The Campaign Series (33 linear feet) is divided into seven subseries: 1974 Campaign, 1978 Campaign, 1982 Campaign, 1986 Campaign, 1990 Campaign, 1994 Campaign, and Post January 1995, encompassing the six campaigns in which Bob Bullock ran for public office. The materials found in Bullock’s Campaign Series consist of campaign files, correspondence, election results and related materials, endorsements including questionnaires and notebooks, financial materials, invitations and issue files, Also found in the series are itineraries and trip declines, campaign memorabilia, a section on opposition candidates, campaign notebooks, poll information, position papers, and publicity in the form of articles, brochures, news clippings, newsletters, press releases, assorted publications, and reports. The arrangement of each subseries is recurrent, but not absolute, so not all categories of materials are present in every campaign. For example, in 1978 and 1986, Bullock ran unopposed for Comptroller and the materials for these two campaigns are small in size. The largest part of this series is contained in the 1990 Campaign subseries, (over half of the series) which was the first campaign Bullock ran for Lieutenant Governor.
The Campaign Materials sections of the subseries contains numerous types of materials used in political campaigns such as, press packets, campaign buttons, flyers, magnets, brochures, bumper stickers, envelopes and campaign letterhead. Along with these items, the backbone of political campaigning is represented in the printed materials – campaign correspondence, organizational correspondence, accomplishment lists, media and advertising correspondence, copies of speeches, financial statements, telephone logs, pledge cards and fundraising files. It is interesting to note the progression of Bullock’s campaign materials. Bob Bullock ran his first campaign with the intent of modernizing the Comptroller’s office through the use of new technology to make the office more efficient. That embracing of technology and change is reflected throughout Bullock’s campaign materials as well. Tri-fold single-color brochures in the early campaigns give way to glossier and larger political advertising and eventually to the addition of radio and TV spots.] Campaign materials can also be found in the Media Series in the form of radio spots and interviews and in the Personal Series in the form of campaign buttons, flyers, and other things pertaining to campaigns that Bullock chose to keep in his personal files.
In the Correspondence sections of the subseries, the campaign correspondence from individuals, other politicians, and campaign staff members is available. Form letters sent to different organizations and entities are also included and many have mailing lists attached or are marked numerically to show how many of that particular letter were mailed. In the 1990 Campaign subseries, a section titled Transition correspondence shows the materials Bullock had researched and put together to facilitate his transition from Comptroller to Lieutenant Governor. Included in this Transition section are memos, reports and considerations for committees, information on then current Senate members, Senate organizational charts, and suggested changes.
Elections and Endorsements are two more sections of the campaign subseries and are fairly self-explanatory. The Elections material consists of both primary and general election materials and analyses, correspondence, and reports on election results. The Endorsements section contains numerous endorsements made by Bullock, correspondence and endorsements of Bob Bullock by individuals, groups and organizations, clippings of endorsements by newspapers, correspondence on endorsements pending, and questionnaires received by Bullock which provided important information for different organizations.
The Invitations found in these subseries reflect fundraising and campaign events for Bullock and other politicians. They include actual invitations, pledge cards, and some event “favors.” Correspondence regarding different events and occasions Bullock was invited to are also located in this section. Under the subseries title Issues, correspondence and research on the pertinent political issues of each campaign is located. Bullock conducted extensive and thorough research into any issue that currently existed or that he felt might grow to importance during his campaigns. News clippings, articles and reports also reflect issues in this section. The 1990 Campaign contains the most extensive portion of issue files in the Campaign Series. Itineraries of Bullock’s travels show his personal dediction and commitment to his campaigns. Calendars, both weekly and monthly, schedules, trip folders, contact correspondence and specific instructions are some of the items found in this section of the series. There is a small section of itineraries for Jan Bullock in the 1990 and 1994 Campaign subseries which reflect her dedication and support of Bullock in his campaigning and fundraising. There are news clips, schedules, and correspondence surrounding Jan’s travels during this time.
Campaign Memorabilia in varying forms and sizes exists in the Bullock Collection. Favors from fundraisers such as bandanas, t-shirts, Texas-shaped chocolates and numerous banners of different sizes used at fundraisers and campaign events are some of the materials in this section of the Collection. Lapel pins, yard signs and placards round out this subseries.
The subseries on Opposition Research is significant in showing Bullock’s intensity, drive, and attention to detail during his campaigns. Bullock kept files on all aspects of his opponents’ campaigns as well as his own, with much of the material in the form of news clippings dealing with opponents’ political and campaign positions. There are also files on contribution and expense reports, financial records, letters to interested parties, and open records requests in these files on some opponents.
Bob Bullock used notebooks extensively in his work-life. In the Notebooks section of the subseries are notebooks on Bullock’s 1990 Campaign and 1990 Endorsements, containing campaign flyers and pamphlets, letters, copies of press releases and news clippings, bumper stickers, articles, and numerous copies of endorsements for Bullock’s 1990 Campaign. There are also two notebooks titled “Race for Lt. Governor,” which duplicates some of the materials in the 1990 Campaign and 1990 Endorsement notebooks while including more materials in the form of different lapel pins, balloons, and different invitations and correspondence. Particularly interesting are the Opposition Research notebooks in this section. Bullock did not like to be surprised. He wanted to know anything and everything that opponents might try to use against him during a campaign. To this end, he had notebooks put together that contained information on everything his campaign staff and workers could find out about him or his opponents. There are five notebooks that contain the information that he used as preparation tools during his campaign.
There are many Polls in Bullock’s Campaign Series, with the majority, once again, in the 1990 Campaign subseries. These polls were taken by different polling agencies and contain information on election surveys, public attitude surveys, telephone surveys, polling reports and analysis of polling information. Along with this subseries on Polls, is a subseries on Position Papers which details Bullock’s position on critical issues such as crime, drugs, and higher education. Some of these position papers take the form of reports while some are stated in correspondence and memos. Under the title of Publicity are various forms of public media which Bullock collected or people sent him in relation to himself, his campaigns, and politics in general. Articles, brochures, news clippings, newsletters, press releases and publications are arranged chronologically and contain a large amount of information about the political climate and events surrounding Bullock’s political campaigns and his career.
In 1983, Bullock made a tentative bid to be the Democratic nominee for the office of Governor of Texas. He renounced the effort in 1984, deciding instead to seek another term as Comptroller. There is little information in the Campaign Series regarding this bid for Governor except for some mention in news clippings around the time he announced he would run again for Comptroller. There is one other item in the Collection, a small wooden campaign sign that references “Bullock for Governor, 1986.” In Bullock’s Personal Series, there are also two campaign buttons that give reference to “Bullock for Governor in ’78,” but these few items are the extent of any materials mentioning ‘Bullock for Governor’ campaigns.
