Out-of-power national parties typically focus on improving organization, reforming procedures (especially the Democrats), and/or adopting policy, but usually not policy. (See A New Direction for the DNC). But national committees – especially the RNC –have attempted to formulate public policy through committees or other groups. Former Congressman David E. Price (D-NC) provides a good (although dated) summary of the parties’ policy efforts in Bringing Back the Parties, CQ Press, 1983. (Price served as Staff Director of the 1981 DNC Commission on Presidential Nomination (Hunt Commission). Should the DNC set up a policy committee?
Price notes that when he said he was writing on “parties and policy,” a DNC official remarked, “That should be a short chapter.” But Price contends that the parties have become more issue-oriented over time and have efforts to assert party positions on public issues, using different mechanisms. These policy councils had common features: (1) They were all out-party efforts “spurred by electoral adversity and/or an attempt to share the outcome of factional battles within a party;” (2) there were conflicts with the party’s congressional leadership who feared the councils were threatening their turf, and (3) they were short-lived (most disappeared once the party regained the White House), loosely organized, and generally had a limited impact.
The best-known DNC effort was the National Democratic Advisory Council established by DNC Chair Paul Butler in 1956. As discussed in “DNC – Politics without Power?,” the Council included important party leaders including President Harry Truman, Adlei Stevenson, Eleonore Roosevelt and its advisory committees were chaired by the likes of John Kenneth Galbraith and Dean Acheson. It sought to set forth a distinct and liberal program that and give the voters a clear and attractive alternative to Eisenhower’s policies. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson and Speaker Sam Rayburn were not supportive of the effort, in part because they correctly thought the Council would push for civil rights and other liberal legislation, and few members of Congress participated. The Council issued several reports and helped push legislation, but was absorbed by the Kennedy campaign in 1960 and went out of business.
RNC Chair Ray Bliss created the Republican Coordinating Committee in 1965 to “restate basic principles and develop positive Republican solutions to current problems.” The Committee was supported by Republican Congressional leadership (who were in a minority at the time and thus had less to lose). Members of Congress or Governors filled 23 of the Committee’s 29 seats and it coordinated closely with Republican Congressional leadership, which reviewed drafts of its task force reports. After the 1968 election, President Nixon terminated the Committee.
In 1969, DNC Chair Fred Harris established the Democratic Policy Council, chaired by Hubert Humphrey. The Council had a 20-member executive committee of high party officers and elected officials, a 119-member council which included party activists, six policy area committees chaired by well-known party figures, and 15 planning groups to lay the groundwork for the 1972 convention platform. The Council met rarely, but the committees produced three dozen reports over a three-year period. The main function of the group was to contain and channel debate over controversial issues like Vietnam.
DNC Chair Robert Strauss established the Democratic Advisory Council of Elected Officials in 1973, a small group composed of public officeholders, except the chair businessman Arthur Krim. The Council proposed an energy policy in 1975, but otherwise seldom met. The Council’s 16 Study Groups were more active but had limited DNC support. Price contends that limiting the activity of these group and keeping them away from public policy meant that (mostly left wing) issue groups filled the void.
In 1976, it was the GOP’s turn and Chair Bill Brock appointed Advisory Councils on natural resources, human concerns, national security and international affairs, general government, and economic affairs. The Advisory Councils housed 33 subcommittees and involved more than 400 people including cabinet secretaries and members of Congress. They issued position papers and coordinated with RNC research and publications staff. The Councils had an impact on the 1980 GOP platform and even continued to function after the election for a time.
In 1981, DNC Chair Charles Manatt established a National Strategy Council charged with shaping “new ideas for the party,” composed of 130 members of Congress, Governors, Mayors, state and local officials, and top DNC officers. There were four Advisory Panels – economic growth and opportunity, making government work, energy and environment, and national security. The Council met several times and critized President Reagan, but came up with few new ideas.
As reported in Boris Heersink, National Party Organizations and Party Brands in American Politics, Oxford Press, 2023, the next DNC Chair, Paul Kirk, created the Democratic Policy Council in 1985. Chaired by Utah Governor Scott Mattheson and including members of Congress and Governors, its goal was to produce a definitive set of proposals to set a tone for the 1986 midterms. The Council held hearings across the country and issued its report New Choices for a Changing America in September 1986. The DNC’s attention then turned to the 1988 platform.
I haven’t identified any subsequent DNC policy councils. DNC Chair Ron Brown, who took over in 1989, did not establish any policy councils. Chair Terry McAuliffe (2001-2005), described himself as “focusing on mechanics, not message.” Chair Howard Dean (2005-2009) focused on the 50-state strategy and voter outreach. I don’t recall Chair Tom Perez (2017-2021) setting up a policy council.
Given current public dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party and confusion about what the Party stands for, would a policy council make sense? Or should we rely on alternative ways of formulating and disseminating the Party’s message? And focus Party resources on organization, voter registration, fundraising, and other activities?
I recently posted on a number of books addressing national party committee roles, especially when the presidency is held by the other party, DNC Chair Election Bookshelf. Let me know if there are others you recommend