 In 1950 , California Congressman Richard Nixon was elected to the Senate , defeating Representative Helen Gahagan Douglas . With the six @-@ year term secured , Nixon campaign officials discussed how to further his career . Campaign manager Murray Chotiner and campaign chairman Bernie Brennan proposed a year @-@ round campaign for the next six years , leading up to a re @-@ election bid in 1956 . Nixon 's Southern California campaign treasurer Dana Smith suggested what became known as " the Fund " , to be administered by himself , which would pay for Nixon 's political expenses . 
