MAX FRIEDERSDORF FILES, 1974-77

When Gerald R. Ford became president in August 1974, Max L. Friedersdorf was serving as deputy assistant to the president for legislative affairs. His special responsibility was coordination of White House liaison with the House of Representatives. He worked directly under William E. Timmons, the head of the Congressional Relations Office. In January 1975 Friedersdorf became the assistant to the president for legislative affairs and head of the office. He had overall responsibility for liaison between the president and Congress. The staff he directed included deputy assistants for the House and Senate and several special assistants under them.

Most of this collection deals with Friedersdorf's activities after becoming head of the overall congressional relations operation in January 1975. There are only a few folders in the chronological file concerning his activities as liaison with House members for the first five months of the administration. (The files of Vernon Loen and Charles Leppert include materials created by Friedersdorf in his role as liaison with the House.)

Friedersdorf and his staff were involved in virtually all aspects of presidential relations with members of Congress. Tasks were often routine such as clearing personnel appointments, monitoring congressional invitations to White House social events and notifying congressional offices of various White House actions. More importantly however, the office was responsible for arranging meetings and telephone calls between the President and members of Congress, informing the president and his staff of congressional views and the status of legislation and lobbying for the administration's point of view on proposed legislation.

This collection documents Friedersdorf's involvement in these activities. While much of the lobbying of members of Congress on specific legislation was carried out orally and documentation is sketchy, there are materials compiled and occasional notes taken by Friedersdorf during meetings with members and the president which indicate how the office worked. Significant materials also appear on many major domestic and foreign policy issues such as the president's energy program and the end of U.S. involvement in Indochina.

Related Materials (July 1985)
Material on the responsibilities and activities of the Congressional Relations Office is located in the files of Friedersdorf's office colleagues, especially William Timmons and Vernon Loen. The files of individual White House staff will contain information on specific pieces of legislation in their respective policy areas. In White House Central Files, categories LE (Legislation) and FG 30 through FG 37 (Congress) provide some overview of White House relations with Congress.