Eugene McCarthy oral history project

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 13-6-279

Scope and content

This collection contains 5 interviews relating to the election of delegates pledged to Eugene McCarthy from the 33rd Congressional District to the Democratic National Convention. The interviews were conducted by Gould P. Colman with John Marcham, the McCarthy delegate; Professor Alice Cook, an alternate delegate pledged to McCarthy; and Joel Feigenbaum, a graduate student in physics who was instrumental in organizing the McCarthy campaign in New Hampshire. The Marcham interviews (July 26, 1968, Sept. 3, 1968, 2 interviews in 1 volume, pp. 83-190) treats the McCarthy campaign from its beginning in Tompkins County through the Democratic Convention. In both the Marcham and Cook interviews, the characteristics of the McCarthy organization in Tompkins County are compared and contrasted with those of the McCarthy organization at the state and national level. The Feigenbaum interview stresses the day-to-day procedures that were followed in New Hampshire and Oregon. Also includes an interview with Peter Stein, professor of physics, who served as the main fundraiser for the campaign in Tompkins County. Some campaign materials referred to in the interview are attached as an appendix.

Dates

1968-1969.

Creator

Cornell University. Program in Oral History (Organization)
Marcham, John, 1927- (Person)
Cook, Alice H., 1903-1988 (Person)
Feigenbaum, Joel, 1943-2003. (Person)
Stein, Peter. (Person)
Colman, Gould P. (Gould Patchin), 1926- (Interviewer, Person)

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Peter Stein interview requires written permission to cite, quote, or reproduce..

Biographical / Historical

Interviews relating to the election of delegates pledged to Eugene McCarthy from the 33rd Congressional District to the Democratic National Convention through a substantial local effort to recruit and organize active McCarthy supporters to persuade Democratic voters who were not committed to President Johnson's Vietnam policy. Following the primary campaign, the McCarthy supporters transferred their energies to Cornell professor Benjamin Nichols, an anti-war Congressional candidate, supported, at least initially, by the Democratic county organization within the district. The effort for McCarthy in Tompkins County contributed to and was in turn affected by the intensive push to carry the New Hampshire primary for McCarthy. Cornell graduate students and faculty members, particularly from the Physics Department, contributed significantly to organizing and deploying campaign materials and workers.

Extent

5 items. (5 items.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview transcripts related to the election of delegates pledged to Eugene McCarthy from the 33rd Congressional District to the 1968 Democratic National Convention.