Marc Racicot was born on July 24, 1948 in Thompson Falls, Montana, and raised in Libby and Miles City. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Carroll College in Helena, Montana, in 1970 and earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Montana School of Law in 1973. Racicot was an Army ROTC graduate and was assigned to the Judge Advocate General's Corps stationed in West Germany, where he served as chief prosecutor until 1976. Upon return to Montana, Racicot became the deputy county attorney for Missoula County from 1976 to 1977 and then worked as the special prosecutor of Montana from 1977 to 1988. He was elected attorney general of Montana in 1988 and then served two terms as governor of Montana, from 1992-2001. As governor, Racicot emphasized government efficiency, tax reform and utility deregulation, and worked with the legislature to eliminate a $200 million deficit.
In 2000, the presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore ended too close to call, sparking a vote recount in the state of Florida. Marc Racicot, then the outgoing Republican governor of Montana and a close friend and colleague of George W. Bush, served as a prominent surrogate and adviser for the Bush campaign. Drawing on his background as a prosecutor and attorney general, Racicot was sent to Florida to help defend the Republican position amidst the legal and political battles. In 2002, Racicot was appointed as the Chair of the Republican National Committee by George W. Bush. He resigned from this position in 2003 to become the chairman for George W. Bush’s successful 2004 re-election campaign.
Marc Racicot married Theresa Barber in Big Timber, Montana, in 1970. The Racicots have five children: Ann, Tim, Mary Catherine, Theresa Rose and Joe.
The Marc Racicot Papers document Racicot’s professional career from 1970-2009, encompassing his roles as Montana Special Prosecutor, Attorney General, and Governor of Montana. Additionally, the collection reflects Racicot's national political role in the Republican Party and as campaign chairman for President George W. Bush. Components of the collection include closing arguments from high-profile cases Racicot prosecuted in the 1970s and 1980s; insight into his public service through scrapbooks, speeches and correspondence; and materials related to his 1992 and 1996 political campaigns.
This collection is arranged in nine series, one of which is further arranged into two subseries.
Series I: Prosecution Materials, 1977-1987, 0.5 linear feet
Series II: Campaigns for Governor, 1992-1996, 1.1 linear feet
Subseries 1: 1992 Campaign for Governor, 1992, 0.4 linear feet
Subseries 2: 1996 Campaign for Governor, 1993-1996, 0.7 linear feet
Series III: George W. Bush Presidential Election Recount, 2000-2001, 0.1 linear feet
Series IV: National Republican Leadership, 1999-2009, 0.6 linear feet
Series V: Speeches, 1988-2000, 0.4 linear feet
Series VI: Miscellaneous, 1986-1999, 0.1 linear feet
Series VII: Photographs, 1970-2005, 1.2 linear feet
Series VIII: Scrapbooks, 1977-2005, 9.0 linear feet
Series IX: Audiovisual Materials, 1993-2004, 1.2 linear feet
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Non-exclusive rights to some materials in the collection are held by the University of Montana.
Marc Racicot Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
The materials in this collection were held by Marc Racicot until their donation to the University of Montana's Archives and Special Collections.
This collection was donated to the University of Montana's Archives and Special Collections by Marc Racicot in 2024.
This collection was largely identified by topic area by Governor Racicot prior to donation to the Archives. Some collection contents were foldered during processing, including contents received in three-ring binders.
The Montana State Archives, located at the Montana Historical Society, holds the official papers of Montana governors, including Governor Marc Racicot.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
This series contains court documents and notes from some of Racicot’s felony trials and murder cases. Noted in this series is the statistic that Racicot took “41 felony cases to jury trial and obtained convictions in 39 - a 95% conviction rate.”
Note: Some documents in this series contain explicit descriptions of violent crimes.
This series is arranged chronologically
These files were originally organized in plastic binders with index tabs. Materials were removed from the binders but maintained in original order.
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This series has been divided into two subseries. Subseries 1, 1992 Campaign for Governor, documents Racicot’s campaign as the Republican candidate against Dorothy Bradley. Dennis Rehberg was his running mate. Subseries 2, 1996 Campaign for Governor, documents his campaign as the Republican candidate against Rob Natelson. Judy Martz was Racicot’s running mate. The bulk of this series is campaign materials, press releases, news clippings, and speeches, and includes legislative documents and campaign issue reference materials.
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framed
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This series consists of a scrapbook and notes related to the ballot recount in Florida following the ‘too close to call’ 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore.
Photocopies of Supreme Court rulings were removed from the collection during processing.
Compiled by the Republican Party of Florida
Racicot served as the chair of the Republican National Committee and then chairman for George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign. Included in this series are Republican policy positions, talking points, and some of Bush’s speeches and campaign materials from this time. The majority of these materials were created by the Bush campaign. Of note are photographs, correspondence and handwritten notes from President George W. Bush and other prominent politicians.
Materials are arranged in chronological order.
Materials in three-ring binders were removed from the binders during processing and foldered in original order.
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The speeches in this series were given by Marc Racicot at events including the Republican National Convention in 2004, and various community organizations and graduation ceremonies across Montana. Additional speeches can be found in Series II, Campaigns for Governor.
This series is arranged chronologically
This series contains materials that did not fit logically into other series.
This series is arranged chronologically.
This series is arranged chronologically. Some photographs were removed from frames during processing.
4th Platoon of Bravo Company, 10th Battalion, 5th Regiment. Fort Knox, Kentucky. Soldiers, including Racicot, are identified on the back of the photograph.
With daughter Theresa Rose and Mary Catherine, Granddaughter Adara
Framed photograph with ephemera
The series consists of scrapbooks from throughout Marc Racicot’s professional career. Most include photographs, memorabilia, and news clippings.
This series is arranged chronologically.
Racicot's early career, family photographs, and attorney general campaign
Racicot for attorney general campaign
Racicot / Rehburg campaign, governor inauguration
Gubernatorial campaign Racicot / Rehberg 1992
Racicot becomes governor of Montana
Governor Marc Racicot, First Lady Theresa Racicot, family photographs
Governor re-election Racicot / Martz, photograph with President Clinton and Hillary Clinton
Photograph of Marc Racicot with President Clinton, news headlines: President Racicot?, Racicot refuses Attorney General job 2000
Air Force One memorabilia, photographs with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and handwritten notes from Dick Cheney and George W. Bush
Includes personal notes from George W. Bush, photographs, invitation to Presidential Inauguration 2005
This series of audiovisual materials includes VHS tapes of political campaign advertisements, a televised broadcast of Racicot’s State of the State address in 1993, and footage from his inauguration ceremony and ball in 1997. Also included is a cassette tape of an interview with Marc Racicot when he worked as chairman of the Republican National Committee in 2003. In 2004, Racicot performed numerous interviews for national news stations, and appeared on several popular talk shows as chairman for President Bush’s re-election campaign.
This series is arranged chronologically.
Digital Copy Available
Victory speech (audio skips - unable to hear speech)
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issues related to being governor
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Tax Reform Action Committee
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Racicot speaks on first term as governor
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Racicot addresses Montana's reputation after Unibomber arrest, Freemen standoff
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Billlings, Montana
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Billings, Montana
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Republican party stances, Montana specific issues, President Clinton impeachment
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Racicot speaks about the Florida Recount (begins mid tape)
Digital Copy Available
Marc and Theresa Racicot discuss family history, personal life (tape skips)
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(Racicot speaks in middle of the tape)
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audio cassette tape
Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign
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Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign
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Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign
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Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign, opinions on Democratic National Convention
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Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign
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Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign
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Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign
Digital Copy Available
Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign
Digital Copy Available
Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign
Digital Copy Available
Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign
Digital Copy Available
Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign
Digital Copy Available
Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign
Digital Copy Available
Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign
Digital Copy Available
Racicot speaks as chairman for President George W. Bush campaign
Digital Copy Available
war in Iraq (skips - unable to hear interview)
Digital Copy Available
Racicot addresses Berger probe
Digital Copy Available
Interview with Marc Racicot representing the Bush campaign
Digital Copy Available