Changes

In 1976, Coon favored the nomination of former Governor [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]] as the GOP standard-bearer, rather than the unelected incumbent President Ford, the choice of most Rockefeller Republicans in Arkansas. The state delegation to the national convention in Kansas City was led by the 1974 (and later 1984 as well) congressional candidate Judy C. Petty, the former Winthrop Rockefeller staffer pledged to Reagan in 1976. Petty claimed that the old Rockefeller coalition in Arkansas could not be revived because of the strength of Bumpers and Pryor. She therefore proposed a conservative coalition of Republicans and dissident Democrats, many of whom had been backers of Orval Faubus.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' August 14, 1976, pp. 2187-2188.</ref> In the general election in Arkansas, Ford barely polled a third of the ballots against the successful Democrat [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>Arkansas Election Statistics, 1976.</ref> Coon similarly supported Reagan in 1980 and 1984.

In 1976, Coon favored the nomination of former Governor [[Ronald W. Reagan]] of [[California]] as the GOP standard-bearer, rather than the unelected incumbent President Ford, the choice of most Rockefeller Republicans in Arkansas. The state delegation to the national convention in Kansas City was led by the 1974 (and later 1984 as well) congressional candidate Judy C. Petty, the former Winthrop Rockefeller staffer pledged to Reagan in 1976. Petty claimed that the old Rockefeller coalition in Arkansas could not be revived because of the strength of Bumpers and Pryor. She therefore proposed a conservative coalition of Republicans and dissident Democrats, many of whom had been backers of Orval Faubus.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report,'' August 14, 1976, pp. 2187-2188.</ref> In the general election in Arkansas, Ford barely polled a third of the ballots against the successful Democrat [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>Arkansas Election Statistics, 1976.</ref> Coon similarly supported Reagan in 1980 and 1984.

Coon resurfaced politically in 1981, not as a candidate, but as the appointee of newly-elected Republican Governor [[Frank White]] to head the Arkansas Employment Security Division in Little Rock. He served until White was unseated after a single term in 1982 by former Governor [[Bill Clinton]]. Mrs. Troxell, his former ticket-mate, had held the same position for a time in the Rockefeller administration.<ref>''Arkansas Outlook,'' December 1980.</ref>

Coon resurfaced politically in 1981, not as a candidate, but as the appointee of newly-elected Republican Governor [[Frank D. White]] to head the Arkansas Employment Security Division in Little Rock. He served until White was unseated after a single term in 1982 by former Governor [[Bill Clinton]]. Mrs. Troxell, his former ticket-mate, had held the same position for a time in the Rockefeller administration.<ref>''Arkansas Outlook,'' December 1980.</ref>

   

   

Coon's chairmanship of the Arkansas party, which was considered quite successful overall, coincided with a heated 1990 Republican gubernatorial primary between then U.S. Representative Tommy Robinson, a controversial former Democratic [[sheriff]] known for shoot-at-the-hip remarks, and the more conventional  Sheffield Nelson, also a former Democrat and the favorite of the business establishment. The Robinson-Nelson contest was believed to have so divided the minority GOP that once again it could not compete effectively, with Nelson as the nominee in 1990 against Governor Clinton, who appeared on an Arkansas ballot for the last time as a candidate for governor.<ref> [http://www.thevanguard.org/thevanguard/columns/rpa_1990.shtml].</ref> The primary even split many Republican families. Coon himself insists that he has never told anyone how he personally voted in the Robinson-Nelson contest.

Coon's chairmanship of the Arkansas party, which was considered quite successful overall, coincided with a heated 1990 Republican gubernatorial primary between then U.S. Representative Tommy Robinson, a controversial former Democratic [[sheriff]] known for shoot-at-the-hip remarks, and the more conventional  Sheffield Nelson, also a former Democrat and the favorite of the business establishment. The Robinson-Nelson contest was believed to have so divided the minority GOP that once again it could not compete effectively, with Nelson as the nominee in 1990 against Governor Clinton, who appeared on an Arkansas ballot for the last time as a candidate for governor.<ref> [http://www.thevanguard.org/thevanguard/columns/rpa_1990.shtml].</ref> The primary even split many Republican families. Coon himself insists that he has never told anyone how he personally voted in the Robinson-Nelson contest.