact on the outcome of elections in the past.
However, the Republican Party is working extremely hard to gather
them into the fold. At this point in time, the party seems to be
very successful in the Jewish Community and the Mexican-American
Community and relatively ineffective in the Negro Community, with
the exception of a very few black leaders. Senator Bob Dole seems
to have the best rapport with minority groups in the state.
Economic Situation - Kansas is, of course, an agricultural oriented
state with wheat and beef being the primary economic factors. The
aircraft industry in the Wichita area causes rather dramatic economic
swings in that locality, but has minimal effect in the rest of the
state. Kansas is not experiencing, at this time, many of the un-
employment problems other states are faced with. Unemployment is
so low, as a matter of act, that Kansas is not on the list of
states receiving federal grants for unemployment compensation.
Labor Situation - Kansas has a right-to-work law, and it is a very
popular issue in the state. Union support is centered in Kansas
City, Topeka, and Wichita. Union members, although relatively
small in comparison to the total state population, are highly
organized and effective. They played an important role in
Bill Roy's close race against Bob Dole and were one of the
major reasons that Bob Docking was elected Governor of Kansas
for four consecutive terms as a Democrat. If pressed on the
issue in this state, a politican would be wise to side with
the right-to-work organization. The partial proof of this can
be born out in the recent Senate election in which Bob Dole's
campaign chairman, former Lt. Governor Dave Owen, made that a
key issue in the campaign.
GERALD ? FORD
State of Kansas
Political Structure
Page 4
Delegate Selection - Under the new rule of the Republican
National Committee, Kansas will have 34 delegates to the
National Convention, pending the outcome of the Rippon
Society's suit. Kansas has no state law, nor any Party
By-laws, covering the selection of delegates. Traditionally,
however, they have been selected in the following manner,
bearing in mind that up until now, Kansas has had 20 delegates
and, as you know, has 5 Congressional Districts. Two delegates
have been selected from each of the districts at a District
Caucus. Another delegate has been recommended by the district
to the State Caucus for ratification. The remaining 5 delegates
have been selected at large at the State Convention. State Chair-
man Jack Ranson intends to codify this traditional procedure some-
time this year.
Overview - At the present time, President Ford does not have
the average voter of Kansas convinced that he is the man to
do the job as President of the United States. On the other
hand, there is no readily identifiable alternative that causes
any serious threat to the President's position. Party leadership
seems to be philosophically aligned with a person like Ronald
Reagan; however, they think very highly of President Ford and
understand the political realities of an incumbent president
running for re-election. It would seem that the time for
President Ford is now and that delegate strength can be lined
up through contact with party leadership in the next few months.
The most viable organization to contact at the present time is
the Kansas Leadership League and Chairman Jack Ranson. President
Ford is perceived to be a dedicated public servant and honest man
by the majority of the Kansas constituency. With that image already
created, regardless of the many issues that they do not agree with
the President on, coupled with his incumbency, President Ford should
be able to put Kansas in his column with some strategic contacts be-
ing made in the next few months.
GERALD FORD JOHARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Please Det
October 5, 1976
gm
MEMORANDUM FOR:
DICK CHENEY
THRU:
JACK MARSH
MAX FRIEDERSDORF
m.b.
FROM:
CHARLES LEPPERT, JR.
CG.
SUBJECT:
Rep. Keith Sebelius (R. - Kansas)
Rep. Keith Sebelius says that a recent poll taken at the
Kansas State Fair from September 18 to 26, 1976, showed
the following results:
September 18
September 26
Ford
50%
45%
Carter
45%
37%
Undecided
5%
18%
Sebelius
70%
60%
Opponent
21%
27%
Undecided
9%
13%
FORDO i BENALD LIBRARY
FORD & LIDRARY GERALD
[original in folder "Butz,Far/" F. in box 16]