Richard Licht Rhode Island Senatorial Papers (Mss. Gr. 163)

This collection is comprised of audio and visual materials used by Licht for his campaigns of 1988 and 2000. The tapes contain television and radio advertisements, speeches, and interviews. The collection is divided into two series.

Series 1, 1988 Campaign, contains VHS video and audio cassette material generated during his 1988 bid for United States Senate against Senator John H. Chafee. About twenty advertisements were aired on local television networks in Rhode Island. Licht's campaign platform was centered around the family and stressed the need to regain the "American Dream." The advertisements challenged the incumbent Senator John Chafee by claiming that his political agenda was focused on Washington ideals and not what was in the best interest of the people of Rhode Island.

In addition to advertisements, there are recordings of news conferences on Rhode Island's local television Channel 10. The news conferences consist of Senator Chafee speaking about the election and of his then opponent Richard Licht. There are also five television commercials produced by Chafee for his campaign against Licht. The audio recordings consist of campaign commercials as well as audio recordings of Licht and Chafee advertisements and endorsements. See also Series II for 1988 VHS campaign tapes.

Series 2, 2000 Campaign, contains VHS video documenting Licht's bid for the state Democratic party's nomination for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the late John Chafee in 2000. These videos comprise television interviews of Licht and his opponent, Robert Weygand. Political commercials depicting the candidates positions on the issues of affordable healthcare and prescription drugs. The tapes in this series were given in a separate accession, among them are VHS tapes dating from the 1988 campaign. Also in this series is a VHS tape of a testimonial given by Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis at Gov. Frank Licht's funeral. There is one audio cassette tape of an interview of Robert Weygand in which he expresses his views on the importance of healthcare, housing, and the economy.