GERALD R. FORD CONGRESSIONAL PAPERS, 1949-73 PRESS SECRETARY AND SPEECH FILE SUB-GROUP, 1948-73

Press Secretary and Speech File, 1948-73. (Boxes D1‑D119, 47.6 linear feet)
This file illustrates the public relations activities of Congressman Ford, especially as evidenced in his speeches, newsletters, press statements, magazine articles, interviews, and local radio broadcasts.  The file likewise documents the functions of a press secretary in the preparation and distribution of such material and in related work.

GRF did not hire a press secretary until February 1965, shortly after becoming House Minority Leader.  Prior to that time, responsibility for press relations and public statements was shared by GRF and his small staff, notably administrative assistant Frank Meyer.  The first press secretary was James M. Mudge, formerly of the Grand Rapids Herald editorial staff 1949‑59, and Grand Rapids bureau chief for the Detroit Free Press 1959‑65.  Mudge remained with Ford only until March 1966, leaving to become city‑county bureau chief of the Detroit Free Press.  In November 1967, Mudge became press secretary to US Congressman Guy Vander Jagt of Michigan.

Paul Miltich succeeded Mudge and continued to serve Ford until March 1975, when he resigned as the President's Assistant Press Secretary.  Miltich had been a reporter‑assistant city editor for the Saginaw News, 1946‑57, and Washington correspondent for Booth newspapers of Michigan, 1957‑66.

This file was created by combining the press secretary's files, which perforce dated only from 1965, with an older and overlapping collection of similar material dating from 1947.  The character of much of this combined file is that of a reference file of Ford public statements.  Although drafts, background material and related material are commonly interspersed, they are fragmentary in nature.  Because of vagaries in the file system, those in search of particular items are advised to consult various series.

Compiled by Dennis M. Lakomy, August 1979