Date of Award
1-1-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in History
First Advisor
Darren Grem
Second Advisor
Rebecca Marchiel
Third Advisor
Robert Fleegler
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
This work examines Haley Barbour’s tenure and accomplishments as chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1993 to 1997, while also speaking more broadly on the Republican Party of the 1990s. Employing a wide range of source material, including over one thousand newspaper and print articles, video archives from two different television channels, archival materials, election data, and digital humanities tools, this work details and analyzes Barbour’s actions while chairman and how they reshaped the party and prepared it well for the twenty-first century. Barbour’s work and role as chairman can best be divided into three categories: party spokesman, partybuilder, and political operative. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was building a well-oiled and organized campaign apparatus in the 1990s that coordinated Republican Party affiliates at the local and state levels with the national committee, which worked hand-in-hand with other Republican committees, such as the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee among others, to deliver a singular message and strategy, which was influential in the GOP’s rise over the decade This cooperation and coordination ensured a shift in electoral politics during this time that significantly altered the electoral maps during presidential elections, which has had reverberations into the present day. While it does not focus on the partisanship of the era nor political realignment within the two major parties at this time and would continue into the twentieth century, these events cannot be ignored and are thus included and understood within that context. In the role of partybuilder, the chairman sought to bring in new demographics and groups into the GOP while additionally revolutionizing Republican fundraising techniques and strategies. And as the leading spokesman for the party, Barbour touted Republican accomplishments and strategies to both the public and politicians alike, while also defending Republicans and their ideals from attacks. Additionally, Barbour took advantage of trends in media technologies to further promulgate their ideas further.
Recommended Citation
Barron, Noah, "Haley Barbour, the Republican National Committee, and the Rise of the Republican Campaign Apparatus" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3241.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/3241