ABSTRACT
The 1950s found the Democratic national committee and national chairman in out-party status for the first time in twenty years. Stephen A. Mitchell concerned himself with the organizational structure of the national party. A unique fund-raising device was the establishment of an advisory council to the national committee. Mitchell also concerned himself with the organizational structure of the national party. The committee on the midterm convention, consisting of representatives from Congress, the national committee, and state and local organizations, reported the following September. At the Chicago conference the national committee disposed of Butler’s mid-term national convention proposal and set up a special committee to examine the rules of the convention. Subsequently, the full national committee took no formal action, but did urge the Mitchell committee to consult its members more carefully before making high policy decisions for the party. Chairman Butler had accomplished a great deal toward preparing national headquarters for the election campaign.
