Democrat Chair Olivia Maynard Olivia Maynard was the first woman to chair the Michigan Democratic Party (1979-1983) and also was the first woman nominated for the office of Michigan’s lieutenant governor, in 1978. She ran for Lieutenant Governor for a…

Republican Chair Bill McLaughlin Bill McLaughlin was a top Republican Party deputy during Governor George Romney’s administration before becoming party chairman (1969-79). Governor Milliken appointed McLaughlin (1979-81) Director of the Michigan Department of Commerce. He was the longest-serving president of…

GOP Lawyer and Political Advisor Richard D. McLellan Richard McLellan began his professional career as an administrative assistant to Michigan Governor William Milliken and as acting director of the Michigan Office of Drug Abuse. President Gerald Ford appointed him as…

The Millikens Gov. & Mrs. Bill Milliken Senior Capitol Correspondent Tim Skubick, who has covered the former First Family for over 35 years, delves into the reasons Bill Milliken ran for office, how he almost died during 50 bombing missions…

Chairman Grand Hotel Dan Musser II In March 1933, in the depths of the Great Depression at a time when all the nation’s banks had been closed, W. Stewart Woodfill was the sole bidder in an auction to take the…

House Speaker Gary M. Owen First elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1973, Mr. Owen served for 16 years as a legislator. He was the first-ever freshman lawmaker to join the House Appropriations Committee and sat on that…

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson Following 16 years as the Prosecutor of Oakland County, L. Brooks Patterson was elected in 1992 to the office of County Executive. He won relection in 2012. Patterson received a Bachelor’s degree from the…

Republican Chair Elly M. Peterson In 1965, Elly Peterson became the first woman to serve as chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. She was also the first woman in U.S. History to chair a Republican state central committee, which she…

Douglas B. Roberts Former Michigan State Treasurer Mr. Douglas B. Roberts is a Professor of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University. Mr. Roberts served as Treasurer for the State of Michigan from April 2001…

Governor George Romney Governor George Romney Oral History Videos 1-5 with George Scott Romney, Son Governor George Romney Oral History Videos 6-11 with Walt De Vries, Executive Assistant for Program Development George Romney (July 8, 1907 – July 26, 1995)…