The noun-as-adjective has been used by Republican leaders since the 1940s , and in most GOP national platforms since 1948 . By the early 1950s , the term was in widespread use among Republicans of all factions . When Senator Thruston Ballard Morton became chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1959 , he indicated that he had always said '' Democratic Party '' and would continue to do so , which contrasted with his predecessor , Meade Alcorn , and with National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman Barry Goldwater , both of whom used '' Democrat Party '' . According to Congressional Quarterly , at the 1968 Republican National Convention " the GOP did revert to the epithet of ' Democrat ' party . The phrase had been used in 1952 and 1956 but not in 1960 and 1964 "
1968 Republican National Convention
1968 Republican National Convention
Democrat Party (epithet)