GWEN A. ANDERSON FILES, 1974-77

Gwen A. Anderson, Washington State Republican Party official and former Republican National Committeewoman, joined Vice President Ford's staff in January 1974. In this capacity her major duties were to coordinate Ford's appearances at political events and fundraisers; to act as liaison with Republican groups; and to handle requests for messages, photographs and auction items. Upon Ford's succession to the presidency in August 1974, she transferred to the White House as an assistant to Counsellor Dean Burch, and later, to Counsellor Robert Hartmann; her duties did not change significantly.

Anderson was responsible for routine White House liaison with the leaders of local, state and national Republican Party organizations, including the Republican National Committee (RNC) and its subsidiary committees. Her duties included making recommendations and coordinating scheduled presidential appearances for campaigns and fundraisers; compiling the accompanying briefing materials; administering responses to requests for presidential messages, photographs and auction items; and corresponding with Republican Party officials regarding political opinion and local political situations. She wrote, edited or approved presidential messages and letters.

During 1974 and 1975, she assisted with Republican campaigns for governor and Congress. In 1976 her work involved not only Republican candidates for Congress, but especially, the presidential campaign. Anderson began coordinating the 1976 political invitations and presidential appearances between the RNC, the Counsellors Office and the Scheduling Office, as well as offering her recommendations. She represented the White House at political functions, especially Republican women's groups. She also delivered remarks on behalf of the president, appeared on television and met with party supporters for the RNC, which covered her expenses. In January 1976, she acquired the additional title of Editor of Presidential Messages and Research under Hartmann, who directed the Editorial/Speechwriting staff.

The Anderson files are uneven. While the Republican Party Series includes some substantive material on interactions between the White House and the Republican Party regarding party matters, the majority of the files represent the routine functions of her office and only occasionally include her own decisions and recommendations. The routine material includes requests for presidential assistance and the actions taken; lists of candidates and election results; and briefing materials for presidential appearances. There are no copies of her speeches and presentations.

Related Materials (May 1985)
Related materials include the files of Dean Burch, John Calkins and Rogers Morton, Office of Counsellors to the President, concerning Republican Party liaison and campaign materials. White House Central File category, Political Affairs (PL), contains material on national, state and local Republican Party affairs. Other 1976 campaign material is described in a listing available from the reference archivist. Anderson's files prior to August 1974 are available in the vice presidential papers.