Richard D. and Janet Lee Rees Collection of 1976 Republican National Convention Material, 1976-1981 | Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections

By Kylie Hewitt and Sarah Gard

Collection Overview

Title: Richard D. and Janet Lee Rees Collection of 1976 Republican National Convention Material, 1976-1981

Predominant Dates:1976

ID: 01/032

Extent: 4.0 Boxes

Arrangement: The collection is separated into two series: 1976 Convention and 1981 Capitol Tour. Documents were organized chronologically within their appropriate series. During processing objects were removed from the papers and housed according to format and size.

Date Acquired: 11/14/2016

Abstract

Material from the 1976 Republican National Convention. Items were collected by Richard and Janet Rees and donated by Richard in memory of Janet.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The bulk of the Richard D. and Janet Lee Rees Collection consists of objects and documents from the 1976 Republican National Convention held in Kansas City, Missouri. The documents include newsletters, transcriptions, pamphlets, press releases, schedules, and reporter notebooks. Buttons and bumper stickers make up the majority of the memorabilia, however, some ephemera like streamers and balloons are also present in the collection. Most items reflect candidates from the Republican party - Gerald Ford, Bob Dole, Ronald Reagan - although some memorabilia from Democratic nominees Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale is present.

A small portion of the collection includes documents from 1981, when the Reeses traveled to Washington, D.C., and contacted Senator Dole’s office for a tour of the Capitol.

Collection Historical Note

President Gerald Ford and Senator Bob Dole were declared the Republican President and Vice President nominees at the 1976 Republican National Convention, held at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, August 16 - 19. Wanting to see what the convention had been like, Richard and Janet Rees snuck into the arena after it was over but before cleanup had begun. They collected whatever seemed interesting from the floor and wastebaskets, and they kept the documents and memorabilia at their home for decades.

During the summer of 2016, the Kansas City Public Library and the Dole Institute partnered on an exhibit about the 1976 convention, which connected Richard Rees and the Dole Archives. Some items from this collection were displayed during the exhibition. In November 2016, Mr. Rees donated the collection to the Dole Archives in honor of his late wife, Janet.

Administrative Information

Repository: Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections

Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions: Copyright restrictions apply in different ways to different kinds of materials. Some of the documents and other historical materials in the Dole Archive are in the public domain and may be reproduced and used in any way. However, there are other materials that carry a copyright interest that must be used according to the provisions of Title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Dole Archive issues a warning concerning copyright restrictions to every researcher who requests copies of documents. Although the copyright law is under constant redefinition in the courts, it is ultimately the responsibility of the researcher to properly use copyrighted materials.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: 1976 Convention, 1976],
[Series 2: 1981 D.C. Visit],
[All]

Series 1: 1976 Convention, 1976

Box 1

Folder 1: News from U.S. Senator Bob Dole, 1976 January
Folder 2: Pro-Reagan Handouts, 1976 July
Folder 3: Mailgram from the Governor Bob Ray Committee to Roy Eiguren, 1976 August 3
Folder 4: President Ford Convention Committee Fact Book, 1976 August 8
Folder 5: Press Release: Senator Bob Dole, Temporary Chairman, "Dole Proposes Republican Platform Economic Policy", 1976 August 10
Folder 6: Western Union Welcome Packet, 1976 August 13
Folder 7: The President Ford Committee "Delegate Special", 1976 August 14, 16, 18
Folder 8: 1976 Republican National Convention News: Official Program, 1976 August 15-19
Folder 9: Press Release: Office of the White House Press Secretary - The President's Schedule, 1976 August 16
Folder 10: Republican National Committee Booklets, 1976 August 16
Folder 11: Pool Report - President to John Rhodes Reception, 1976 August 16
Folder 12: Press Release: Senator Bob Dole, Temporary Chairman, "Senator Bob Dole Cites Democrat Candidate and Platform for Deceptions", 1976 August 16
Folder 13: 1976 Republican National Convention News - Biographies of the Committee on Resolutions Chairmen, 1976 August 17
Folder 14: Office of the White House Press Secretary to Mrs. Ford - First Family Schedule, 1976 August 17
Folder 15: Republican National Convention Calendar, 1976 August 18
Folder 16: 1976 Republican National Convention News - Remarks of Arch A. Moore, Jr., 1976 August 18
Folder 17: Remarks of Governor William G. Milliken, 1976 August 18
Folder 18: Agendas: Republican National Convention, Fifth Session, 1976 August 19
Folder 19: 1976 Republican National Convention News: Results of Vote on Proposal to Amend Rule 16, 1976 August 19
Folder 20: Press Release: Office of the White House Press Secretary - Text of the President's Acceptance Address, 1976 August 19
Folder 21: Press Release: Office of the White House Press Secretary - Remarks of the President, 1976 August 19
Folder 22: Press Release: Nomination of Senator Bob Dole for Vice President by Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1976 August 19
Folder 23: 1976 Republican Convention News - Remarks of Senator Bob Dole, 1976 August 19
Folder 24: Drafts: "A New Lead GOP" by James Wieghart and Frank Jackman of the Washington Bureau, 1976 August 19
Folder 25: Reports: Senator Bob Dole's Nomination for Vice President, 1976 August 19
Folder 26: Press Release: Publisher Launches Candidacy for Conservative Party Nomination, 1976 August 19
Folder 27: Press Pools for President Gerald Ford's Trip to Russell, Kansas, and Vail, Colorado, 1976 August 20
Folder 28: Keynote Address by the Honorable Howard H. Baker, Jr., 1976 August
Folder 29: 1976 Republican National Convention Hand Outs, 1976 August
Folder 30: Republican National Convention - 1976 Tally Sheet, 1976 August
Folder 31: Reports: Bob and Elizabeth Dole Biographies, 1976
Folder 32: Kansas City, Missouri, Visitor Guides, 1976
Folder 33: Press Release: American International Pictures, Inc., 1976
Folder 34: Proposed Changes to Republican National Committee Rules, 1976

Box 2: Large Memorabilia, 1976

Item 1: Bumper Sticker "'76 Reagan for President", 1976
Item 2: Delegates and Press Seating Chart, 1976
Item 3: Poster Board: CBS News 5, 1976
Item 4: Bicentennial Flag, 1976
Item 5: 1976 Republican National Convention Burlap Bag, 1976
Item 6: Red Shag Carpet (2 Pieces), 1976

Box 3: Memorabilia, 1976

Item 1: Red Balloon, 1976

Item 2: Envelope: (6) Addressed to Richard and Janet Rees with a GOP 1976 postmark, 1976 August 19

Item 3: Campaign Flyer: (2) Pro Jimmy Carter/Walter Mondale Flyer and Button Set, 1976

Subject/Index Terms:: Carter, Jimmy, 1924-

Item 4: 1976 Republican National Convention Crepe Paper Streamers, 1976

Item 5: Ford-Richardson Ribbon, 1976

Item 6: Bumper Sticker: (2) "President Ford '76", blue background, 1976

Item 7: Bumper Sticker: (2) "I'm for Reagan", 1976

Item 8: Bumper Sticker: "Reagan", 1976

Item 9: Bumper Sticker: (2) "President Ford '76", red background, 1976

Item 10: Bumper Sticker: "Ford Dole", 1976

Item 11: Sticker: "President Ford", 1976

Box 4: Buttons, 1976

Item 1: Button: Sunflower "Bob Dole", 1976
Item 2: Button: "(Ford) for President", 1976
Item 3: Button: "The Peanut Buster Machine", 1976
Item 4: Button: "President Ford", 1976
Item 5: Button: "Kansas City Salutes Republican National Convention", 1976
Item 6: Button: "Kansas City Salutes Republican National Convention", 1976
Item 7: Button: "Reagan", 1976
Item 8: Button: "Reagan", 1976
Item 9: Button: "John J. Rhodes for Speaker of the House", 1976
Item 10: Button: "John J. Rhodes for Speaker of the House", 1976

Series 2: 1981 D.C. Visit

Box 1

Folder 35: Capitol Tour, 1981 June 9

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: 1976 Convention, 1976],
[Series 2: 1981 D.C. Visit],
[All]