additional links to the state parties put Brownell and the Dewey faction in a much

stronger position to set policy and maintain their control of the GOP.41

 The new publicity programs were critical to increasing the visibility and policy-

making role of the RNC. The tabloid-style Republican News was targeted to the

general public, had an initial monthly circulation of 200,000 and was distributed to all

registered party workers down to the precinct level. The bi-weekly Chairman's Letter,

however, was more important for dictating the positions and policies of the party.

First published on June 1 1945, the Chairman's Letter had a limited press run of

1,500 copies and was distributed to RNC members, Republican Senators,

Congressmen, and Governors, state party officials, and large contributors. Although

its operation subsequently expanded, the publication began as a small, exclusive

newsletter designed to communicate the thinking of the RNC head to party opinion

leaders, who were then asked to use the material in speeches and in state party

publications.42 Written ostensibly by the Chairman, the four-page Chairman's Letter

ran every two weeks and its bland, text-only appearance reinforced the seriousness of

the material. Its publication gave Brownell a reliable instrument to instruct the party

leaders on current topics and allowed him to control the debate and the presentation of

viewpoints.43




41 Regina Hay, Letter to Membership of the RNC. Copy in Folder (RNC Meeting Executive
Committee March 26-27, 1945), Box 122, Brownell Papers.

42 Regina Hay, Letter to Membership of the RNC. Copy in Folder (RNC Meeting Executive
Committee March 26-27, 1945, Box 122, Brownell Papers.

43 The postscript to the 15 November 1945 Chairman's Letter Brownell specifically stated that use of
the paper at speaking engagements would allow leaders to "provide a fresh viewpoint upon timely
items at repeated and frequent intervals. A common effort along this line, systematically pursued, will
assuredly build a solid backlog of Republican thinking and, we hope, will prove of material assistance
to our speaking leadership." Republican National Committee, "The Chairman's Letter" 1, no. 12, 15
November 1945. Copy in Folder (RNC Publications The Chairman's Letter 1945 (2)), Box 122,
Brownell Papers.