Mr. Chairman : the life and times of Ray C. Bliss / William L. Hershey & John C. Green.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hershey, William L., author.

Green, John Clifford, 1953- author.

Series:

Bliss Institute Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political party organization--United States--History--20th century.

Political party organization.

Politicians--Ohio--Biography.

Politicians.

United States--Politics and government--1961-1963.

United States.

United States--Politics and government--1963-1969.

Ohio--Politics and government--1951-.

Ohio.

Republican National Committee (U.S.)--Officials and employees--Biography.

Republican National Committee (U.S.).

Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )--History--20th century.

Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ).

Bliss, Ray C.

Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994--Friends and associates.

Nixon, Richard M.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (pages cm.)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Akron, Ohio : University of Akron Press, 2017.

Summary:

Ray Bliss was a masterful behind-the-scenes force in the Republican Party for more than three decades at the local, state, and national levels. Recognized as a master of the "nuts and bolts" of practical politics, Bliss was among the first to use polling and television in campaigns. When Bliss took over as national chairman in 1965, the GOP was on life support after Barry Goldwater's landslide defeat in the 1964 presidential election. Bliss rebuilt the party through hard work, innovation, a keen eye for detail, and uncanny political instincts. His shrewd ability to unite liberal, moderate, and conservative Republicans helped put Richard M. Nixon in the White House in 1968. This thorough biography chronicles Bliss's career from campus political czar at the University of Akron, to Akron City Hall, the Ohio Statehouse, and finally the national capital in Washington, DC. It details his complicated relationship with Nixon, who used Bliss's skills to become president, but then forced his resignation as national chairman.

Contents:

Cover

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Acknowledgments

Prologue

Chapter 1: Akron, Ohio

Chapter 2: Family Matters

Chapter 3: The University of Akron

Chapter 4: The May Queen Fiasco

Chapter 5: Ray C. Bliss Meets James A. Corey

Chapter 6: First Campaign Lessons

Chapter 7: Climbing the Political Ladder

Chapter 8: The Test Tube City

Chapter 9: The 1937 Akron Mayoral Campaign

Chapter 10: A Quest for Party Unity

Chapter 11: Ray Bliss Becomes County Chairman

Chapter 12: Strengthening the Local Party

Chapter 13: Growing Recognition

Chapter 14: Ray Bliss Gets a Day Job

Chapter 15: The Great Defeat of '48

Chapter 16: Ray Bliss Becomes State Chairman

Chapter 17: Strengthening the State Party

Chapter 18: Taft and TV

Chapter 19: Mr. Republican Loses White House Bid

Chapter 20: Ohio Likes Ike

Chapter 21: The Organizational Man in Action

Chapter 22: George Bender and a Judas Goat

Chapter 23: Success and Sorrow

Chapter 24: A Republican Governor-At Last

Chapter 25: A Rocky Start and a Showdown

Chapter 26: Business Defies Bliss

Chapter 27: The Right-to-Work Disaster

Chapter 28: Ray Bliss Rebuilds-Again

Chapter 29: Wedding Bells

Chapter 30: Politics Writer

Chapter 31: Presidential Politicking

Chapter 32: Ray Bliss's Masterpiece

Chapter 33: A Big City Assignment

Chapter 34: Ray C. Bliss and James A. Rhodes

Chapter 35: Recruitment Matters

Chapter 36: Trouble in San Francisco

Chapter 37: The Goldwater Debacle

Chapter 38: Plotting for Bliss

Chapter 39: Ray Bliss Becomes National Chairman

Chapter 40: Good-Bye Columbus

Chapter 41: Mr. Bliss Goes to Washington

Chapter 42: Fixing the Finances

Chapter 43: Bliss Survives a Scandal

Chapter 44: A Single Voice

Chapter 45: Denouncing Extremism

Chapter 46: A Hometown Win.

Chapter 47: New York, New York, A Republican Town

Chapter 48: The Elements of Victory

Chapter 49: A Tiger in the Tank

Chapter 50: Bliss Says "No" to Nixon

Chapter 51: Tightrope Walking

Chapter 52: A Medium and a Message

Chapter 53: The Politics of Turmoil

Chapter 54: Ray Bliss's Convention

Chapter 55: Ray Bliss Keeps His Job

Chapter 56: Nixon Wins a Squeaker

Chapter 57: Rumors Spread: "Bliss Is Out!"

Chapter 58: A Meeting at the Pierre Hotel

Chapter 59: Chairman for an Inaugural

Chapter 60: Bliss "Retires" as National Chairman

Chapter 61: Farewell to Washington

Chapter 62: Setting the Record Straight

Chapter 63: Politics as an Avocation

Chapter 64: Bliss, Nixon, and Watergate

Chapter 65: Ray C. Bliss and Gerald R. Ford

Chapter 66: Citizen Bliss

Chapter 67: University Trustee

Chapter 68: Mentor and Teacher

Chapter 69: A Pathfinder Reaches the End of the Trail

Chapter 70: Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics

Chapter 71: Political Legacy

Notes

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (EBC, viewed December 1, 2017).

ISBN:

9781629220437

1629220434

9781629220420

1629220426

OCLC:

990778261