Winthrop Rockefeller's 1966 election as the first Republican governor of Arkansas in 94 years was the defining moment in twentieth century Arkansas state politics. The defeat of Democrat and former White Citizen's Council head Jim Johnson saw off race-baiting conservative Democrats in gubernatorial races for good, and the Arkansas Democrat Party underwent root and branch reform. Ironically, Republican Rockefeller's work paved the way for more progressive Democratic governors such as Dale Bumpers, David Pryor, and Bill Clinton to emerge.
Rockefeller not only forced Democrats to change, but during his two terms in office he set a new and more progressive political agenda. He also blazed a trail for the emergence of a two-party political agenda. This was all the more remarkable given that in 1949, political scientist V. O. Key had labeled his chapter on the state in the landmark work Southern Politics in State and Nation as "Arkansas: Pure One-Party Politics (A Chaotic One Party State)." Paradoxically, Rockefeller gave birth to a more progressive era in Arkansas politics, while helping in the longer term to create a two-party system that has led to the more recent growth of conservative Republicans in the state.
Rockefeller speaks at memorial service for Martin Luther King Jr. on the steps of the Arkansas state capitol Research materials for political activities are located in Record Groups I, III, IV and VII:
-
- Files in Record Group I, Personal, document his political activities such as the "Two Party" initiatives and his first campaign for governor in 1964.
- Materials on his campaign and legislative agendas are located in Record Group III and IV, the Governor's and Public Relations, respectively.
- Record Group VII (Photos, Audio, and Video) includes images of Rockefeller campaigning, audio sources such as speeches and press conferences, and films of campaign spots that outline WR's vision for the state.