Presented by President John V. Lindsay, 1952.
“1952”, the watchword of Republicans young and old for four long years, has become a challenging political reality. Win or lose, members of the New York Young Republican Club should remember it as the most vigorous campaign effort in their experience.
Only sixty days remain until election day. Upon review, the year to date has been eventful for the Club. Prior to the Republican convention in Chicago, teams from the National and Foreign Affairs Committees prepared and printed a proposed platform for submission to the convention’s platform committee. Many Club members worked intensively on the city, state, and national level for the nomination of Dwight Eisenhower; others, although fewer in number, worked with equal conviction for Senator Taft. In June, following the Club’s endorsement of Eisenhower’s candidacy, the officers of the Club as a group were fortunate in meeting informally with the General during his brief stay in New York. At the convention itself, Club members in considerable numbers were present and responsibly engaged.
After the convention, the Club participated actively in the August primaries. As of this date, the Club has launched its campaign program on behalf of Republican candidates, with emphasis on canvassing, street-corner speaking, and research. The Speakers’ Bureau has already filled a number of engagements, including two radio discussions and several debates. The Club, as usual, will supply substantially all the speakers for most of the sound trucks operating in Manhattan.
Special emphasis has been placed upon research and collection of documentary material necessary to an intelligent political program. The Research Coordinating Committee, newly created this year, is charged with the responsibility of coordinating research between the affairs committees and establishing a permanent reference library. Current research activity includes a study and documentation of corruption in New York City, preparatory to the mayoralty in 1953.
Renewed interest has been shown in the regular midtown and downtown luncheons. The Midtown Luncheon Committee has recently reported an attendance of 83 on a hot summer day. Of immeasurable importance, also, is the acceleration of the normal rate of increase in the Club’s membership.
The Club is not without its housekeeping problems. Increases in postal rates and other costs, plus additional rent on a larger and desperately needed new Club office, have caused budgetary headaches. It is expected that the use of bulk monthly mailings and wider use of the newspaper bulletin to keep members abreast of current and coming activities will scale down costs. While these innovations have thus far proved helpful, they have increased the burdens of the executive secretary’s office, not to mention additional responsibility for planning and coordination placed upon committee chairmen.
Certainly, a presidential year quickens the pulse of any political organization. This year the Club has felt an unusual response from the ranks of young people. 1952 of course is of immense importance to this Club, as to Republicans everywhere. But 1952 also marks the fortieth year of the Club’s existence as a political force in New York City, and measures not only the Club’s growth in strength but its indestructibility.