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[[Texas Christian University]]<br>​

[[Texas Christian University]]<br>​

[[University of Wisconsin]] at [[Madison]]}}​

[[University of Wisconsin]] at [[Madison]]}}​

 

'''James Lewis Ranchino''', known as '''Jim Ranchino''' (pronounced RAN KEY NO) (April 20, 1936 &ndash; November 7, 1978), was a pollster, political consultant, and [[Political Science|political scientist]] on the faculty of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, [[Arkansas]]. He died of a massive heat attack at the age of forty-two while awaiting to appear on KATV-TV, the [[ABC]] affiliate in [[Little Rock]] on the night of the 1978 [[general election]].<ref name=rnelson>{{cite web|url=http://www.rexnelsonsouthernfried.com/?p=955|title=Election Night|publisher=rexnelsonsouthernfried.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

'''James Lewis Ranchino''', known as '''Jim Ranchino''' (pronounced RAN KEY NO) (April 20, 1936 &ndash; November 7, 1978), was a pollster, political consultant, and [[Political Science|political scientist]] on the faculty of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, [[Arkansas]]. He died of a massive heat attack at the age of forty-two while awaiting to appear on KATV-TV, the [[ABC]] affiliate in [[Little Rock]] on the night of the 1978 [[general election]].<ref name=rnelson>{{cite web|url=http://www.rexnelsonsouthernfried.com/?p=955|title=Election Night|publisher=rexnelsonsouthernfried.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

 

Ranchino was an avid supporter of his fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], future [[U.S. President]] [[Bill Clinton]],<ref name=amarcus/> who that night easily defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Lynn Lowe]] to win the first of five non-consecutive terms as [[governor]] of Arkansas.

Ranchino was an avid supporter of his fellow [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], future [[U.S. President]] [[Bill Clinton]],<ref name=amarcus/> who that night easily defeated the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Lynn Lowe]] to win the first of five non-consecutive terms as [[governor]] of Arkansas.

==Background==

==Background==

 

Ranchino was one of five children born in Herrin in Williamson County in southern [[Illinois]] to Angelo "Comp" Ranchino (1908-1988), of [[Italy|Italian]] descent, and the former Esther Verna.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://williamson.illinoisgenweb.org/marriage.html|title=Williamson County Marriage Project|publisher=Williamson.illinoisgenweb.org|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> His siblings were three sisters, Alma Joy Hise (1928-2010) of Herrin,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meredithwaddell.com/p/whatNew.php?whatnewID=177 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130902171706/http://www.meredithwaddell.com/p/whatNew.php?whatnewID=177 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=September 2, 2013 |title=Alma Joy Hise |publisher=meredithwaddell.com |accessdate=September 1, 2013 }}</ref> Mariann R. Hunt (1933-2010), of [[Des Moines]], [[Iowa]],<ref name=hunt>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Mariann-Hunt/Des-Moines-IA/856869|title=Mariann Hunt|publisher=ilesfuneralhomes.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> and Cheryl Ranchino Trench, a newspaper columnist in Herrin,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herrinillinois.com/?page_id=653|title=Cheryl Ranchino Trench|publisher=herrinillinois.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> and a brother, John Edward Ranchino, who died in infancy.<ref name=hunt/>  

Ranchino was one of five children born in Herrin in Williamson County in southern [[Illinois]] to Angelo "Comp" Ranchino (1908-1988), of [[Italy|Italian]] descent, and the former Esther Verna.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://williamson.illinoisgenweb.org/marriage.html|title=Williamson County Marriage Project|publisher=Williamson.illinoisgenweb.org|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> His siblings were three sisters, Alma Joy Hise (1928-2010) of Herrin,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.meredithwaddell.com/p/whatNew.php?whatnewID=177 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130902171706/http://www.meredithwaddell.com/p/whatNew.php?whatnewID=177 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=September 2, 2013 |title=Alma Joy Hise |publisher=meredithwaddell.com |accessdate=September 1, 2013 }}</ref> Mariann R. Hunt (1933-2010), of [[Des Moines]], [[Iowa]],<ref name=hunt>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Mariann-Hunt/Des-Moines-IA/856869|title=Mariann Hunt|publisher=ilesfuneralhomes.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> and Cheryl Ranchino Trench, a newspaper columnist in Herrin,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herrinillinois.com/?page_id=653|title=Cheryl Ranchino Trench|publisher=herrinillinois.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> and a brother, John Edward Ranchino, who died in infancy.<ref name=hunt/>  

Ranchino and his wife, Veda, had two children, Tony A. Ranchino (born 1969), a photojournalist for KATV, where his father collapsed, and Nicole "Niki" R. Jackson (born 1971), who was seven at the time of her father's death and operates a children's camp. After her husband's early death, Veda continued to live in Clark County and the next year married local prosecuting attorney Henry Morgan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/apr/06/frontampcenter-niki-jackson-20080406/|title=Spencer Watson, Niki Jackson, April 6, 2008|publisher=arkansasonline.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

Ranchino and his wife, Veda, had two children, Tony A. Ranchino (born 1969), a photojournalist for KATV, where his father collapsed, and Nicole "Niki" R. Jackson (born 1971), who was seven at the time of her father's death and operates a children's camp. After her husband's early death, Veda continued to live in Clark County and the next year married local prosecuting attorney Henry Morgan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/apr/06/frontampcenter-niki-jackson-20080406/|title=Spencer Watson, Niki Jackson, April 6, 2008|publisher=arkansasonline.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

 

Ranchino graduated in 1954 from Herrin High School. In 1961, he received a [[Bachelor of Arts]] from [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Louisiana College]], a [[conservative]] institution  in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]].<ref name="obu-bulletin">[https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1034&context=catalogs ''Ouachita Baptist University General Bulletin 1969–1970''], Ouachita Baptist University, p. 17.</ref> In 1963 or 1964, he received his [[Master of Arts]] in history from [[Texas Christian University]] in [[Fort Worth]], [[Texas]]; his thesis is entitled "The Work and Thought of a Jeffersonian in the Populist Movement: James Harvey 'Cyclone' Davis" and is a study of the [[Populism|populist]] organizer and Democratic [[U.S. Representative]] James "Cyclone" Davis of Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625065305/http://clio.missouristate.edu/wrmiller/Populism/Texts/Documents/Bibliography/biography.htm|title=James "Cyclone" Davis|accessdate=June 25, 2010}}</ref> He studied graduate political science and also history from 1963 to 1965 under the [[liberal]] historian William Appleman Williams,<ref name=rmoore>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Da-Ali-Show-Compleet-Seereez/dp/B002OID4WM|title=By Robert Moore - Published on Amazon.com|publisher=amazon.co.uk|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> during his time at the [[University of Wisconsin]] in the capital city of [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], [[Wisconsin]].<ref name="obu-bulletin"/> Despite his Louisiana College experience, Ranchino was described as a "campus radical".<ref name=amarcus>{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/library/1G1-229834253/bill-clinton-in-arkansas-generational-politics-the|title=Alan Marcus, Bill Clinton in Arkansas: Generational Politics, the Technology of Political Communication and the Permanent Campaign|publisher=''The Historian'' (Vol. 72, No. 2)|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

Ranchino graduated in 1954 from Herrin High School. In 1961, he received a [[Bachelor of Arts]] from [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Louisiana College]], a [[conservative]] institution  in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]].<ref name="obu-bulletin">[https://scholarlycommons.obu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1034&context=catalogs ''Ouachita Baptist University General Bulletin 1969–1970''], Ouachita Baptist University, p. 17.</ref> In 1963 or 1964, he received his [[Master of Arts]] in history from [[Texas Christian University]] in [[Fort Worth]], [[Texas]]; his thesis is entitled "The Work and Thought of a Jeffersonian in the Populist Movement: James Harvey 'Cyclone' Davis" and is a study of the [[Populism|populist]] organizer and Democratic [[U.S. Representative]] James "Cyclone" Davis of Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625065305/http://clio.missouristate.edu/wrmiller/Populism/Texts/Documents/Bibliography/biography.htm|title=James "Cyclone" Davis|accessdate=June 25, 2010}}</ref> He studied graduate political science and also history from 1963 to 1965 under the [[liberal]] historian William Appleman Williams,<ref name=rmoore>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Da-Ali-Show-Compleet-Seereez/dp/B002OID4WM|title=By Robert Moore - Published on Amazon.com|publisher=amazon.co.uk|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> during his time at the [[University of Wisconsin]] in the capital city of [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], [[Wisconsin]].<ref name="obu-bulletin"/> Despite his Louisiana College experience, Ranchino was described as a "campus radical".<ref name=amarcus>{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/library/1G1-229834253/bill-clinton-in-arkansas-generational-politics-the|title=Alan Marcus, Bill Clinton in Arkansas: Generational Politics, the Technology of Political Communication and the Permanent Campaign|publisher=''The Historian'' (Vol. 72, No. 2)|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

<blockquote>​

<blockquote>​

visionary.  I will never forget the conversation we had about political polling. He could foresee the art of polling as early as 1970. He allowed me to challenge him on this point. I didn’t believe that it was possible to predict voter behavior in that there were so many variables. Dr. Ranchino was right. Now polling is a basic component of our electoral process. Most memorable was the time he invited me to come to his office the following day to meet ... this man dressed like a [[hippie]], long hair, etc. Dr. Ranchino said to me, L. T., I want to introduce you to Bill Clinton. He became governor of Arkansas and later [[President of the United States]]. Times passes on ... While in the [[University of Arkansas]] School of Law, I again met Bill Clinton as my law professor. ...<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927021021/http://holyspirit777.com/testimony.aspxhttp://www.holyspirit777.com/testimony.aspx|title=L. T. Simes, Jr., The Testimony of the Holy Spirit |publisher=Holyspirit777.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref></blockquote>​

visionary.  I will never forget the conversation we had about political polling. He could foresee the art of polling as early as 1970. He allowed me to challenge him on this point. I didn’t believe that it was possible to predict voter behavior in that there were so many variables. Dr. Ranchino was right. Now polling is a basic component of our electoral process. Most memorable was the time he invited me to come to his office the following day to meet ... this man dressed like a [[hippie]], long hair, etc. Dr. Ranchino said to me, L. T., I want to introduce you to Bill Clinton. He became governor of Arkansas and later [[President of the United States]]. Times passes on ... While in the [[University of Arkansas]] School of Law, I again met Bill Clinton as my law professor. ...<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927021021/http://holyspirit777.com/testimony.aspxhttp://www.holyspirit777.com/testimony.aspx|title=L. T. Simes, Jr., The Testimony of the Holy Spirit |publisher=Holyspirit777.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref></blockquote>​

 

In the 1968 general election, Arkansas was declared "schizophrenic" by political observers for having cast its [[electoral vote]]s for [[George Wallace]], its gubernatorial majority for [[Moderate Republican]] [[Winthrop Rockefeller]], and its [[U.S. Senate]] ballots for [[J. William Fulbright]]. As a result, Ranchino in 1972 published the book ''From Faubus to Bumpers: Arkansas Votes, 1960-1970,''<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Faubus-Bumpers-Arkansas-votes-1960-1970/dp/B0006C6GYG|title=Jim Ranchino,  Faubus to Bumpers;: Arkansas votes, 1960-1970|publisher=Arkadelphia, Arkansas: Action Research, 1972|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>  a political analysis of state election during the preceding decade. In the study he concludes that Arkansas voters are flexible and independent and can make consistent ballot choices even if they appear inconsistent.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pu2s11eTlf4C&pg=PA251 |title=Janine A. Parry et al, Readings in Arkansas Politics and Government, |publisher=[[University of Arkansas]] Press at Fayetteville]]|year= 2009|pages=251–252|ISBN=1-55728-902-6|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

In the 1968 general election, Arkansas was declared "schizophrenic" by political observers for having cast its [[electoral vote]]s for [[George Wallace]], its gubernatorial majority for [[Moderate Republican]] [[Winthrop Rockefeller]], and its [[U.S. Senate]] ballots for [[J. William Fulbright]]. As a result, Ranchino in 1972 published the book ''From Faubus to Bumpers: Arkansas Votes, 1960-1970,''<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Faubus-Bumpers-Arkansas-votes-1960-1970/dp/B0006C6GYG|title=Jim Ranchino,  Faubus to Bumpers;: Arkansas votes, 1960-1970|publisher=Arkadelphia, Arkansas: Action Research, 1972|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>  a political analysis of state election during the preceding decade. In the study he concludes that Arkansas voters are flexible and independent and can make consistent ballot choices even if they appear inconsistent.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pu2s11eTlf4C&pg=PA251 |title=Janine A. Parry et al, Readings in Arkansas Politics and Government, |publisher=[[University of Arkansas]] Press at Fayetteville |year= 2009|pages=251–252|ISBN=1-55728-902-6|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

 

Ranchino estimated the 1970 Arkansas electorate as 150,000 conservatives, 150,000 liberals, and 300,000 moderates. In his own words, Ranchino offers this analysis from 1970 which has been rendered obsolete by the political events of the 21st century:​<blockquote>​

Ranchino estimated the 1970 Arkansas electorate as 150,000 conservatives, 150,000 liberals, and 300,000 moderates. In his own words, Ranchino offers this analysis from 1970 which has been rendered obsolete by the political events of the 21st century:​<blockquote>​

Republicans [prior to the 1990s] never had a party in Arkansas in the strictest sense. They have not offered consistent opposition to the Democrats at all levels of government and have frequently opted out for individual efforts and campaigns at the expense of the broad party-oriented effort.​

Republicans [prior to the 1990s] never had a party in Arkansas in the strictest sense. They have not offered consistent opposition to the Democrats at all levels of government and have frequently opted out for individual efforts and campaigns at the expense of the broad party-oriented effort.​

… Whichever way the moderate vote leans in any specific election does make the essential difference between victory or defeat for the candidates. ... There is "no emerging Republican majority" (a term coined in 1969 by Kevin Phillips) in Arkansas built on a coalition of blue-collar, middle-class Democrats and upper-class traditional Republicans. The success that Republicans have had in Arkansas has come from a moderate liberal coalition based on blacks and [[Progressivism|progressive]] Democrats. That combination was shattered in 1970. ...<ref>Ranchino, ''From Faubus to Bumpers'', pp. 91-92.</ref></blockquote>​

… Whichever way the moderate vote leans in any specific election does make the essential difference between victory or defeat for the candidates. ... There is "no emerging Republican majority" (a term coined in 1969 by Kevin Phillips) in Arkansas built on a coalition of blue-collar, middle-class Democrats and upper-class traditional Republicans. The success that Republicans have had in Arkansas has come from a moderate liberal coalition based on blacks and [[Progressivism|progressive]] Democrats. That combination was shattered in 1970. ...<ref>Ranchino, ''From Faubus to Bumpers'', pp. 91-92.</ref></blockquote>​

 

In 1976, Ranchino attributed the Democratic presidential nomination of former Governor [[Jimmy Carter]] of [[Georgia]] to Carter's young pollster, Patrick Caddell, who advised the candidate to accent the "trust factor," rather than highlighting various temporary campaign issues. Ranchino called his fellow pollster Caddell "the best in the country."<ref>''The Blytheville Courier News,'' June 11, 1976, p. 3.</ref>​

In 1976, Ranchino attributed the Democratic presidential nomination of former Governor [[Jimmy Carter]] of [[Georgia]] to Carter's young pollster, Patrick Caddell, who advised the candidate to accent the "trust factor," rather than highlighting various temporary campaign issues. Ranchino called his fellow pollster Caddell "the best in the country."<ref>''The Blytheville Courier News,'' June 11, 1976, p. 3.</ref>​

 

In September 1977, the cover of the ''Arkansas Times'' news magazine carried an article by Ranchino, "The Arkansas of the '70s: The Good Ole Boy Ain't Whut He Used to Be," which reflects on the increasing use of [[marijuana]], pre-marital sexual relations, and unfaithfulness to marriage vows "becoming more the rule than the exception."<ref>Jim Ranchino, "The Arkansas of the '70s: The Good Ole Boy Ain't Whut He Used to Be." ''Arkansas Times,'' September 1977, p. 40.</ref> The article was published at the height of [[Anita Bryant]]'s "Save the Children" campaign against [[homosexual]] rights in [[Miami]], [[Florida]]. Ranchino wrote that many in Arkansas had by the late 1970s already been viewing the decline of family values with growing anxiety.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/22315057/A-Crime-Unfit-to-Be-Named|author=W. Brock Thompson|title="Crime Unfit to be Named: Arkansas and Sodomy|publisher=''Arkansas Historical Quarterly'' (Autumn 2002), p. 263-264|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>

In September 1977, the cover of the ''Arkansas Times'' news magazine carried an article by Ranchino, "The Arkansas of the '70s: The Good Ole Boy Ain't Whut He Used to Be," which reflects on the increasing use of [[marijuana]], pre-marital sexual relations, and unfaithfulness to marriage vows "becoming more the rule than the exception."<ref>Jim Ranchino, "The Arkansas of the '70s: The Good Ole Boy Ain't Whut He Used to Be." ''Arkansas Times,'' September 1977, p. 40.</ref> The article was published at the height of [[Anita Bryant]]'s "Save the Children" campaign against [[homosexual]] rights in [[Miami]], [[Florida]]. Ranchino wrote that many in Arkansas had by the late 1970s already been viewing the decline of family values with growing anxiety.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/22315057/A-Crime-Unfit-to-Be-Named|author=W. Brock Thompson|title=Crime Unfit to be Named: Arkansas and Sodomy|publisher=''Arkansas Historical Quarterly'' (Autumn 2002), p. 263-264|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>

==Death and aftermath==

==Death and aftermath==

 

Ranchino had no inclination of his sudden death. He had done election commentary for KATV since 1972. He leased a private plane to take him out of state as soon as his assignment for KATV had been completed. Ranchino had worked as a pollster on a campaign and wanted to be there for the final counting of the votes.<ref name=rnelson/> Claudia Riley, widow of the late Lieutenant Governor Bob Riley, whose home in Arkadelphia had been a meeting place for many of the state's rising Democratic politicians,  called Ranchino prior to his death "a bright star on the horizon."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/arkansas/interviews/riley.html|title=''Frontline''|publisher=[[Public Broadcasting Service]]|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

Ranchino had no inclination of his sudden death. He had done election commentary for KATV since 1972. He leased a private plane to take him out of state as soon as his assignment for KATV had been completed. Ranchino had worked as a pollster on a campaign and wanted to be there for the final counting of the votes.<ref name=rnelson/> Claudia Riley, widow of the late Lieutenant Governor Bob Riley, whose home in Arkadelphia had been a meeting place for many of the state's rising Democratic politicians,  called Ranchino prior to his death "a bright star on the horizon."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/arkansas/interviews/riley.html|title=''Frontline''|publisher=[[Public Broadcasting Service]]|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

Veda Ranchino Morgan still operates Ranchino Research, Inc. She was a donor to [[Hillary Clinton]] in the latter's 2008 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination against [[Barack H. Obama]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec2/elec-ARKADELPHIA-AR.html|title=ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

Veda Ranchino Morgan still operates Ranchino Research, Inc. She was a donor to [[Hillary Clinton]] in the latter's 2008 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination against [[Barack H. Obama]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/elec2/elec-ARKADELPHIA-AR.html|title=ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas Political Contributions by Individuals|publisher=city-data.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>​

 

Ouachita Baptist University has among scores of scholarships one named in Ranchino's honor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.obu.edu/academics/files/2011/03/Student-Financial-Aid.pdf|title=Student Financial Aid|publisher=obu.edu|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>

Ouachita Baptist University has among scores of scholarships one named in Ranchino's honor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.obu.edu/academics/files/2011/03/Student-Financial-Aid.pdf|title=Student Financial Aid|publisher=obu.edu|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref>

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}​

{{reflist}}​

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranchino, Jim}}​

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranchino, Jim}}​

[[Category:Arkansas]]​

[[Category:Arkansas]]​