Robert P. McCarney Papers, 1960-1978

Robert P. McCarney Papers

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Collection Overview

Title: Robert P. McCarney Papers, 1960-1978

ID: OGLMC511

Primary Creator: McCarney, Robert P. (1912-1988)

Extent: 10.0 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 00/00/1978

Subjects: Politics and Government - Republican Party

Languages: English

Abstract

1912-1988; "Referral King" of North Dakota, and unsuccessful candidate for North Dakota Governor and the United States Congress

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Robert P. McCarney Papers date from 1960-1978, and are arranged into three series.

Collection Historical Note

Robert Patterson McCarney was born on January 28, 1912, in Churdan, Iowa. He was the son of Thomas and Rhoda McCarney. He graduated from Churdan High School in 1929. He hitchhiked to Bismarck, North Dakota, in 1932, and found work selling pencils along Main Avenue. He also played baseball with a Bismarck semi-professional team, before finding employment at Fleck Motors. His first position entailed sweeping floors, although he eventually was promoted to salesman. He married Elizabeth Huttner of Lignite, North Dakota, on September 8, 1934. The couple had one daughter, Sharon.

McCarney entered the United States Army on May 4, 1942, at Camp Sutton, North Carolina. He served in North Africa and Italy, before separating on November 26, 1945, at Camp Cooke, California, with the rank of Captain. Following the war, McCarney returned to Bismarck and a position at Fleck Motors. For a short time in 1955, he moved to Austin, Minnesota, where he purchased a car dealership and became a partner in a food manufacturing firm. By 1957, he was back in Bismarck, owning and operating McCarney Midway Motors, a used car lot. In 1957, he purchased Universal Motor Company, a Ford automobile dealership. In 1962, the company was renamed McCarney Ford. Under his guidance, the company became one of the largest Ford dealerships in the Midwest. In 1972, McCarney sold the company to Allan Holms.

McCarney was well known throughout the state as the "Referral King." From 1963 to 1980, McCarney managed to place nine referrals, five initiated measures, and one constitutional amendment on the ballot. Most of these related to the issues of taxes and state expenditures. His first referral was in 1963, arguing for a rejection of five school tax levy bills passed by the State Legislature. He successfully lead a referral to reject a 3.2 million dollar appropriation for a new Bank of North Dakota building in 1970, but received his first referral defeat in 1971, when voters agreed to maintain appropriations for the Accounts and Purchases Department. His final referral was in 1980, when voters overturned funding for state purchase of land for Cross Ranch State Park.

McCarney also unsuccessfully campaigned for several political offices. He ran in the 1964 Republican primary for governor, but was defeated by Don Halcrow. McCarney succeeded in winning the primary in 1968, but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat Bill Guy in the fall election. In 1970, he won the Republican primary for the United States House of Representatives by a total of three votes, but was defeated by the Democrat Art Link. Another attempt in the Republican Gubernatorial primary occurred in 1972. In 1974, he switched parties and entered the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, but lost the nomination to Bill Guy.

Besides his political interests and activities, McCarney was a member of the Eagles, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Dakota Zoological Society, and the Mary College President's Club. He served as President several organizations, including the Bismarck Chamber of Commerce, the Bismarck-Mandan Automobile Dealers Association, and the Bismarck Combined Parent Teacher Association.

Robert P. McCarney died on March 23, 1988 at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck. He is buried at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Bismarck.

Subject/Index Terms

Politics and Government - Republican Party

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Robert P. McCarney, Bismarck, North Dakota

Acquisition Method: Donation; Acc.#78-547

Separated Materials:

One poster was separated and housed in Oversize File Cabinets.

Poster: "Campaign Corruption and Corporate Donations"

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Robert P. McCarney Papers. OGLMC 511, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid migrated to Archon in December 2013.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Political Career],
[Series 2: Governmental Issues and Political Figures],
[Series 3: Audio-Visual Materials],
[All]

Series 1: Political Career

The first series contains correspondence, political and campaign materials, and reports pertaining to Robert McCarney's career in North Dakota politics. The files are arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Box 1

Folder 1: Advertisement, Political, 1964, 1968, 1970, 1971
Folder 2: Advisory Committee for McCarney
Folder 3: Air National Guard
Folder 4: Allen, Earl, May 1971, Sept. 1971
Folder 5: Al 's Stop & Shop, June 1970 - June 1974, March 1977
Folder 6: Appreciation Banquet, 1965
Folder 7: Appropriations & Accounts, 1961-1977
Folder 8: Atkinson, Myron, July 1971, Nov. 1972
Folder 9: Bank of N.D., Oct. 1969, 1972-1973
Folder 10: Billbrey, Bill (no date)
Folder 11: Bills, 1970-1976
Folder 12: Bills, 1965-1970
Folder 13: Bills Introduced at the Capitol, 1971
Folder 14: Binford, Howard, May 1972
Folder 15: Bjornson, Paul, Dec. 1970, Sept. - Dec. 1970
Folder 16: Board of Higher Education Controversy, Dec. 1965
Folder 17: Bullis, Harold, May-June 1973
Folder 18: Campaign Advertisement
Folder 19: Campaign Literature
Folder 20: Campaign Management
Folder 21: Campaign Manuals
Folder 22: Campaign Materials
Folder 23: Campaign Procedures, 1966-1968
Folder 24: Census Figures, N.D., 1971
Folder 25: Christensen, Walter, Sept. 1971
Folder 26: Congressional Race, 1970
Folder 27: Conmy & Conmy, 1964-1967
Folder 28: Constitutional Convention, 1972
Folder 29: Constitutional Revision, 1966
Folder 30: Contributions, 1965, 1968, 1971
Folder 31: Convention - Burleigh County Delegates, 1968
Folder 32: Convention - Republican, 1968
Folder 33: Convention - State Delegates, 1972
Folder 34: Convention - State Delegates, 1968
Folder 35: Correspondence, Jan.1976 - Feb. 1978
Folder 36: Correspondence, April - Oct. 1975

Box 2

Folder 1: Correspondence, Jan. - March 1975
Folder 2: Correspondence, 1974
Folder 3: Correspondence, 1973
Folder 4: Correspondence, Sept. 1971 - Dec. 1972
Folder 5: Correspondence, Jan. - Aug. 1971
Folder 6: Correspondence, 1969-1970
Folder 7: Correspondence, 1968
Folder 8: Correspondence, 1963-1967
Folder 9: Council of State Government, 1966-1968
Folder 10: Crawford, Joe, Nov. 1972
Folder 11: Department of Accounts & Purchases, 1965-1977
Folder 12: Dobson, Ray, June 1971
Folder 13: Doherty, Ed, July - Aug. 1971
Folder 14: Dorgan, Byron, Oct. 1971
Folder 15: Dornacher, Ed, Sept. 1971 - Feb. 1972
Folder 16: Editorials, comments, etc. 1972-1977
Folder 17: Election Results, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970
Folder 18: Elkin, Richard, July 1971, April 1972
Folder 19: Employment Security Bureau, Feb. - Dec. 1971
Folder 20: Financial Statements, 1963-1965, 1968
Folder 21: First Western Bank - Affidavits
Folder 22: First Western Bank - Air Travel, Democrats, Nov. 1965 - Sept. 1969
Folder 23: First Western Bank - Air Travel, William Guy, Nov. 1968 - Feb. 1971
Folder 24: First Western Bank - Annual Report 1968
Folder 25: First Western Bank - Appeal , Dec. 1973
Folder 26: First Western Bank - Correspondence, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1974
Folder 27: First Western Bank - Criminal Judgement, Sept. 1970
Folder 28: First Western Bank - FBI Investigation, 1969
Folder 29: First Western Bank - FDIC, 1969
Folder 30: First Western Bank - Indictments
Folder 31: First Western Bank - License Agency, Checks & Bills, Jan. - Dec. 1968
Folder 32: First Western Bank - Minutes of the Board Meeting, June 17, 1969
Folder 33: First Western Bank - Miscellaneous
Folder 34: First Western Bank - Newspaper Clippings, 1969-1970, 1974
Folder 35: First Western Bank - Statements of Gary McDaniel & Robert McCarney, 1969
Folder 36: First Western Bank - Testimony & Evidence
Folder 37: First Western Bank - Third Party Summons, March 6, 1970

Box 3

Folder 1: Government Reports, 1966-1969, 1975-1976
Folder 2: Governors Race 1972 - Announcement & Lt. Governor
Folder 3: Governors Race 1972 - Bank Statements
Folder 4: Governors Race 1972 - Correspondence, Dec. 1971 - Sept. 1972
Folder 5: Governors Race 1972 - Donation Thank-you Letters
Folder 6: Governors Race 1972 - Letters From the Public, Sept. - Oct. 1972
Folder 7: Governors Race 1972 - Media Advertising
Folder 8: Governors Race 1972 - Newspaper Clippings, Sept. 1972
Folder 9: Governors Race 1972 - Newspaper Clippings, Aug. 27 - Sept. 4, 1972
Folder 10: Governors Race 1972 - Newspaper Clippings, Aug. 23 - Aug. 7, 1972
Folder 11: Governors Race 1972 - Newspaper Clippings, Aug. 8 - Aug. 22, 1972
Folder 12: Governors Race 1972 - Newspaper Clippings-other candidates, 1972
Folder 13: Governors Race 1972 - N.D. Broadcasting Company
Folder 14: Governors Race 1972 - Other Candidates Literature
Folder 15: Governors Race 1972 - Petitions
Folder 16: Governors Race 1972 - Receipts & Paid Statements, March - Dec. 1972
Folder 17: Governors Race 1972 - Speaking Engagements, Feb. - Aug. 1972
Folder 18: Governors Race 1972 - Thank-you Notes
Folder 19: Governors Race 1972 - Volunteers, Jan. - Aug. 1972
Folder 20: Governors Race 1968 - Announcing Statement
Folder 21: Governors Race 1968 - Campaign Literature
Folder 22: Governors Race 1968 - People
Folder 23: Governors Race 1968 - Primary Congratulation Notes, Sept. - Nov. 1q68
Folder 24: Governors Race 1968 - Schedules
Folder 25: Governors Race 1968 - Thank-you Letters, July - Dec. 1968
Folder 26: Governors Race 1968 - Voter Opinion Survey

Box 4

Folder 1: Guy, William, 1969-1972
Folder 2: Haggard, Clarence, June 1971
Folder 3: Handwriting Analysis of Politicians
Folder 4: Hernett, Gail, July 1969 - Sept. 1972
Folder 5: Hjelle, Walter, May - June 1972
Folder 6: Huss, Jack, Jan. - Aug. 1972
Folder 7: Income & Expenditures of the State, 1961-1965, 1971-1977
Folder 8: Initiative Petitions - Limit Amount of Money Appropriated to the Government, 1975
Folder 9: Initiative Petitions - Personal Property Tax Referral - Correspondence, Oct. 1963, 1964
Folder 10: Initiative Petitions - Repeal of Legislative Council, 1971
Folder 11: Initiative Petitions - Repeal of Legislative Council, 1971
Folder 12: Initiative Petitions - Repeal of Legislative Council, 1971
Folder 13: Initiative Petitions - Repeal of Legislative Council, 1971
Folder 14: Initiative Petitions - Sales, Use & Excise Tax, 1976
Folder 15: Initiative Petitions - Tax Referral Correspondence, May - June 1971
Folder 16: Initiative Petitions - Tax Referral Correspondence, Feb. - Dec. 1965
Folder 17: Initiative Petitions - Tax Referral Material , 1965
Folder 18: Initiative Petitions - Tax Referral Material , 1965
Folder 19: Initiative Petitions - Tax Referral Correspondence, March - Aug. 1963
Folder 20: Invitations, Jan. - Oct. 1968
Folder 21: Involvement ( a speech ) by Tom Fischer
Folder 22: Irving, Wallace, July 1972
Folder 23: Kelly, D.W., Dec. 1971
Folder 24: Knife River Project, Feb. - April 1970
Folder 25: Kromanck, Ludwig, June 1969
Folder 26: Labor Unions, Aug. 1972
Folder 27: Larsen, Richard, 1968-1972
Folder 28: Larsen, Richard -Newspaper Clippings, May - Aug, 1972
Folder 29: Larson, Frank -Newspaper Clippings, May - July 1972
Folder 30: Larson, Guy, Oct. 1968
Folder 31: Lashkowitz, Herschel , May 1972
Folder 32: Lashkowitz, Shelley J., Aug. 1972
Folder 33: Legislative Association Payroll, 1971-1972, 1974-1975

Box 5

Folder 1: Legislative Research Committee, Nov. 1966, Nov.. 1971
Folder 2: Liffrig, Duane, Aug. 1971
Folder 3: Link, Arthur, 1969, 1973, plus
Folder 4: Link, Arthur - Newspaper Clippings, May - July 1972
Folder 5: Lloyds of Bismarck, 1966-1969
Folder 6: McCarney Ford, 1974-1976
Folder 7: Mailing Lists
Folder 8: Maps, N.D
Folder 9: Martin, Dorothy, 1968
Folder 10: Memoranda - Personal & Miscellaneous
Folder 11: Milk Stabilization Board, June 1970 - May 1971
Folder 12: Milk Stabilization Correspondence, Jan. - March 1971
Folder 13: Miscellaneous
Folder 14: Moore, Donald, Oct. 1971
Folder 15: Motor Vehicle Department, 1973, 1974
Folder 16: Murray, C. Emerson, 1973
Folder 17: News Releases & Press Conferences, 1964-1976
Folder 18: Newspaper Clippings, 1972, 1974-1977
Folder 19: Newspaper Clippings, 1966-1968, 1970-1971
Folder 20: Newspaper Clippings, 1963-1965
Folder 21: Newspaper Clippings, 1933, 1934
Folder 22: Nixon, Richard, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973
Folder 23: North Dakota Legislative Council, 1973-1975
Folder 24: North Dakota Young Republicans, May 1968
Folder 25: Olsrud, John, Dec. 1971 - Sept. 1972
Folder 26: Omdahl, Lloyd, 1971-1972
Folder 27: Paulsen, Mr. (no date)
Folder 28: Pettit, Roger, March 1971 - May 1972
Folder 29: Political Receipts, 1974
Folder 30: Precinct Maps
Folder 31: Radio & TV Correspondence, June - Sept. 1971, Aug. 1974
Folder 32: Reagan, Ronald, July - Aug, 1973
Folder 33: Referendum Petitions - Bank Building Referral, 1969
Folder 34: Referendum Petitions - Department of Accounts & Purchases, 1971-1972
Folder 35: Referendum Petitions - Personnel Division, 1975

Box 6

Folder 1: Republican District Chairmen, 1967-1972
Folder 2: Republican Lists of People
Folder 3: Republican Party History & Platform
Folder 4: Simmons Advertising Inc., Aug. 1970 - March 1972
Folder 5: Speech Writing
Folder 6: Speeches, June 1968 - 1975
Folder 7: Speeches, Jan. - May 1968
Folder 8: Speeches, 1966-1968 and no dates
Folder 9: State Government Programs
Folder 10: State Highway Patrol Department Payroll, Jan. 1964 - June 1965
Folder 11: Steiger Credit Company, June 1971
Folder 12: Streibel, Bryce, Dec. 1969 - Nov. 1971, July 1974
Folder 13: Tax Information, 1966-1968
Folder 14: Tax Information, 1965
Folder 15: Tax Information, 1960, 1962-1965
Folder 16: Tax Manuals, 1966-1971
Folder 17: Tax Proposal to the Legislature, 1967
Folder 18: Thank-you Letters, July 1964 - Dec. 1965, Nov. - Dec. 1967
Folder 19: Thorpe, Ralph, 1972
Folder 20: Unicameral Legislature
Folder 21: University of N.D. - Aviation Program, 1971-1975
Folder 22: University of N.D. - Elevators, 1974-1975
Folder 23: University of N.D. - Miscellaneous, 1970, 1974-1975
Folder 24: Watergate - Newspaper Articles, 1970-1973
Folder 25: Welk, Lawrence, Sept. 1967
Folder 26: Wilhite, Irv, July - Aug. 1972
Folder 27: Winkjer, Dean, Feb. 1971
Folder 28: Wolf, Albert, Nov. 1971

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Political Career],
[Series 2: Governmental Issues and Political Figures],
[Series 3: Audio-Visual Materials],
[All]

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