Stanton Todd's papers document the political activities of a Grand Rapids, Michigan businessman who was involved in reform movements, notably the "Republican Home Front," within the city's Republican Party. The Todd papers have been divided into three series: Biographical/Family Materials, the Home Front (Republican Party), and Topical Files.
During the 1940s in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a group of young Republicans led a reform movement aimed at wiping out the "bossism" of Frank M. McKay in the Republican party of Kent County. It was Gerald Ford's involvement in this reform group, called the Republican Home Front, which launched his political career. One of the founders of the Home Front and its chief spokesman for the period of 1942-1948 was a young Grand Rapids businessman named Stanton W. Todd, Jr.
Todd was born on September 20, 1908, in Grand Rapids. He graduated from Grand Rapids Central High School in 1926 and went on to study at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He graduated in 1930, but continued his studies in political science and law until 1932. In 1934, Todd obtained a job with American Radiator Corporation of New York City and Detroit. In 1935, while in New York, he met and married Rosemary Hunt. The Todds had three children: Rosemary, Sally and Stanton III.
In 1942, the Todds moved to Grand Rapids. It was a chance encounter with Paul Goebel, another University of Michigan graduate, which drew Todd into the Home Front movement. Goebel, familiar with Todd's interest in politics from his campus days, invited him to attend a meeting with other men who opposed Frank McKay, a powerful politician who virtually controlled the Republican party in Kent County. Other men involved with what became known as the Home Front included Phil Buchen, Bert Cole, Gerald Ford, Sr., Gerald Ford, Jr., Jack Hibbard, Clair Kuiper, Hugh Schaddelee, Ted Swain (the uncle of Gerald Ford, Jr.), Willard B. VerMeulen and Fred Wetmore.
Todd, as executive secretary of the Home Front, was the party's spokesman. Even as early as 1942, the Home Front mounted a serious challenge to the established Republican party. By June 1944, the Home Front was able to wrest control of the Republican Convention from the McKay faction. During the 1946 primaries, the Home Front itself was challenged by a veteran's organization composed primarily of McKay's supporters, but the Home Front managed to retain control of the convention. By 1948, the Home Front was firmly established as the Republican power in Kent County. In that year, Gerald Ford was chosen as the party's candidate for Congress.
Todd's active involvement in the reform movement and his vocal opposition to McKay made him unpopular with McKay and his many supporters. In 1942, perhaps for this reason, Todd lost his job with the American Radiator Company. He immediately established his own business, the Todd Coal Company, only to be drafted by the Army in 1944. He managed to obtain an officer's commission in the Navy instead, and served nearly a year and a half in the South Pacific. During his absence, his wife Rosemary remained active in the Home Front, serving as executive secretary in 1944-1945. Upon his return home, Todd became owner of Steele Brothers and Todd, a building materials company, and resumed his active political role. He ran in two close races, for City Council in 1947 and 1949, losing both by narrow margins. He also served in 1946 as executive secretary of the Kent County Republican Finance Committee, and continued his work as executive secretary of the Home Front. By 1949, Todd retired from active political involvement, although he campaigned actively in Pat Cleary's bid for the governorship in 1954, and has remained active in civic affairs in Grand Rapids.
