Young Turks (U.S. politics)

For other uses, see Young Turks (disambiguation).

The Young Turks was a splinter group of politicians in the United States that broke off from the main Republican Party (GOP) during the early 1960s. The members of the group were mostly Congressmen, who had become disenchanted with the GOP, and were eager for change. They worked within the system to appoint their fellow members into leadership roles, so they could take control of the party.[1] They were considered "rebels" by the traditional Republicans,[1][2] in a similar manner that the Tea Party Congressional Caucus politicians were perceived by the 21st century Republican establishment.[3] Gerald R. Ford, who would become President of the United States, was a Young Turk.

Etymology

There has been no special meaning given or discussed for the group's choice of the name "Young Turks" in any of the biographical collections of the members. The dictionary definition states, "an insurgent or a member of an insurgent group especially in a political party...one advocating changes within a usually established group".[4] Most probably this name was inspired from the Young Turks, a Turkish nationalist reform movement in the early twentieth century.

History

In the early 1960s, after Democrat John F. Kennedy had been assassinated, the Republican Party had eroded. Some of the members, especially younger congressmen, were questioning the party's viability and future direction.[5] This set of circumstances inspired the beginnings of the Young Turks group.[1]

There doesn't seem to be any consensus among historical accounts regarding who the primary instigator(s) was. However, all versions generally agree that Charles E. Goodell (New York), Robert P. Griffin (Michigan), Gerald R. Ford (Michigan), and Donald H. Rumsfeld (Illinois) were some of the earliest members. According to an article that appeared in New York Magazine in 1975, Goodell and Griffin got together in January 1963 and came up with a plan to supplant one of the elder statesmen, Charles Hoeven, who was Chairman of the House Republican Conference. They solicited Gerald Ford as the challenger. Ford agreed and won the ballot, becoming the new Chairman.[2]

Formation

All accounts of the history of the Young Turks state that it was Lyndon B. Johnson's landslide defeat of Barry Goldwater in the Presidential election, coupled with heavy losses in the House, that mobilized all the key players in November, 1964. They wanted to change the direction of the Republican Party.[6]

Donald Rumsfeld later wrote about how dire it was, "Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives were reduced to a low of 140 of the 435 Members of Congress. There were so many Democrats that some had to sit in the Republican side of the isle."[7]

The Young Turks decided it was time to take control and replace the top Republican leadership in Congress. They picked Gerald Ford over their other option, Melvin Laird (Wisconsin), to oust the presiding House Minority Leader, "Charlie" Charles Halleck. Their choice of Ford, and his subsequent win, set the stage for Ford to later be tapped as Vice President, and then President by succession.

Members

While there are numerous official references that include discussions about the Young Turks and their influence on the Republican Party of the 1960s, there doesn't appear to be any public record that gives a complete list of members. The New York Magazine article not only names the top members, but is one of the few that even hints at the total number—with a reference to "two dozen others who later joined them."[2]

Confirmed members are:

  • Charles E. Goodell
Rep. New York, May 26, 1959 - September 9, 1968
Sen. New York, September 10, 1968 – January 3, 1971
  • Robert P. Griffin
Rep. Michigan, January 3, 1957 - May 11, 1966
Sen. Michigan, May 11, 1966 – January 3, 1979
  • Gerald R. Ford
Rep. Michigan, January 3, 1949 – December 6, 1973
House Minority Leader, January 3, 1965 – December 6, 1973
Vice President, December 6, 1973 – August 9, 1974 (Nixon)
President, August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977
  • Donald Henry Rumsfeld
Rep. Illinois, January 3, 1963 – March 20, 1969
Chief of Staff, September 21, 1974 – November 20, 1975 (Ford)
Sec. of Defense, November 20, 1975 – January 20, 1977 (Ford)
Sec. of Defense, January 20, 2001 – December 18, 2006 (Bush)
Rep, Missouri, January 3, 1951-January 3, 1969
Rep. Minnesota, February 18, 1958 - January 3, 1979
35th Governor of Minnesota, January 4, 1979 - January 3, 1983
Rep. Kansas, January 3, 1961 - January 3, 1967
Deputy Sec of Defense, December 1975 - January 1977 (Ford)
  • Melvin Robert Laird
Rep Wisconsin, January 3, 1953 – January 21, 1969
Sec of Defense, January 21, 1969 – January 29, 1973 (Nixon)

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rumsfeld, Donald (2012). Known and Unknown: A Memoir. Sentinel Trade. p. 91. ISBN 978-1595230843.
  2. 1 2 3 Reeves, Richard (October 13, 1975). "Why American Politicians Are So Bad: The Case History of Gerald Ford". New York Magazine: 35.
  3. ↑ Wyler, Grace. "John Boehner Has Started Purging Fiscal Hawks From House Committees". Business Insider. Retrieved Dec 4, 2012.
  4. ↑ Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
  5. ↑ Siracusa Ph.D., Joseph M. (2012). Encyclopedia of the Kennedys: The People and Events That Shaped America. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1598845389.
  6. ↑ Peabody, Robert L. "Professor of Political Science". ROBERT L. PEABODY RESEARCH INTERVIEW NOTES, 1964-67. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  7. ↑ Rumsfeld, Donald. "The Ford-Halleck Race 1964-1965" (PDF). Rumsfeld Personal Library. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
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