Changes

{{Infobox_officeholder  

{{Infobox_officeholder  

| name=Joseph Claude "Joe" Shell, Sr.

| name=Joseph Claude "Joe" Shell, Sr.

| date of death=April 7, 2008 (aged 79)

| date of death=April 7, 2008 (aged 79)

| place of death=Bakersfield, Kern County<br>California

| place of death=Bakersfield, Kern County<br>California

| resting_place=Hillcrest Memorial Park in Bakersfield

| resting_place=

| residence=Bakersfield, California

|residence=Bakersfield, California

| occupation=Oil and natural gas producer<br>

| occupation=Oil and natural gas producer<br>

[[Lobbyist]]

[[Lobbyist]]

| spouse= (1) Barbara Morton Shell (married 1940-1968, divorced)

| spouse= (1) Barbara Morton Shell (married 1940-1968, divorced)

(2) [[Mary K. Shell|Mary Katherine Jaynes Shell]]<br> (married 1970-2008, his death)

(2) Mary Katherine Jaynes Shell (married 1970-2008, his death)

| children= From first marriage:<br>

| children= From first marriage:<br>

Barbara Stone<br>

Barbara Stone<br>

==Gubernatorial primary race==

==Gubernatorial primary race==

When Shell declared his candidacy for governor, he did not expect Nixon to run, because the former vice president had vacillated for several months about a potential candidacy and had a national perspective, rather than extensive interest in state government. Shell remained in the race to carry the banner of the more conservative Republicans, with Nixon hence cast as the [[Moderate Republican]] candidate. Nixon defined himself in his own words as "a conservative — a progressive conservative."<ref name=timem/> The California primary race was covered nationally because Nixon was a national figure who was expected to run again for President in the future, and California was then on the verge of surpassing [[New York]] as the nation's most populous state. Shell was quoted in ''[[Time]]'' magazine that he had "gotten sick and tired of calling people [[liberals]] when they're basically [[socialism|socialists]]."<ref name=timem/> Among Shell's financial backers was A. C. "Cy" Ruble, former chairman of Union Oil Company of California.<ref name=draftgoldwater>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZyNnemM0-osC&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=Joe+Shell&source=web&ots=Yaq56fGSfC&sig=evtpj883YQrBdWf_5VRcDTC99Rg&hl=en#PPA56,M1|title=Suite 3505: The Story of the Draft Goldwater Movement|publisher=Ashbrook Press|date=1967|author=F. Clifton White and William J. Gill|accessdate=May 13, 2018}}</ref>

When Shell declared his candidacy for governor, he did not expect Nixon to run, because the former vice president had vacillated for several months about a potential candidacy and had a national perspective, rather than extensive interest in state government. Shell remained in the race to carry the banner of the more conservative Republicans, with Nixon hence cast as the "moderate" candidate. Nixon defined himself in his own words as "a conservative — a progressive conservative."<ref name=timem/> The California primary race was covered nationally because Nixon was a national figure who was expected to run again for President in the future, and California was then on the verge of surpassing [[New York]] as the nation's most populous state. Shell was quoted in ''[[Time]]'' magazine that he had "gotten sick and tired of calling people [[liberals]] when they're basically [[socialism|socialists]]."<ref name=timem/> Among Shell's financial backers was A. C. "Cy" Ruble, former chairman of Union Oil Company of California.<ref name=draftgoldwater>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZyNnemM0-osC&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=Joe+Shell&source=web&ots=Yaq56fGSfC&sig=evtpj883YQrBdWf_5VRcDTC99Rg&hl=en#PPA56,M1|title=Suite 3505: The Story of the Draft Goldwater Movement|publisher=Ashbrook Press|date=1967|author=F. Clifton White and William J. Gill|accessdate=May 13, 2018}}</ref>

In Bakersfield, [[Mary K. Shell]], then Mary Hosking of the Kern County Republican Women's Association, worked for the nomination of her future husband. In the same election, two other conservatives, including [[Howard Jarvis]], the future father of [[California Proposition 13]] (1978), challenged liberal U.S. Senator [[Thomas Kuchel]] in the primary. Kuchel easily prevailed to gain renomination. He had initially succeeded Nixon in the Senate in 1953. The 1962 elections were the first in California in which cross-filing across party lines had been abandoned.<ref>''The New York Times'', June 7, 1962, p. 1.</ref>

In Bakersfield, Mary K. Shell, then Mary Hosking of the Kern County Republican Women's Association, worked for the nomination of her future husband. In the same election, two other conservatives, including [[Howard Jarvis]], the future father of [[California Proposition 13]] (1978), challenged liberal U.S. Senator [[Thomas H. Kuchel]] (1910-1994) in the primary. Kuchel easily prevailed to gain renomination. He had initially succeeded Nixon in the Senate in 1953. The 1962 elections were the first in California in which cross-filing across party lines had been abandoned.<ref>''The New York Times'', June 7, 1962, p. 1.</ref>

During the gubernatorial campaign, Shell's plane was sabotaged: somehow, barium was placed in the second fuel tank. Had the pilot not discovered the problem, the plane would have crashed.<ref name=neocons>

During the gubernatorial campaign, Shell's plane was sabotaged: somehow, barium was placed in the second fuel tank. Had the pilot not discovered the problem, the plane would have crashed.<ref name=neocons>

Ultimately, Reagan sealed up conservative support. Shell hesistated to support Reagan: he questioned Reagan's late conversion to the party and some of the leftist associations that Reagan maintained during the 1950s, when he had nevertheless supported Eisenhower for President. Reagan went on to secure the nomination by defeating former San Francisco [[Mayor]] George Christopher, a Greek American who had been Nixon's lieutenant governor running mate in 1962. Shell claimed<ref>''San Francisco News'', May 18, 1965.</ref> that Reagan had earlier promised to support him for governor, an assertion that Reagan denied.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://urocresolution1975.blogspot.com/2007/09/blog-post.html|title=UROC Resolution on Reagan 1975|date=September 13, 2007|publisher=Urocresolution1975.blogspot.com|accessdate=May 13, 2018}}</ref><ref name=draftgoldwater/> Reagan financial backer Holmes Tuttle pleaded with Shell to support Reagan and offered him a leading role in the campaign, but Shell demurred.

Ultimately, Reagan sealed up conservative support. Shell hesistated to support Reagan: he questioned Reagan's late conversion to the party and some of the leftist associations that Reagan maintained during the 1950s, when he had nevertheless supported Eisenhower for President. Reagan went on to secure the nomination by defeating former San Francisco [[Mayor]] George Christopher, a Greek American who had been Nixon's lieutenant governor running mate in 1962. Shell claimed<ref>''San Francisco News'', May 18, 1965.</ref> that Reagan had earlier promised to support him for governor, an assertion that Reagan denied.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://urocresolution1975.blogspot.com/2007/09/blog-post.html|title=UROC Resolution on Reagan 1975|date=September 13, 2007|publisher=Urocresolution1975.blogspot.com|accessdate=May 13, 2018}}</ref><ref name=draftgoldwater/> Reagan financial backer Holmes Tuttle pleaded with Shell to support Reagan and offered him a leading role in the campaign, but Shell demurred.

Shell said that his reservations about Reagan were vindicated as early as 1967, when the newly-inaugurated governor's appointment list reflected none of the conservatives recommended by Shell, but were instead mostly individuals who had backed Rockefeller over Goldwater in 1964.<ref name=neocons/> One of the appointees was [[Caspar Weinberger]] of San Francisco, whose career would culminate as the [[United States Secretary of Defense]] under President Reagan. Shell opposed Nixon's selection of Weinberger as state party chairman in 1962.<ref>''The New York Times'', June 17, 1960, p. 60.</ref> In his 2001 memoir ''In the Arena'', Weinberger said that Nixon had been "substantially weakened" because of Shell's challenge: He was a former football player at USC, which in Southern California was practically a passport to political advancement. . . . Nixon won the primary, but he did so without generating much GOP enthusiasm." Over the years, most conservatives considered Weinberger, originally a liberal Republican, to have become one of their own.<ref name=latimes/> Another such appointment was Houston I. Flournoy, who in 1974 would carry the GOP banner in an unsuccessful bid to succeed Reagan as governor, having been defeated by Brown's son, [[Jerry Brown|Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr.]]

Shell said that his reservations about Reagan were vindicated as early as 1967, when the newly-inaugurated governor's appointment list reflected none of the conservatives recommended by Shell, but were instead mostly individuals who had backed Rockefeller over Goldwater in 1964.<ref name=neocons/> One of the appointees was [[Caspar Weinberger]] of San Francisco, whose career would culminate as the [[United States Secretary of Defense]] under President Reagan. Shell opposed Nixon's selection of Weinberger as state party chairman in 1962.<ref>''The New York Times'', June 17, 1960, p. 60.</ref> In his 2001 memoir ''In the Arena'', Weinberger said that Nixon had been "substantially weakened" because of Shell's challenge: He was a former football player at USC, which in Southern California was practically a passport to political advancement. . . . Nixon won the primary, but he did so without generating much GOP enthusiasm." Over the years, most conservatives considered Weinberger, originally a liberal Republican, to have become one of their own.<ref name=latimes/> Another such appointment was Houston I. Flournoy, who in 1974 would carry the GOP banner in an unsuccessful bid to succeed Reagan as governor, having been defeated by Brown's son, still serving Governor [[Jerry Brown|Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr.]]

Shell attended the 1968 Republican National Convention in Miami Beach, [[Florida]], which nominated his old rival Nixon on the first ballot with relatively little opposition coming from Governors Rockefeller and Reagan. Shell said that later events proved Nixon unfit for the presidency: "I felt then that Nixon was bad for the party, and [[Watergate]] and the subsequent stain he left proved me right."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flashreport.org/blog.php?postID=2008041013273453L|title=Joe Shell comments on Nixon|publisher=Flashreport.org; link no longer available|accessdate=May 13, 2018}}</ref>

Shell attended the 1968 Republican National Convention in Miami Beach, [[Florida]], which nominated his old rival Nixon on the first ballot with relatively little opposition coming from Governors Rockefeller and Reagan. Shell said that later events proved Nixon unfit for the presidency: "I felt then that Nixon was bad for the party, and [[Watergate]] and the subsequent stain he left proved me right."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flashreport.org/blog.php?postID=2008041013273453L|title=Joe Shell comments on Nixon|publisher=Flashreport.org; link no longer available|accessdate=May 13, 2018}}</ref>

==Family life==

==Family life==

In 1940, Shell married the former Barbara Jean Morton (1919-1995). The couple divorced in 1968, and she married a man named "Pearson."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/search/?name=Barbara+Morton_Shell&event=_Los+Angeles-Los+Angeles-California-USA_68337&pg=2|title=Barbara Morton Shell|publisher=Ancestry.com|access date=September 9, 2019}}</ref> Joe and Barbara had five children: Barbara S. Stone and husband Harry Stone of Whittier, California; Joseph Shell, Jr., of Dana Point, David Morton Shell and wife Merrilee of Elk Grove, California; Harold Shell and wife Patricia Shell of San Ramon, California; Diane Shell Morton and husband Paul Morton of Alamo, California, and Lynn Shell of Porterville, California. Lynn was an adopted son and the blood nephew of Barbara Shell. Joe Shell then married the former Mary Katherine Jaynes, previously Mary Hosking (1927-2018) by her first marriage, and relocated to her home city of Bakersfield. Mary had three children: son Geoffrey Hosking and two others who died in their twenties.<ref name=latimes/>

In 1940, Shell married the former Barbara Morton. The couple divorced in 1968, and she died in 1995. They had five children: Barbara S. Stone and husband Harry Stone of Whittier, California; Joseph Shell, Jr., of Dana Point, David Morton Shell and wife Merrilee of Elk Grove, California; Harold Shell and wife Patricia Shell of San Ramon, California; Diane Shell Morton and husband Paul Morton of Alamo, California, and Lynn Shell of Porterville, California. Lynn was an adopted son and the blood nephew of Barbara Shell. Joe Shell then married the former Mary Katherine Jaynes, previously Mary Hosking (1927-2018) by her first marriage, and relocated to her home city of Bakersfield. Mary had three children: son Geoffrey Hosking and two others who died in their twenties.<ref name=latimes/>

Mary Shell had managed Joe Shell's gubernatorial campaign in Kern County and became the first woman mayor of Bakersfield, having served from 1980 to 1984. Thereafter, she was a member of the nonpartisan Kern County Board of Supervisors from 1985 to 1996, having first been elected in a contest against the son-in-law of the [[Hispanic]] labor organizer [[Cesar Chavez]]. Joe Shell walked precincts tirelessly on his wife's behalf, but he never again placed his name on a ballot.<ref>''The Sacramento Bee'', date missing.</ref> In the same election in which Mary won the supervisor's seat, Joe Shell, Jr., lost a publicized race for the California State Assembly to liberal activist [[Tom Hayden]], former husband of leftist celebrity [[Jane Fonda]].<ref name=human/>

Mary Shell had managed Joe Shell's gubernatorial campaign in Kern County and became the first woman mayor of Bakersfield, having served from 1980 to 1984. Thereafter, she was a member of the nonpartisan Kern County Board of Supervisors from 1985 to 1996, having first been elected in a contest against the son-in-law of the [[Hispanic]] labor organizer [[Cesar Chavez]]. Joe Shell walked precincts tirelessly on his wife's behalf, but he never again placed his name on a ballot.<ref>''The Sacramento Bee'', date missing.</ref> In the same election in which Mary won the supervisor's seat, Joe Shell, Jr., lost a publicized race for the California State Assembly to liberal activist [[Tom Hayden]], former husband of leftist celebrity [[Jane Fonda]].<ref name=human/>

[[Category:Business People]]

[[Category:Business People]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]