Date of Award
2022
Degree Name
History
College
College of Liberal Arts
Type of Degree
M.A.
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Dr. Kat Williams, Committee Chairperson
Second Advisor
Dr. Kevin Barksdale
Third Advisor
Dr. Greta Rensenbrink
Abstract
Matthew Reese, a professional political consultant from West Virginia, worked on numerous major campaigns in the latter part of the twentieth century and transformed the profession. Scholars have studied and written about the increasing role of professional political consultants since their emergence in the mid twentieth century, but no scholarship has been dedicated to Matthew Reese. This analysis of Reese and his legacy examines the impact that he has had on political consulting from serving in a key advisory role for John Kennedy’s 1960 West Virginia Primary campaign, to creating his own political firm, being the first to use computer software to assist in data collection and campaign and leaving behind an impressive pedigree of consultants that continue to use similar methodology today.
Subject(s)
Political consultants – West Virginia – History.
Kennedy, John F. -- (John Fitzgerald), -- 1917-1963.
Elections – History – Political aspects – West Virginia.
Recommended Citation
Tackett, Ethan Thomas, "The Godfather of Modern Political Consulting: Matthew Reese" (2022). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1666.
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/1666
