In 1961, John Tower won a special election for U.S. Senate and became the first Texas Republican elected statewide since Reconstruction. His campaign fliers and brochures, part of the John G. Tower Collection at Southwestern University, show Tower’s efforts to court conservative Democrats and convince them that a Republican could win in Texas.

  • A campaign brochure in which Republican John Tower encourages "independent thinking Texans" to consider voting for him over his runoff opponent, Democrat William Blakley.
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    A campaign brochure in which Republican John Tower encourages “independent thinking Texans” to consider voting for him over his runoff opponent, Democrat William Blakley.
  • A campaign flier in which Tower touts the value of a "two-party Texas."
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    A campaign flier in which Tower touts the value of a “two-party Texas.”
  • A campaign publication outlining Tower's positions, many of which are similar to views promoted by Texas Republican candidates today.
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    A campaign publication outlining Tower’s positions, many of which are similar to views promoted by Texas Republican candidates today.
  • The front of a Tower campaign brochure in which he frames himself as "the man who can win."
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    The front of a Tower campaign brochure in which he frames himself as “the man who can win.”
  • The back of the same brochure.
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    The back of the same brochure.
  • A Tower campaign brochure focused on the number of Mexicans working in the U.S.
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    A Tower campaign brochure focused on the number of Mexicans working in the U.S.
  • The back of the same brochure.
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    The back of the same brochure.
  • In June 1961, Tower was sworn in to the U.S. Senate by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who held the same Senate seat in the previous year.
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    In June 1961, Tower was sworn in to the U.S. Senate by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who held the same Senate seat in the previous year.

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Aman Batheja was a political reporter and editor for the Tribune from 2012 to 2019. Previously he worked for eight years at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, most of that time covering state and local politics....