ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

ROBERT P. McCARNEY PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL #511

DATES: 1960-1978

SIZE: 10 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The Robert P. McCarney Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Robert P. McCarney, Bismarck, North Dakota in 1978 (Acc.#78-547).

ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

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.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

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

Series I: Political Career
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.
Boxes 1, Folder 1 - Box 6, Folder 28

Series II:Governmental Issues and Political Figures
Slides and photographs of politicians, as well as folders pertaining to governmental issues.
Box 7

Series III:Audio-Visual Materials
Audio Visual materials pertaining to Robert McCarney's campaigns and to McCarney Ford.
Box 8

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder
SERIES I: Political Career

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

Box 2
Folder

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

Box 3
Folder

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

Box 4
Folder

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

Box 5
Folder

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

Box 6
Folder

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

Box 7
Folder
Series II:Governmental Issues and Political Figures

  1. Folder with Signatures, October 20, 1963
  2. N.D. Citizen's Conference on Judicial Selection & Tenure, 1964
  3. Testimony of Gary McDaniel, 1969
  4. Democratic State Organization & Governor William Guys Correspondence and Contributions, plus Miscellaneous Political Items

Framed, Autographed Photographs

  1. Quentin Burdick
  2. Gerald Ford
  3. Milton Young

Photographs of R.P. McCarney for Political Advertisement (Many of them)

Slides

  1. Christensen, Walter (1)
  2. Guy, William (1)
  3. Harris, Fred (1)
  4. McCarney, Robert (21)
  5. Omdahl, Lloyd (1)

Box 8
Series III:Audio-Visual Materials

Tapes (Reel to Reel)

  1. McCarney for Governor - 1968 - 60 seconds
  2. McCarney for Governor - - 30 second spots (Tax Distribution, Farm Renewal , Food Tax, and North Dakota)
  3. McCarney for Congress - 1970 - 48 seconds (2)
  4. McCarney for Congress - 1970 - 30 second spots (3)
  5. McCarney for Congress - 1970 - 30 seconds (Endorsement by Vice-President)
  6. McCarney for Congress - 1974 - 29 minutes (McCarney interviewed by Conmy)(5)
  7. Elkin for Congress 1970 - 30 second spots
  8. Vanderhaven and Goldwater for Congress (Approx. 10 minutes)
  9. Car Advertisement for McCarney Ford (Marilyn Maye "Man 0 Man) 50 and 25 second spots

Cassettes

  1. McCarney - Bjornson News Conference, January 7, 1972
  2. Con-Con Committee, November 1, 1971

Films

  1. McCarney for Congress - Composite - 30 seconds
  2. McCarney for Congress - Inflation - 30 seconds in duplicate
  3. McCarney for Congress - Jobs - 30 seconds
  4. McCarney for Congress - Youth Experience - 30 seconds
  5. McCarney for Office - Tax Distribution - 30 seconds
  6. McCarney for Office - Farm Renewal - 30 secondsin triplicate
  7. McCarney for Office - Food Tax - 30 seconds
  8. McCarney for Office - North Dakota - 30 seconds
  9. McCarney for Office
  10. McCarney for Office
  11. McCarney Ford - Work Print
  12. McCarney Ford - Reversal Original
  13. Milton Young

Dictaphone Tapes

  1. Mr. Brown
  2. Pete Hilliboe
  3. Ralph Dewing
  4. Ralph Dewing
  5. Ralph Dewing
  6. Ralph Dewing
  7. Walter Hjelle
  8. Walter Hjelle
  9. Ralph Dewing
  10. Ralph Dewing
  11. Ralph Dewing
  12. Jane & Ralph Dewing

Poster

Campaign Corruption and Corporate Donations (Located in Oversize Cabinet)

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