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For more than a quarter century, Lowe was a pioneer in the attempt to establish a two-party system in the historically [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] state of [[Arkansas]]. Since his death, the state moved primarily into the [[Republican Party|Republican]] column.​

For more than a quarter century, Lowe was a pioneer in the attempt to establish a two-party system in the historically [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] state of [[Arkansas]]. Since his death, the state moved primarily into the [[Republican Party|Republican]] column.​

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​'''Aylmer Lynn Lowe''', known as '''Lynn Lowe''' (March 6, 1936 &ndash; August 14, 2010),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi|title=Social Security Death Index|publisher=ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=January 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=12529|title=Our Campaigns: Lowe, Lynn|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=December 27, 2009}}</ref> was an American [[farmer]] and [[politician]] from Garland in Miller County in southwestern [[Arkansas]], who was a leading figure in his state's [[Republican Party]]. He was the  [[governor|gubernatorial]] nominee in 1978 against the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Bill Clinton]], served as state party chairman from 1974 to 1980, and was the GOP candidate in Arkansas's 4th congressional district in 1966, having been defeated by the Democrat [[David Pryor]], then a state representative but a future governor of Arkansas and [[U.S. Senator]].

'''Aylmer Lynn Lowe''', known as '''Lynn Lowe''' (March 6, 1936 &ndash; August 14, 2010),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi|title=Social Security Death Index|publisher=ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com|accessdate=January 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=12529|title=Our Campaigns: Lowe, Lynn|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=December 27, 2009}}</ref> was an American [[farmer]] and [[politician]] from Garland in Miller County in southwestern [[Arkansas]], who was a leading figure in his state's [[Republican Party]]. He was the  [[governor|gubernatorial]] nominee in 1978 against the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Bill Clinton]], served as state party chairman from 1974 to 1980, and was the GOP candidate in Arkansas's 4th congressional district in 1966, having been defeated by the Democrat [[David Pryor]], then a state representative but a future governor of Arkansas and [[U.S. Senator]].

==Background==

==Background==

==Congressional race==

==Congressional race==

 

A lifelong Republican, Lowe served from 1962 to 1964 as the Republican chairman for Arkansas' 4th congressional district. In 1962, he worked in the campaign of the Little Rock [[physician]] Kenneth  to 1966.<ref name=lowe/> In 1966, he ran for the U.S. House seat when the [[incumbent]], Oren Harris of El Dorado  resigned in February to accept appointment from [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and confirmation by the U.S. Senate as judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, based in [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]]. A [[special election]] was held simultaneously with the regular 1966 [[general election]] to fill the few weeks left in Harris' unexpired term. The seat was hence vacant from February to November 1966.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' July 22, 1966, p. 1492.</ref>

A lifelong Republican, Lowe served from 1962 to 1964 as the Republican chairman for Arkansas' 4th congressional district. In 1962, he worked in the campaign of the Little Rock [[physician]] Kenneth  to 1966.<ref name=lowe/> In 1966, he ran for the U.S. House seat when the [[incumbent]], Oren Harris of El Dorado  resigned in February to accept appointment from [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and confirmation by the U.S. Senate as judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, based in [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]]. A [[special election]] was held simultaneously with the regular 1966 [[general election]] to fill the few weeks left in Harris' unexpired term. The seat was hence vacant from February to November 1966.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' July 22, 1966, p. 1492.</ref>

==Gubernatorial bid==

==Gubernatorial bid==

 

In 1978, Lowe, midway in his tenure as state party chairman, ran unopposed for the party's gubernatorial nomination. No other prominent figure stepped forward for the task of challenging Bill Clinton, who had been unopposed in the general election of 1976 for the office of state attorney general. Many seemed to have thought that Clinton had won the governorship merely by winning the Democratic nomination. Clinton supported the [[Equal Rights Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]], which was never ratified by the Arkansas legislature or the required number of states. He declared the matter a "dead issue" in Arkansas though ratification is still being pursued on the national level by the administration of President [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' May 20, 1978, p. 1233.</ref>

In 1978, Lowe, midway in his tenure as state party chairman, ran unopposed for the party's gubernatorial nomination. No other prominent figure stepped forward for the task of challenging Bill Clinton, who had been unopposed in the general election of 1976 for the office of state attorney general. Many seemed to have thought that Clinton had won the governorship merely by winning the Democratic nomination. Clinton supported the [[Equal Rights Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]], which was never ratified by the Arkansas legislature or the required number of states. He declared the matter a "dead issue" in Arkansas though ratification is still being pursued on the national level by the administration of President [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' May 20, 1978, p. 1233.</ref>

''[[U.S. News and World Report]]'' said that no state in the U.S. South in 1978 was "tougher to crack for the Republicans than Arkansas, and it's going to stay that way."<ref name=usnews>''[[U.S. News and World Report]],'' October 16, 1978, p. 32.</ref> Clinton hence became at thirty-two the youngest person elected governor in the United States since [[Harold Stassen]] won in [[Minnesota]] in 1938 at the age of thirty-one. He was termed "a living monument to the god, 'Charisma'"<ref name=usnews/>​

''[[U.S. News and World Report]]'' said that no state in the U.S. South in 1978 was "tougher to crack for the Republicans than Arkansas, and it's going to stay that way."<ref name=usnews>''[[U.S. News and World Report]],'' October 16, 1978, p. 32.</ref> Clinton hence became at thirty-two the youngest person elected governor in the United States since [[Harold Stassen]] won in [[Minnesota]] in 1938 at the age of thirty-one. He was termed "a living monument to the god, 'Charisma'"<ref name=usnews/>​

Lowe received 195,550 votes (36.6 percent) and won six counties: Sebastian ([[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]]), with 62.5 percent),Crawford (adjoining Sebastian),  with 55 percent, Boone (Harrison), with 54.9 percent), Polk, with 54.4 percent, Van Buren, with 54.1 percent, and his own Miller, 53.6 percent. He won 49.8 percent in Franklin County,  also near Fort Smith and the home base of then U.S. Senator [[Dale Bumpers]]. Clinton prevailed with 338,684 votees (63.4 percent) and won the remaining sixty-nine counties. It was the best showing by a GOP nominee for governor since [[Winthrop Rockefeller]]'s 1970 loss to Bumpers. While Lowe lost to Clinton, Lowe's former congressional rival, outgoing Governor David Pryor, won all seventy-five counties in the U.S. Senate race over the Little Rock [[Moderate Republican]] William Thomas "Tom" Kelly, Jr. (1942-2011).<ref>Arkansas election returns, 1978.</ref>​

Lowe received 195,550 votes (36.6 percent) and won six counties: Sebastian ([[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]]) with 62.5 percent, Crawford (adjoining Sebastian) with 55 percent, Boone (Harrison) with 54.9 percent, Polk with 54.4 percent, Van Buren with 54.1 percent, and his own Miller at 53.6 percent. He won 49.8 percent in Franklin County,  also near Fort Smith and the home base of then U.S. Senator [[Dale Bumpers]]. Clinton prevailed with 338,684 votees (63.4 percent) and won the remaining sixty-nine counties. It was the best showing by a GOP nominee for governor since [[Winthrop Rockefeller]]'s 1970 loss to Bumpers. While Lowe lost to Clinton, Lowe's former congressional rival, outgoing Governor David Pryor, won all seventy-five counties in the U.S. Senate race over the Little Rock [[Moderate Republican]] William Thomas "Tom" Kelly, Jr. (1942-2011).<ref>Arkansas election returns, 1978.</ref>​

U.S. Representative [[John Paul Hammerschmidt]], the first Arkansas Republican congressman since [[Reconstruction]], was instrumental in helping his friend Lowe to win in Boone County. Hammerschmidt had also been party chairman for a time before and again after his congressional service.<ref name="Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report 1978"/> He also preceded Lowe as the party's national committeeman. Lowe was a Hammerschmidt donor from 1982 to 1988. He also contributed $1,000 to the Arkansas party organization after he left as chairman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://watchdog.net/contrib/75502/a_lynn_lowe|title=A. Lynn Lowe from Zip Code 75502|publisher=watchdog.net|accessdate=December 27, 2009}}</ref>​

U.S. Representative [[John Paul Hammerschmidt]], the first Arkansas Republican congressman since [[Reconstruction]], was instrumental in helping his friend Lowe to win in Boone County. Hammerschmidt had also been party chairman for a time before and again after his congressional service.<ref name="Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report 1978"/> He also preceded Lowe as the party's national committeeman. Lowe was a Hammerschmidt donor from 1982 to 1988. He also contributed $1,000 to the Arkansas party organization after he left as chairman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://watchdog.net/contrib/75502/a_lynn_lowe|title=A. Lynn Lowe from Zip Code 75502|publisher=watchdog.net|accessdate=December 27, 2009}}</ref>​

==Party leader==

==Party leader==

 

Lowe was elected state party chairman in December 1974, when the Arkansas state Senator [[Jim Caldwell]], stepped down from the unpaid position, to which he had been elected in March 1973.<ref>''Arkansas Outlook'' (Republican newsletter), May 1973</ref> Lowe defeated three candidates, Dr. Robert Luther of Arkadelphia, who later served as the party executive director; Marshall Martin of Benton, the party chairman in Saline County and a former aide to Governor Rockefeller, and Bob Scott of Little Rock, a moderate and former Rockefeller associate.<ref>''Arkansas Outlook,'' December 1974; ''Arkansas Gazette'' (now ''Arkansas Democrat-Gazette''), December 8, 1974.</ref> Though considered a conservative, Lowe was friendly with [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Nelson Rockefeller]], Winthrop Rockefeller's older brother who had been nominated to fill the second slot by President [[Gerald Ford]], upon Ford's accession to the presidency after the resignation of President [[Richard M. Nixon]]. Lowe said that Nelson Rockefeller was popular among Arkansas Republicans because of "the feelings for his brother." Yet, Lowe said that a more conservative running mate might be needed for Ford in 1976, having foreshadowed the replacement of Nelson Rockefeller on the GOP ticket with [[Bob Dole]] of [[Kansas]].<ref>''Arkansas Outlook,'' October 1975.</ref>​

Lowe was elected state party chairman in December 1974, when the Arkansas state Senator [[Jim Caldwell]], stepped down from the unpaid position, to which he had been elected in March 1973.<ref>''Arkansas Outlook'' (Republican newsletter), May 1973</ref> Lowe defeated three candidates, Dr. Robert Luther of Arkadelphia, who later served as the party executive director; Marshall Martin of Benton, the party chairman in Saline County and a former aide to Governor Rockefeller, and Bob Scott of Little Rock, a moderate and former Rockefeller associate.<ref>''Arkansas Outlook,'' December 1974; ''Arkansas Gazette'' (now ''Arkansas Democrat-Gazette''), December 8, 1974.</ref> Though considered a conservative, Lowe was friendly with [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Nelson Rockefeller]], Winthrop Rockefeller's older brother who had been nominated to fill the second slot by President [[Gerald Ford]], upon Ford's accession to the presidency after the resignation of President [[Richard M. Nixon]]. Lowe said that Nelson Rockefeller was popular among Arkansas Republicans because of "the feelings for his brother." Yet, Lowe said that a more conservative running mate might be needed for Ford in 1976, having foreshadowed the replacement of Nelson Rockefeller on the GOP ticket with [[Bob Dole]] of [[Kansas]].<ref>''Arkansas Outlook,'' October 1975.</ref>​

On August 10, 1975, Lowe and then State Representative Carolyn Joan Pollan of Fort Smith hosted President Ford, who attended a reception of some thirty Arkansas Republican leaders held at the Sheraton Inn in Fort Smith. Earlier in the day, Ford had toured Fort Chaffee, accompanied by Senator [[John McClellan]] and other Democratic members of the Arkansas congressional delegation. Ford's stops included the Vietnam Refugee Resettlement Center there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/LIBRARY/document/diary/pdd750810.pdf|title=The Daily Dairy of President Gerald R. Ford|date= August 10, 1975|publisher=fordlibrarymuseum.gov |accessdate=December 27, 2009}}</ref>

On August 10, 1975, Lowe and then State Representative Carolyn Joan Pollan of Fort Smith hosted President Ford, who attended a reception of some thirty Arkansas Republican leaders held at the Sheraton Inn in Fort Smith. Earlier in the day, Ford had toured Fort Chaffee, accompanied by Senator [[John McClellan]] and other Democratic members of the Arkansas congressional delegation. Ford's stops included the Vietnam Refugee Resettlement Center there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/LIBRARY/document/diary/pdd750810.pdf|title=The Daily Dairy of President Gerald R. Ford|date= August 10, 1975|publisher=fordlibrarymuseum.gov |accessdate=December 27, 2009}}</ref>

Lowe was sergeant at arms at the 1980 [[Republican National Convention]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. The Arkansas delegation included [[Ada Mills]] of Clarksville, who had received national attention for having been the only delegate in the country initially committed to former Governor [[John Connally|John B. Connally, Jr.]], of Texas for the presidential nomination that year. As state party chairman, Lowe had been technically neutral at the convention, but Lowe and the entire Arkansas delegation routinely voted to nominate [[Ronald W. Reagan]], who would then tap [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] of Texas as his vice-presidential choice.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' July 12, 1980, p. 1928.</ref>

Lowe was sergeant at arms at the 1980 [[Republican National Convention]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. The Arkansas delegation included [[Ada Mills]] of Clarksville, who had received national attention for having been the only delegate in the country initially committed to former Governor [[John Connally|John B. Connally, Jr.]], of Texas for the presidential nomination that year. As state party chairman, Lowe had been technically neutral at the convention, but Lowe and the entire Arkansas delegation routinely voted to nominate [[Ronald W. Reagan]], who would then tap [[George Herbert Walker Bush]] of Texas as his vice-presidential choice.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' July 12, 1980, p. 1928.</ref>

After his three terms as party chairman, Lowe served from 1980 to 1988 as the Arkansas Republican national committeeman. When Bill Clinton returned in 1982 for a second nonconsecutive two-year term as governor, his former rival Lowe told the GOP executive committee, meeting in Little Rock, that he had observed "the exchange of paper money" at a polling precinct in Texarkana eleven days earlier. Lowe said that he feared the "ugly monster" of corrupt election practices was returning to Arkansas and would "play havoc" with future Republican opportunities. He declined to answer reporters' questions about instances of specific fraud in state politics.<ref>''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 14, 1982.</ref>​

After his three terms as party chairman, Lowe served from 1980 to 1988 as the Arkansas Republican national committeeman. When Bill Clinton returned in 1982 for a second nonconsecutive two-year term as governor, his former rival Lowe told the GOP executive committee, meeting in Little Rock, that he had observed "the exchange of paper money" at a polling precinct in Texarkana eleven days earlier. Lowe said that he feared the "ugly monster" of corrupt election practices was returning to Arkansas and would "play havoc" with future Republican opportunities. He declined to answer reporters' questions about instances of specific fraud in state politics.<ref>''Arkansas Gazette,'' November 14, 1982.</ref>​

Lowe was the board chairman of the Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative Commission in Texarkana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arklatexhealthcenter.com/images/doctor/025663/company/12.pdf|title=Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative Commission|publisher=arklatexhealthcenter.com|accessdate=December 27, 2009}}</ref>​

Lowe was the board chairman of the Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative Commission in Texarkana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arklatexhealthcenter.com/images/doctor/025663/company/12.pdf|title=Southwest Arkansas Electric Cooperative Commission|publisher=arklatexhealthcenter.com|accessdate=December 27, 2009}}</ref>​

 

==Death==

==Death==

Lowe died at the age of seventy-four at his home in Garland, Arkansas. A memorial service was held on August 21, 2010, at the First Lutheran Church of Texarkana, Texas, with the Reverend Berry Kolb officiating. Lowe was interred on his farm.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=A.-Lowe&lc=1890&pid=144733605&mid=4347575|title=In Memory of A. Lynn Lowe|publisher=obits.dignitymemorial.com|accessdate=January 31, 2011}}</ref>​

Lowe died at the age of seventy-four at his home in Garland, Arkansas. A memorial service was held on August 21, 2010, at the First Lutheran Church of Texarkana, Texas, with the Reverend Berry Kolb officiating. Lowe was interred on his farm.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=A.-Lowe&lc=1890&pid=144733605&mid=4347575|title=In Memory of A. Lynn Lowe|publisher=obits.dignitymemorial.com|accessdate=January 31, 2011}}</ref>​

 

Lowe's death came one month after the passing of [[Leon Griffith]], the 1976 GOP gubernatorial nominee, who was overwhelmed in that heavily Democratic year by Governor David Pryor, who had defeated Lowe for Congress a decade earlier.​

Lowe's death came one month after the passing of [[Leon Griffith]], the 1976 GOP gubernatorial nominee, who was overwhelmed in that heavily Democratic year by Governor David Pryor, who had defeated Lowe for Congress a decade earlier.​

'''External link'''​

'''External link'''​

*C-SPAN:Lowe, Lynn​

*C-SPAN:Lowe, Lynn​

 

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[[Category:Arkansas]]​

[[Category:Arkansas]]​