William Barnstead
Encyclopedia
William A. Barnstead was an American businessman and politician who served as chairman of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee
from 1974 to 1975.
he was a candidate for the Sixth Middlesex District seat in the Massachusetts Senate
. He won the Republican nomination by 91 votes, but lost in the general election to incumbent Philibert Pellegrini 59% to 41%. In 1972 he ran unsuccessfully for Middlesex Country Treasurer.
to resign.
Barnstead was chairman during the 1974 gubernatorial election
. Less than a month before the Republican primary, incumbent Governor
Francis W. Sargent
realized that there was a chance that he could lose to the more conservative Carroll Sheehan. Sargent requested that Barnstead call a special meeting of the Republican State Committee so he and Sheehan could debate before them and have one of them receive the party's endorsement. Barnstead declined to call the special meeting "for the convenience of the Governor" and said that any debate between Sargent and Sheehan should be held publicly.
After Sargent won the primary, he announced that he wanted to have Barnstead removed as Chairman. On September 16, 1974 he officially asked for Barnstead's resignation and recommended that former Commissioner of Administration and Finance William I. Cowin
succeed him. Sargent circulated a petition requesting a special meeting of the Republican State Committee to hold a vote to remove Barnstead, however a day later he announced that he was postponing his efforts to remove Barnstead until after the general election. On February 4, 1975, the Republican State Committee voted to remove Barnstead as chairman.
for Massachusetts's 8th congressional seat
, losing all three times. He ran a fourth time in 1982, but lost in the Republican primary to Frank L. McNamara, Jr.
Barnstead was the Massachusetts chairman of Pat Buchanan
's 1992 Presidential campaign.
Massachusetts Republican Party
The Massachusetts Republican Party is the Massachusetts branch of the United States Republican Party. Governance of the party takes the form of a State Committee which, in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 52, consists of one man and one woman from each of the 40 Senate Districts...
from 1974 to 1975.
Early career
Barnstead was the founder of Consolidated Machine Corporation (now Consolidated Sterilizer Systems), a manufacturer of water stills and sterilizers. In 1966 hehe was a candidate for the Sixth Middlesex District seat in the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
. He won the Republican nomination by 91 votes, but lost in the general election to incumbent Philibert Pellegrini 59% to 41%. In 1972 he ran unsuccessfully for Middlesex Country Treasurer.
Chairman
Barnstead was elected Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party on March 25, 1974 by a vote of 45-13. On April 17, 1974 he became the first Chairman of a State Republican Party to ask President Richard NixonRichard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
to resign.
Barnstead was chairman during the 1974 gubernatorial election
Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 1974
The 1974 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974. Michael Dukakis was elected to a four-year term, from January 4, 1975 until January 4, 1979. He defeated incumbent Governor of Massachusetts Francis W...
. Less than a month before the Republican primary, incumbent Governor
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
Francis W. Sargent
Francis W. Sargent
Francis William Sargent was the 64th Governor of Massachusetts from 1969 to 1975. Born in 1915 in Hamilton, Massachusetts, he was known for his sharp wit and self-deprecating manner...
realized that there was a chance that he could lose to the more conservative Carroll Sheehan. Sargent requested that Barnstead call a special meeting of the Republican State Committee so he and Sheehan could debate before them and have one of them receive the party's endorsement. Barnstead declined to call the special meeting "for the convenience of the Governor" and said that any debate between Sargent and Sheehan should be held publicly.
After Sargent won the primary, he announced that he wanted to have Barnstead removed as Chairman. On September 16, 1974 he officially asked for Barnstead's resignation and recommended that former Commissioner of Administration and Finance William I. Cowin
William I. Cowin
William Irvin Cowin is an American jurist, politician, and state cabinet secretary who served as Massachusetts Secretary of Consumer Affairs from 1971 to 1972 and Massachusetts Secretary of Administration and Finance from 1972 to 1974...
succeed him. Sargent circulated a petition requesting a special meeting of the Republican State Committee to hold a vote to remove Barnstead, however a day later he announced that he was postponing his efforts to remove Barnstead until after the general election. On February 4, 1975, the Republican State Committee voted to remove Barnstead as chairman.
Later career
Barnstead thrice ran against Tip O'NeillTip O'Neill
Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. was an American politician. O'Neill was an outspoken liberal Democrat and influential member of the U.S. Congress, serving in the House of Representatives for 34 years and representing two congressional districts in Massachusetts...
for Massachusetts's 8th congressional seat
Massachusetts's 8th congressional district
Massachusetts's 8th congressional district is in eastern Massachusetts, including part of Boston and the immediately adjacent cities of Cambridge, Somerville, and Chelsea. With an area of just , it is the smallest by area of Massachusetts's ten congressional districts. It is currently represented...
, losing all three times. He ran a fourth time in 1982, but lost in the Republican primary to Frank L. McNamara, Jr.
Frank L. McNamara, Jr.
Frank Luke McNamara, Jr. is an American attorney who served as the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts from 1987 to 1989.-Early life:...
Barnstead was the Massachusetts chairman of Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
's 1992 Presidential campaign.