Ray C. Bliss
Encyclopedia
Ray Charles Bliss was one of the important national U.S. Republican Party
leaders of the 1960s and served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee
from 1965 to 1969. He helped to pull the Republican party back together after Barry Goldwater
's defeat in 1964 and his work culminated in the election of Richard M. Nixon as president
in 1968. He had been Ohio
Republican state chair (1954–1965) and was a delegate to Republican National Convention
from Ohio in 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1972.
Bliss was an Akron, Ohio
native and 1935 graduate of the University of Akron
where he was initiated as a member of Phi Kappa Tau
fraternity.
Bliss is the namesake of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics established in 1986 at the University of Akron
to promote citizen knowledge and participation in the political process, values in which Bliss strongly believed. Bliss served over nine years on the University of Akron Board of Trustees and was chair of the board at the time of his death.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
leaders of the 1960s and served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
from 1965 to 1969. He helped to pull the Republican party back together after Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
's defeat in 1964 and his work culminated in the election of Richard M. Nixon as president
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in 1968. He had been Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Republican state chair (1954–1965) and was a delegate to Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
from Ohio in 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1972.
Bliss was an Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
native and 1935 graduate of the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
where he was initiated as a member of Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
fraternity.
Bliss is the namesake of the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics established in 1986 at the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
to promote citizen knowledge and participation in the political process, values in which Bliss strongly believed. Bliss served over nine years on the University of Akron Board of Trustees and was chair of the board at the time of his death.