Bessinger, Maurice, 1930-

Scope and Contents From the Series: The Elections series, 1944 to 2008, consists of records documenting the work of the party in Democratic campaigns for public office at the local, state, and national levels. Primary, general, and special elections are all represented in this series, which is arranged by year. Records in this series include filing forms, correspondence, informational materials about candidates, documents on campaign strategy and activities, campaign fundraising materials, voter registration materials, and...

Scope and Contents From the Series: Clippings kept by Ravenel’s 1974 campaign staff make up the bulk of the collection and offer a surprisingly detailed account of the election process. These files consist mainly of articles relating to the 1974 campaign. The campaign office maintained an extensive collection of articles from international, national, regional and local newspapers. Feature articles are included along with editorials and local level responses to the campaign. Independent and county newspapers are well...

Scope and Contents From the Series:

Campaign Files cover Zeigler’s earliest forays into politics in the 1950s and continue through his unsuccessful 1972 senatorial and 1974 gubernatorial campaigns. Files for the latter two campaigns are extensive, comprising four linear feet and making up the bulk of his campaign records.

Abstract

In 1974, Charles D. Ravenel, a political newcomer, became the Democratic Party's nominee for governor, but a dispute over residency qualifications kept him off the general election ballot. Campaigns for the U.S. Senate in 1978 and for Congress in 1980 were also unsuccessful. However, Ravenel's innovative style and charismatic manner reinvigorated the political system, and his method of using the media as a campaign tool was a first for South Carolina and changed politics within the state.