This collection consists of bulk public opinion mail on a variety of topics and issues, including the pardon of Richard Nixon, Common Situs picketing legislation, amnesty for draft evaders, GI Bill, Vietnam veterans, New York City financial crisis, and energy, among others. Another major component of this collection is the uncategorized bulk mail received from children and adults.
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library saved an appropriate sample of general opinion mail from each of the major bulk mail subject areas, with a few exceptions, most notably the Nixon pardon, where staff retained all of the mail related to the pardon. The sample items retained by the Library illustrate the type, quantity, quality, and sentiments of the whole. For most topics, the Library preserved a minimum one to two percent sample, but in some cases the sample size is as large as 5%.
Series Description and Container List
Container List
Collection Overview
Scope and Content Note
RELATED MATERIALS
Samples of public mail were filed in the White House Central Files (WHCF) Subject File "General" folders. Weekly public mail tabulations and summaries are located in WHCF Subject File subcategory WH 4-1 and in the Robert Hartmann Papers, boxes 139 - 144. A sample of received telegraphs can be found in the collection White House Telegraph and Travel Section: Sample of Telegrams. Public mail related to the First Lady and the Ford children was filed in the White House Social Office Central Files.
Details
509.8 linear feet linear feet (ca. 305,880 pages)
Gerald R. Ford (78-NLF-28, 81-NLF-31)
Access
Open. Some series are available on a review-on-request basis. Researchers wishing to view papers should consult with an archivist prior to their visit in order to request that specific folders be added to the Library’s review-on-request queue. Even after the completion of this review some items may be temporarily restricted under terms of the donor's deed of gift, a copy of which is available on request, or under National Archives and Records Administration general restrictions (36 CFR 1256).
Copyright
Gerald Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain.
Processed by
J.P. Schmidt, November 2012, revised April 2014, July 2014, and September 2015; Stacy Davis, July 2017
Series List
Amnesty File, 1974‑77. (Boxes B1‑B48, 21 linear feet)
This series contains much of the public opinion mail related to amnesty stemming from Gerald Ford's public announcement of the Presidential clemency program for Vietnam War draft-evaders and deserters. Also included in the series is late-term public opinion mail resulting from the request of the late Senator Phillip Hart's wife for unconditional amnesty for Vietnam War draft-evaders and deserters. Many of the letters also mention other issues, such as POWs and MIAs, Ford's pardon of former President Nixon, inflation, and busing.
Arranged in four sections: Pro (boxes B1-B15), Con (boxes B15-B41), Late-term Pro (boxes B42-B44), and Late-term Con (boxes B45-B48), thereunder unarranged.
Nixon Pardon / Amnesty File, 1974. (Boxes C1‑C15, 6.6 linear feet)
This series consists of bulk public opinion mail that contains in each letter or telegram comments related to both the pardon of Richard Nixon and amnesty for Vietnam War draft-evaders and deserters.
Arranged in four sections: Pro Pardon / Pro Amnesty (boxes C1-C3), Pro Pardon / Con Amnesty (boxes C4-C6), Con Pardon / Pro Amnesty (boxes C7-C13), and Con Pardon / Con Amnesty (boxes C14-C15), thereunder unarranged.
Nixon Pardon Children's Letters File, 1974. (Boxes D1‑D13, 5.7 linear feet)
This series consists of bulk public opinion mail from children related to the pardon of Richard Nixon.
Arranged in three sections: Con (boxes D1-D11), Pro / Con (box D11), and Pro (boxes D11-D13), thereunder unarranged.
Busing File, 1975. (Boxes E1‑E8, 3.5 linear feet)
This series consists primarily of form letters and post cards from individuals opposed to court-ordered busing as a means to end racial segregation in public schools.
Unarranged.
Abortion File, (1974‑75) 1976. (Boxes F1‑F24, 10.5 linear feet)
This series contains public opinion letters, telegrams, postcards, brochures, news clippings, magazine articles, and photographs concerning abortion on demand. Topics include President and Mrs. Ford's views on abortion, the right to life movement, constitutional amendment to ban abortion, Republican Party platform, and 1976 Presidential election.
Arranged in two sections: Con (boxes F1-F16) and Pro (boxes F17-F24), thereunder unarranged.
Review of this series for opening is not yet complete, but if you contact the Library in advance the staff may be able to open specific individual folders for research use.
Federal Trade Commission File, 1976. (Boxes G1, 0.4 linear feet)
This series contains public opinion telegrams and letters concerning President Gerald Ford's signing of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act on September 30, 1976.
Unarranged.
Rockefeller Nomination File, 1974. (Boxes H1‑H56, 24.5 linear feet)
This series contains much of the public opinion mail related to the nomination of Gerald Ford's Vice President. Included in the series are letters, telegrams, and newspaper clippings. The bulk of the series contains negative responses concerning the nomination of Nelson Rockefeller, as well as positive responses about other candidates.
Arranged in five sections: Con Rockefeller (boxes H1-H33), Pro Rockefeller (boxes H34-H36), Pro Others (boxes H37-H53), Con Others (boxes H54-H55), and Congratulations Rockefeller (box H56).
Review of this series for opening is not yet complete, but if you contact the Library in advance the staff may be able to open specific individual folders for research use.
Nixon Pardon Pro (Acknowledged) File, 1974 (Boxes I1‑I44, 19.3 linear feet)
This series contains letters, cards, and petitions in support of President Gerald Ford's pardon of former President Richard Nixon. Occasionally, related newspaper clippings are enclosed with the correspondence. The correspondence in this series was acknowledged by the White House using form letters. The materials are dated from weeks before the pardon to weeks after the pardon. At times, respondents referred to the pardon as immunity or presidential clemency. There are instances within the series where respondents also included their opinions on other issues like abortion, amnesty for Vietnam deserters / draft dodgers, the Vice Presidential nomination, state of the economy, crime, and others.
Unarranged.
Review of this series for opening is not yet complete, but if you contact the Library in advance the staff may be able to open specific individual folders for research use.
Nixon Pardon Pro (Unacknowledged) File, 1974 (Boxes J1-J132, 57.8 linear feet)
This series contains letters, cards, and telegrams written in support of President Gerald Ford's pardon of former President Richard Nixon. This mail was not acknowledged, meaning the correspondents did not receive a reply from the White House. The majority of correspondence was written in the weeks immediately following the pardon. Occasionally, related newspaper clippings are enclosed and opinions on other issues are expressed.
Unarranged.
Review of this series for opening is not yet complete, but if you contact the Library in advance the staff may be able to open specific individual folders for research use.
Nixon Pardon Con (Acknowledged) File, 1974 (Boxes K1-K13, 5.7 linear feet)
This series contains letters, cards, and telegrams written opposing President Ford's pardon of former President Richard Nixon that were acknowledged by the White House using form letters. The mail was sent to the President in the weeks leading up to and immediately following the pardon. Occasionally, related newspaper clippings are enclosed and opinions on other issues are expressed.
Unarranged.
Review of this series for opening is not yet complete, but if you contact the Library in advance the staff may be able to open specific individual folders for research use.
Nixon Pardon Con (Unacknowledged) File , 1974 (Boxes L1-L757, 331.2 linear feet)
This series contains letters, cards, and telegrams written opposing President Ford’s pardon of former President Richard Nixon that were not acknowledged with a response by the White House. Some acknowledged letters appear to have been filed in this series by the White House. The mail was sent to the President in the weeks leading up to and immediately following the pardon. Occasionally, related newspaper clippings are enclosed and opinions on other issues are expressed.
Unarranged.
Review of this series for opening is not yet complete, but if you contact the Library in advance the staff may be able to open specific individual folders for research use.
Watergate Defendants File , 1974 (Boxes M1-M7, 3.1 linear feet)
This series contains letters, cards, and telegrams written regarding the potential pardoning of defendants in the Watergate scandal in the wake of President Ford’s pardon of former President Richard Nixon. The mail was sent to the President in the days immediately following the pardon. Occasionally, opinions on other issues are expressed.
Arranged into two sections: Con (Boxes M1-M6) and Pro (Box M7), and unarranged thereunder.
Review of this series for opening is not yet complete, but if you contact the Library in advance the staff may be able to open specific individual folders for research use.