F. Clifton White
Encyclopedia
Frederick Clifton White (1918–93) was a U.S. political consultant and campaign manager for candidates of the Republican Party
and the New York Conservative Party, as well as foreign clients. He is best remembered as the moving force behind the Draft Goldwater Committee
in 1961-64, which secured a majority of delegates to nominate the first modern conservative presidential candidate of the Republican Party, Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater
.
White was born and raised in upstate New York, graduating in 1940 from Colgate University
. He flew as a navigator on dozens of missions for the Army Air Corps
during World War II, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, and after the war taught political science at Ithaca College
and Cornell University
.
In his only candidacy, White was defeated in a 1946 bid for Congress. But his activism only grew more intense, serving in Youth for Dewey in 1948, rising eventually to chair the New York State Young Republicans
organization, as well as chairmanship of city and county GOP parties.
His YR activism would serve as the base for his drive, in initial collaboration with William Rusher and John M. Ashbrook
, to nominate a conservative Republican for President. The effort began quietly with meetings in 1961 with other party activists. The movement grew to a full-time operation with a Manhattan office opened in the spring of 1962; its address in the Chanin Building gave White the title of his account of the Goldwater campaign, Suite 3505.
Goldwater's speech to the 1960 Republican Convention had included the phrase, "Let's grow up, conservatives. If we want to take this party back, and I think some day we can. Let's get to work." White and other younger activists took this as their rallying cry, and ultimately convinced the reluctant Arizonan (after many misgivings) to run.
White was credited with organizing highly effective grassroots operations in the states that secured enough delegates for a surprising Goldwater victory on the first ballot, at the 1964 GOP Convention held in San Francisco. White's team bested the better-funded Eastern Establishment campaigns of New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller
, Pennsylvania Gov. William Scranton
and others.
However, after the convention, Goldwater declined to give White the lead role of RNC Chairman in the fall campaign, choosing to rely on who he termed "the professionals" at the Republican National Committee
. According to author Theodore H. White
(no relation), Clif was "dismissed" to "an outer circle of advisers." White was left to organize an independent campaign, Citizens for Goldwater-Miller, on Goldwater's behalf. (This was the group that sponsored the national broadcast, "A Time for Choosing", featuring a speech by former actor Ronald Reagan
, launching his national career in politics. Inexplicably, several of Goldwater's close advisers tried to stop the Reagan broadcast.) On Election Night, the Senator was overwhelmed by incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson
, buried in an historic landslide.
In 1968, White guided the brief presidential campaign of recently elected California Gov. Ronald Reagan
, helming his operation at the GOP Convention in Miami Beach. Reagan came in third with 182 delegates, behind Nelson Rockefeller
and first-ballot winner Richard M. Nixon.
Back in New York, White managed the 1970 campaign of James L. Buckley
for U.S. Senate on the Conservative Party line. Backed by President Nixon and (tacitly) Rockefeller, Buckley won the three-way contest with 38.8% of the vote. The Buckley campaign was his first with young pollster Arthur J. Finkelstein
, with whom White would go into business in their consulting firm, DirAction Services. Their 1972 campaigns included the Committee to Re-Elect the President
(Finkelstein as one of several pollsters), and the successful bid of broadcaster Jesse Helms
for U.S. Senate from North Carolina
.
White broke with most conservatives and worked for President Gerald R. Ford against Ronald Reagan
in the contest for the 1976 Republican nomination. After Reagan's election to the Presidency, he named White as director of Radio Marti, broadcasting pro-U.S. programming to Communist Cuba.
His foreign clients included President Carlos Andrés Pérez
of Venezuela
, in his successful 1973 election campaign. He also served as president of the International Association of Political Consultants, and of its U.S. branch. His corporate clients included U.S. Steel
, Standard Oil of Indiana and General Electric
.
White was the founding director of the Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs
at Ashland University
, serving from 1983 until 1992 when he retired due to health reasons.
White wrote several books, including Suite 3505: The Story of the Draft Goldwater Movement (1967) and Why Reagan Won: The Conservative Movement 1964-81 (1981), both co-authored with William J. Gill.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and the New York Conservative Party, as well as foreign clients. He is best remembered as the moving force behind the Draft Goldwater Committee
Draft Goldwater Committee
The Draft Goldwater Committee was the organization primarily responsible for engineering the nomination of Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater for President of the United States on the 1964 Republican Party ticket....
in 1961-64, which secured a majority of delegates to nominate the first modern conservative presidential candidate of the Republican Party, Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
.
White was born and raised in upstate New York, graduating in 1940 from Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
. He flew as a navigator on dozens of missions for the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
during World War II, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, and after the war taught political science at Ithaca College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
and Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
.
In his only candidacy, White was defeated in a 1946 bid for Congress. But his activism only grew more intense, serving in Youth for Dewey in 1948, rising eventually to chair the New York State Young Republicans
Young Republicans
The Young Republicans is an organization for members of the Republican Party of the United States between the ages of 18 and 40. It has both a national organization and chapters in individual states....
organization, as well as chairmanship of city and county GOP parties.
His YR activism would serve as the base for his drive, in initial collaboration with William Rusher and John M. Ashbrook
John M. Ashbrook
John Milan Ashbrook was an American politician of the Republican Party who served in the United States House of Representatives from Ohio from 1961 until his death. His father was William A. Ashbrook, a newspaper editor, businessman, and U.S...
, to nominate a conservative Republican for President. The effort began quietly with meetings in 1961 with other party activists. The movement grew to a full-time operation with a Manhattan office opened in the spring of 1962; its address in the Chanin Building gave White the title of his account of the Goldwater campaign, Suite 3505.
Goldwater's speech to the 1960 Republican Convention had included the phrase, "Let's grow up, conservatives. If we want to take this party back, and I think some day we can. Let's get to work." White and other younger activists took this as their rallying cry, and ultimately convinced the reluctant Arizonan (after many misgivings) to run.
White was credited with organizing highly effective grassroots operations in the states that secured enough delegates for a surprising Goldwater victory on the first ballot, at the 1964 GOP Convention held in San Francisco. White's team bested the better-funded Eastern Establishment campaigns of New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
, Pennsylvania Gov. William Scranton
William Scranton
William Warren Scranton is a former U.S. Republican Party politician. Scranton served as the 38th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1963 to 1967. From 1976 to 1977, he served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.-Early life:...
and others.
However, after the convention, Goldwater declined to give White the lead role of RNC Chairman in the fall campaign, choosing to rely on who he termed "the professionals" at the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
. According to author Theodore H. White
Theodore H. White
Theodore Harold White was an American political journalist, historian, and novelist, known for his wartime reporting from China and accounts of the 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1980 presidential elections.-Life and career:...
(no relation), Clif was "dismissed" to "an outer circle of advisers." White was left to organize an independent campaign, Citizens for Goldwater-Miller, on Goldwater's behalf. (This was the group that sponsored the national broadcast, "A Time for Choosing", featuring a speech by former actor Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, launching his national career in politics. Inexplicably, several of Goldwater's close advisers tried to stop the Reagan broadcast.) On Election Night, the Senator was overwhelmed by incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
, buried in an historic landslide.
In 1968, White guided the brief presidential campaign of recently elected California Gov. Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, helming his operation at the GOP Convention in Miami Beach. Reagan came in third with 182 delegates, behind Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
and first-ballot winner Richard M. Nixon.
Back in New York, White managed the 1970 campaign of James L. Buckley
James L. Buckley
James Lane Buckley is a retired judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and previously served as a United States Senator from the state of New York as a member of the Conservative Party of New York from January 3, 1971 to January 3, 1977...
for U.S. Senate on the Conservative Party line. Backed by President Nixon and (tacitly) Rockefeller, Buckley won the three-way contest with 38.8% of the vote. The Buckley campaign was his first with young pollster Arthur J. Finkelstein
Arthur J. Finkelstein
Arthur J. Finkelstein is a New York-based Republican Party consultant who has worked for conservative candidates in the United States, Canada, Israel and Eastern Europe over the past four decades. With his brother he runs a political consulting and lobbying firm based in Irvington, New York...
, with whom White would go into business in their consulting firm, DirAction Services. Their 1972 campaigns included the Committee to Re-Elect the President
Committee to Re-elect the President
The Committee for the Re-Election of the President, abbreviated CRP but often mocked by the acronym CREEP, was a fundraising organization of United States President Richard Nixon's administration...
(Finkelstein as one of several pollsters), and the successful bid of broadcaster Jesse Helms
Jesse Helms
Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr. was a five-term Republican United States Senator from North Carolina who served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1995 to 2001...
for U.S. Senate from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
White broke with most conservatives and worked for President Gerald R. Ford against Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in the contest for the 1976 Republican nomination. After Reagan's election to the Presidency, he named White as director of Radio Marti, broadcasting pro-U.S. programming to Communist Cuba.
His foreign clients included President Carlos Andrés Pérez
Carlos Andrés Pérez
Carlos Andrés Pérez Rodríguez , also known as CAP and often referred to as El Gocho , was a Venezuelan politician, President of Venezuela from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1989 to 1993. His first presidency was known as the Saudi Venezuela due to its economic and social prosperity thanks to...
of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, in his successful 1973 election campaign. He also served as president of the International Association of Political Consultants, and of its U.S. branch. His corporate clients included U.S. Steel
U.S. Steel
The United States Steel Corporation , more commonly known as U.S. Steel, is an integrated steel producer with major production operations in the United States, Canada, and Central Europe. The company is the world's tenth largest steel producer ranked by sales...
, Standard Oil of Indiana and General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
.
White was the founding director of the Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs
Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs
The Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs is a conservative academic center at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio, dedicated by Ronald Reagan on May 9, 1983.It is named for the late Congressman John M...
at Ashland University
Ashland University
Ashland University is a mid-sized, private, non-profit university that is located in Ashland, Ohio.The University offers 73 undergraduate majors and nine pre-professional programs. The majors include toxicology/environmental science and entrepreneurship, which are unusual for an institution of its...
, serving from 1983 until 1992 when he retired due to health reasons.
White wrote several books, including Suite 3505: The Story of the Draft Goldwater Movement (1967) and Why Reagan Won: The Conservative Movement 1964-81 (1981), both co-authored with William J. Gill.