For nearly 40 years Robert M. Teeter was a leader in survey research and involved in campaign strategy for Republican presidential campaigns, and gubernatorial and senatorial candidates in nearly every state. Teeter participated in the senior management of seven Republican presidential campaigns, from Richard M. Nixon in 1968 to the George H. W.
Jerald terHorst was named Press Secretary to the President on August 9, 1974, the day Gerald R. Ford became the 38th President of the United States. He was Ford's first presidential appointment. TerHorst was a Michigan newspaperman who had covered Ford's political career since the 1948 Congressional race.
The Paul A. Theis Papers are mainly a collection of materials accumulated during Theis’ 1960-74 tenure with the Republican National Congressional Committee where he served first as director of the radio-television division and subsequently as Director of the Division of Public Relations. Paul Theis served as Executive Editor in the White House Editorial Office from August, 1974 until January, 1976. The work of this office is better represented in the Theis-Orben Files.
These are the combined files of Paul Theis and his successor Robert Orben, who were the immediate heads of the White House speechwriting unit. Until Theis departed in January 1976, he had additional responsibilities as executive editor for the entire Office of Editorial Staff. Discussed below under separate headings are: organization and function of the Office of Editorial Staff; the speechwriting process; and the scope of the content of the Theis‑Orben files.
The William E. Timmons Files consist of memoranda, correspondence, briefing papers, notes and reports on legislation compiled by Timmons and his assistant Powell Moore from August to December 1974, and Timmons' routine personal correspondence from 1969 to 1974.
Related Materials (August 2012)The Grand Rapids Oral Histories Collection contains an interview with 30-30 Club member Arthur G. Brown, in which he describes his friendship with Gerald Ford, the South High School football teams of the late 1920's and early 1930's and subsequent meetings of the 30-30 Club. Materials documenting the 30-30 Club reunion at the White House can be found in several collections, including the Russell Armentrout Files and Sheila Weidenfeld Files.