Democratic National Committee, Commission on Delegate Selection and Party Structure (Mikulski Commission), 1964-1976

From March to August 1973, Orlinsky worked on the staff of a committee charged with the re-evaluation of the Democratic National Committee's delegate selection process. Chaired by the Honorable Barbara A. Mikulski, a member then of the Baltimore City Council, its mission was to improve the opportunity for every Democrat to participate in the delegate selection and nominating processes. Following the 1968 nominating convention, many felt that meaningful participation of Democratic voters in the choice of their presidential nominee was often difficult or costly, sometimes completely illusory, and, in not a few instances, impossible. The Commission further favored the adoption of rules reaffirming the party's long-standing commitment to equal rights, opportunities, and popular control. The committee's mandate was to recommend changes which would rectify these inequities, and their report was adopted unanimously on October 27, 1973. This series contains correspondence from Barbara A. Mikulski and others, guidelines, election results, and Orlinsky's personal notebook. Arrangement is alphabetical by document type and subject.