Governor Ronald Reagan: His Liberal Record, 1967-1975
In the mid-1970's, there was a Republican faction in California that was made up of really hard-core conservatives: the United Republicans of California, known by its acronym, UROC.
Some of the members of UROC had been part of the Southern California network of women who were members of an organization known as Women for America. This network was made up of really hard-core anti-communists and anti-United Nations women. They clipped newspapers, they subscribed to the Congressional Record, which they also clipped. They met together in small meetings to share each other's findings. I was recruited into the conservative movement in 1956 by one of these women. She took me to a lecture by the anti-Communist Australian physician Fred Schwarz. That lecture changed my life.
Some UROC members had opposed Reagan's candidacy from the beginning. They were supporters of his challenger in the Republican primary of 1966: William Penn Patrick. I shared their skepticism. I knew Patrick wouldn't win, but I voted for him anyway. There are not many of us around these days. But I like to think of myself as a man who regarded Ronald Reagan as too liberal in 1966.
Two years later, I knew I had been right. In 1966, Kent Steffgen's book appeared, Here's the Rest of Him. It was published by an obscure publishing company. It was an indictment of his first year as governor. The book's title came from his 1965 campaign biography, Where's the Rest of Me?, which in turn came from this scene from King's Row (1942). The character discovers that his legs have been amputated.
Steffgen's book is online here. (If this page dies, go here.)
In 1968, Reagan ran for the Republican Party's nomination for President. He came in third. In 1975, Republicans in California expected that Reagan would challenge President Ford in 1976. This turned out to be the case. During the race, Reagan said that, if nominated, he would choose Pennsylvania's liberal Senator Richard Schweiker as his running mate. In 1981, Reagan appointed him as the Secretary of Heath, Education, and Welfare.
UROC published a 4-page compilation in May 1975 of Reagan's liberal activism as governor. They compared this with his campaign promises. The document was little known then. It is long forgotten today. I have decided to resurrect it from my files.
UNITED REPUBLICANS OF CALIFORNIA Be It ResolvedSUBJECT: OPPOSE CANDIDACY OF REAGAN
WHEREAS: Ronald Reagan has made eloquent conservative speeches while his deeds have served the liberals;
WHEREAS: Despite Reagan's CLAIM OF CONSERVATISM SINCE 1950, the left dominated his POLITICS PRIOR TO 1960;
WHEREAS: During his 1966 GUBERNATORIAL RACE, Reagan selected liberal Rockefeller men to run his campaign, and upon election, his APPOINTMENTS continued in the same pattern, excluding conservatives;
WHEREAS: Reagan SUPPORTED NIXON'S LEFTIST POLICIES, PRAISED KISSINGER, but BETRAYED CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES,
WHEREAS: Reagan PROMISED ECONOMY but doubled the State Budget and raised taxes;
WHEREAS: Reagan actively PROMOTED REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, contrary to his expressed philosophy of local government;
WHEREAS: Under Reagan, LIBERAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS accelerated, and PPBS, a budgetary process of political change, established, moving public schools toward total state control;
WHEREAS: Reagan also betrayed conservative principles in the areas of PROPERTY RIGHTS, INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING, GUN CONTROL, MEDICINE, MENTAL HEALTH, WELFARE REFORM, CRIME CONTROL. ETC.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That UROC oppose Ronald Reagan as candidate for President or Vice President, and urge Americans nationwide to carefully scrutinize his record.
Adopted in UROC State Convention
Santa Maria, California
May 4, 1975
The list of specifics is three pages long. It is a detailed list. You can read it here:
This one caught my eye.
HOUSTON FLUORNOY, founder with Rockefeller leaders of Calif. Republican Council, described as "lined up strictly with hardened liberals" in "Here's the Rest of Him," was appointed Reagan s Tax Reform Adviser. (California Statesman, 3/65). Former Rockefeller delegate (Sec. of State delegate list).
In September 1959, I had my one and only meeting with Flournoy. He was my freshman advisor at Pomona College. I transferred from Pomona to the University of California, Riverside, in the spring of 1960.
In 1974, he lost his race for governor against Jerry Brown by 51% to 49%. If Ford had not pardoned Nixon in September, he might have won. He was closing fast. This November 1974 photo would not have been published.
