|
Gerald R. Ford Library1000 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2114www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov |
Congressional Relations Office
WILLIAM
E. TIMMONS
Assistant
to the President for Legislative Affairs:
Files,
1969‑74
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
Material
compiled by Timmons and his assistant Powell Moore from August to December 1974
and Timmons' routine personal correspondence from 1969 to 1974. The files document the organization of the
White House legislative liaison staff and contacts between Timmons and
individual Members of Congress on pending legislation, presidential appointments
and routine political matters.
QUANTITY
9.2 linear feet
(ca. 18,400 pages)
DONOR
Gerald R. Ford
(accession number 77-107)
ACCESS
Open. Some items are 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 R. Ford
has 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unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
Prepared by Paul Conway, June 1985
[s:\bin\findaid\timmons, william - files.doc]
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
William
E. Timmons
12/27/30 Born, Chattanooga,
Tennessee
1949 Graduated
from Baylor Military Academy
1950 Sales, Provident
Insurance Company
1951‑55 U.S. Air Force
1955‑61 Aide to Senator
Alexander Wiley (Wisconsin)
1959 Graduated
from Georgetown University (BS)
1961‑62 Executive
Secretary, Hamilton County Branch Tennessee Republican Party
1963‑69 Administrative
Assistant to Representative William Brock (Tennessee)
1969‑74 Assistant to the
President for Legislative Affairs
1974-- President,
Timmons and Company, Inc. (Washington, D.C. public relations firm)
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Powell
A. Moore
1/5/38 Born,
Milledgeville, Georgia
1955 Northwestern
University
1955‑56 Georgia Military
College
1956‑59 University of
Georgia (ABJ)
1959‑62 U.S. Army Reserves
1962‑64 Editor, Union
Recorder, Milledgeville
1965‑66 Public Affairs
Officer, Southern Natural Gas Company, Birmingham, Alabama
1966‑71 Press Secretary to
Senator Richard Russell (Georgia)
1971‑72 Public Information
Officer, Office of Attorney General, Department of Justice
1972‑73 Committee to Reelect
the President and Director of Press Relations, Inaugural Committee
1973‑74 Deputy Special
Assistant to the President, Congressional Relations Office
1975--? Marketing
Corporation of America
1981‑82 Deputy Assistant
to the President for Legislative Affairs
1983‑84 Assistant
Secretary of State for Congressional Relations
INTRODUCTION
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.
During the first
five months of the Ford administration, Timmons continued to head the White
House Congressional Relations Office, as he had done since 1970. He was the main contact point for often
routine requests from individual senators and representatives to the White
House. Timmons also transmitted and
explained the administration's legislative goals and advised the President on
congressional activities.
Timmons
supervised six staff assistants. Max Friedersdorf, Vernon Loen and
Eugene Ainsworth kept close tabs on the House of Representatives while Tom Korologos and Patrick O'Donnell worked with the
Senate. Powell Moore assisted Timmons
directly by monitoring the status of pending legislation and recently passed
bills, and notifying the House and Senate of high level appointments, disaster
relief action and major federal grants.
In late 1974 Timmons, Korologos and Ainsworth
quit government service to form a Washington, DC public relations firm. President Ford appointed Friedersdorf
to succeed Timmons.
Timmons' files
document his activities well. While
there is little record of the significant volume of telephone calls between
Capitol Hill and the White House, the files provide an overview of the key
legislative issues of the early Ford administration. Particularly well documented is liaison with
Congress on specific bills such as amnesty for draft evaders, cargo preference,
federal pay deferral, and Nixon papers and tapes. Also documented is congressional advice on
the selection and confirmation of Nelson Rockefeller as Vice President and
President Ford's travel for congressional candidates in 1974. Timmons maintained close contact in writing
with his assistants, especially Tom Korologos. Their notes and memos are often candid
records of the tit for tat of executive-congressional relations.
A large portion
of the Congressional Relations Office's time was spent notifying Members of
Congress on White House personnel actions, including seeking suggestions,
obtaining clearances, and urging prompt congressional action. Timmons' files document his mostly routine
activities in this area.
Powell Moore maintained
a separate file on his responsibilities, but because he often reported directly
to Timmons in writing, Timmons' files are interspersed with information about
Moore's activities and those of other Congressional Relations Office staff.
Related Materials
(June 1985):
Material on the
responsibilities and activities of the Congressional Relations Office is
located in the files of Timmons' office colleagues, especially Max Friedersdorf and Vernon Loen. The files of individual White House staff
will contain information on specific pieces of legislation and
executive-congressional relations in their respective policy areas.
The White House
Central Files subject categories on the House and the Senate (FG 30 to FG 39)
contain cross references, briefing papers, correspondence, and memoranda on
White House contacts with the Congress.
The Legislation Case Files (White House Permanent Operating Offices)
contain information on every public and private bill sent to the White House
for action.
Series
Descriptions
1‑12 Subject
File, 1974. (4.8
linear feet)
Memoranda to the
President, White House staff and others, correspondence, notes, briefing papers
for presidential meetings with Members of Congress, and schedule proposals on a
wide range of domestic and foreign policy issues before the Congress.
Arranged
alphabetically by subject.
13‑14 Chron File, 1974. (0.8 linear feet)
Carbon
copies of outgoing memoranda and letters from Timmons to the President, White
House staff, Members of Congress, and others. Occasional photocopies of memos from Tom Korologos routed through Timmons for approval are also
included. Incoming correspondence and
notations on action taken are rarely located here, but are instead filed in the
subject file (containers 1‑12).
Arranged
chronologically.
15‑16 Personal
Correspondence, 1969‑74. (0.8 linear feet)
Memoranda
and letters extending and maintaining Timmons' personal contacts with
professional associates and friends.
Included are files of invitations and messages received and sent. Written primarily during the Nixon
administration but given courtesy storage during the Ford administration, all
items are cross- referenced into the Nixon White House Central Files. Similar correspondence from October to
December 1974 apparently was filed in Timmons' chron
file (containers 13‑14).
Arranged
alphabetically by name of correspondent or subject.
17‑21 Personnel
Files, 1974. (2.0
linear feet)
Memoranda,
correspondence, applications, clearance forms and other material on
congressional interests in appointments to Executive agencies, boards, and
commissions. Included is information on
individuals actively supported by Members of Congress, pending appointments to
high level positions, and material on possible job offers to retiring or
defeated Members of Congress.
Arranged
alphabetically by subject and thereunder either
chronologically or alphabetically.
22‑23 Powell
Moore Subject File, 1974. (0.8 linear
feet)
Correspondence
drafted by Moore, memoranda to White House staff, legislative action memos,
federal grant applications, disaster assistance requests, and White House
Personnel Office memos accumulated by Moore in his various duties for the
Congressional Relations staff.
Arranged
alphabetically by subject.
Container List
Action Memos ‑
Cover Pages (1)‑(9)
Action Memos ‑
Log
Agriculture
American
Political Report
Amnesty for
Draft Evaders and Military Deserters
Appropriation
Bills
Beef and Poultry
Problems
Black Caucus
Budget
Committees in Congress
Budget Reduction
Proposals,
Budget
Reductions
Budget
Rescissions and Deferrals
Campaign
Financing Reform Legislation
Cargo Preference
Commerce
Department
Conference on
Inflation
Congressional
Relations ‑ Internal Memos
Congressional
Relations ‑ Procedures and Problems
Consumer
Protection Agency Legislation
Council on Wage
and Price Stability
Counsel to the
President ‑ Memoranda
Counsellors to the
President ‑ Memoranda
Defense
Department Issues in Congress
Domestic Council
‑ Memoranda
Domestic Council
‑ White House Conferences
Economic
Adjustment/Development Legislation
Economic
Advisors ‑ Memoranda
Editorial Staff ‑
Memoranda
Emergency Powers
Legislation
Environmental
Protection Agency
Energy Research
and Development Administration
Evans ‑
Novak Political Report
Executive ‑
Legislative Relations: 93rd Congress, First Session
Executive Branch
Reorganization
Executive Office
Building ‑ Library Renovation
Executive
Privilege
Export‑Import
Bank
Federal Pay
Deferral
First Lady's
Staff ‑ Memoranda
Food Stamps
Foreign Affairs
Issues ‑ Miscellaneous
Foreign Aid
Legislation
Freedom of
Information Act Veto (1)‑(2)
General Services
Administration
Grain Sales to
the Soviet Union
Health,
Education and Labor Legislation
House of
Representatives ‑ Miscellaneous
Housing
Legislation and Issues
Illinois State
Department of Labor
Interior
Department Legislation
Justice
Department Legislation
Lame Duck
Session
Legislative
Interdepartmental Group Meetings
Legislative
Issues Pending (1)‑(3)
Leonard, Mildred
‑ Memoranda
Meetings with
Congressional Leaders ‑ Attendance Records
Meetings with
Congressional Leaders ‑ Briefing Papers (1)‑(2)
Meetings with
Congressional Leaders ‑ Briefing Papers (3)‑(5)
Meetings with
Representatives and Senators ‑ Briefing Papers (1)‑(5)
Meetings with
Representatives and Senators ‑ Congressional Hour (1)‑(2)
Meetings with
Representatives and Senators ‑ Social Events
Memoranda to the
President (1)‑(4)
Memoranda to the
President (5)‑(7)
Message to
Congress, 1974/08/12
Message to
Congress, 1974/09/12 (1)‑(2)
Message to
Congress, 1974/11/17
Mid‑Term
Elections ‑ Election Results
Mid‑Term
Elections ‑ General (1)‑(2)
Mid‑Term
Elections ‑ Presidential Campaign Travel (1)‑(6)
Mid‑Term
Elections ‑ Presidential Campaign Travel (7)‑(8)
National Growth
Report
National Health
Insurance
National Security
Council ‑ Memoranda
Nixon/Ford
Transition ‑ Appropriations
Nixon/Ford
Transition ‑ Hungate Committee Appearance (1)‑(2)
Nixon/Ford
Transition ‑ Hungate Committee Appearance:
Press Releases
Nixon/Ford
Transition ‑ Nixon Papers and Tapes Legislation (1)‑(2)
Nixon/Ford
Transition ‑ Nixon Pardon: Press Releases
Nixon/Ford
Transition ‑ Nixon Pardon: Reaction (1)‑(2)
Nixon/Ford
Transition ‑ Nixon Resignation: Press Releases
Office of
Economic Opportunity
Oil Depletion
Allowance ‑ Press Briefing
Passport Office
Peoples'
Republic of China ‑ Congressional Trip
Photo Office ‑
Memoranda
Postal Service
Presentations,
Drop‑Bys, Visits ‑ Briefing Papers
Presidential
Address on the Economy, 1974/10/08
Presidential
Personnel Office ‑ Memoranda
Presidential
Press Conferences and Briefings (1)‑(3)
Presidential
Speeches ‑ Congressmen Traveling with the President
Presidential
Speeches ‑ VFW, 1974/08/19
Presidential
Speeches ‑ Ohio State University, 1974/08/30
Presidential
Travel ‑ Pending (1)‑(3)
Presidential
Travel Pending: Washington, DC Area
Press Secretary ‑
Memoranda
Public
Broadcasting Legislation
Public Liaison ‑
Memoranda
Revenue Sharing
Rice Legislation
Scheduling
Office ‑ Memoranda (1)‑(4)
Scheduling
Requests, 1973/05‑1974/10 (1)‑(10)
Scheduling
Requests, 1974/10‑1974/12 (1)‑(9)
Senate Democrats
Sequoia
Reservations
Signing
Ceremonies ‑ Briefing Papers
Signing
Ceremonies ‑ Correspondence
Small Business
Administration
Staff Secretary ‑
Memoranda
State of the
Union ‑ 1975
Strip Mining
Legislation
Sugar Quotas ‑
National Confectioners Association
Tax Return
Confidentiality
Telephone Call
Recommendations (1)‑(3)
Tobacco
Regulation (Cigarettes)
Trade Reform
Legislation (1)‑(3)
Transportation
Legislation
United Nations
Veterans
Educational Benefits
Vetoes and
Pocket Vetoes
Vice President
Rockefeller ‑ Confirmation (1)‑(2)
Vice President
Rockefeller ‑ Recommendations from the House (1)‑(2)
Vice President
Rockefeller ‑ Recommendations from the Senate
Vice President
Rockefeller ‑ Selection
Whip Inflation
Now (1)‑(3)
White House
Dinners ‑ Guest Lists
White House
Dinners ‑ Invitations (1)‑(3)
White House
Operations ‑ Memoranda
White House
Social Events ‑ Attendance Records
White House
Staff ‑ Miscellaneous: Memoranda
White House
Staff ‑ Speeches
1974/08/09‑1974/10/04
1974/10/05‑1974/12/31
A ‑
Invitations
Invitations ‑
Z
Active Personnel
Cases, A‑J
Active Personnel
Cases, L‑Z
Boards and
Commissions Subseries
Boards and
Commissions ‑ Miscellaneous
Ambassadors
American Battle
Monuments Commission
Atomic Energy Commission
Biomedical
Research Panel
Clemency Board
Commodity
Futures Corporation
Boards and
Commissions Subseries
Council on Wage
and Price Stability
Dole Requests
Federal Election
Commission
Federal Energy
Administration
Interstate
Commerce Commission
Law Enforcement
Assistance Administration
Legal Services
Commission (1)‑(3)
Library of
Congress
National
Advisory Committee for Juvenile Justice
National
Commission on Diabetes
National
Commission on Regulatory Reform
National
Commission on Supplies and Shortages
National
Conference Committee
National Labor
Relations Board
National Park
Service
National
Transportation Safety Board
President's
Commission on Olympic Sports
President's
Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board
Renegotiation
Board
Science Advisory
Board
U.S. Attorneys
and Judges
U.S. Capitol
Historical Society
Water Pollution
Control Advisory Board
Boards and
Commissions Subseries
White House
Conservatives
Clearances of
Personnel Appointments (1)‑(8)
Closed Personnel
Cases (1)‑(2)
Congressional
Relations Appointments ‑ Commerce Department (1)‑(2)
Congressional
Relations Appointments ‑ Executive Agencies
Memoranda to the
White House Staff
Pending
Nominations (1)‑(3)
Retiring Members
of Congress ‑ Possible Appointments (1)‑(3)
Administration
Spokesmen Requested
Air Force One
Seating
American
Enterprise Institute Publications
Bicentennial
Commemorative Plates
Bills Received
(1)‑(4)
Bills Received ‑
Linder Action Memos
Bills Received ‑
Veto Tabulations
Blackburn, Ben
Congressional
Statistics
Contract/Grant
Notifications (1)‑(2)
Disaster Relief
(1)‑(2)
Disaster Relief
(3)‑(6)
Education Bill
Signing Ceremony
Energy Legislation
(1)‑(4)
Executive
Protective Service Clearance
Franz, Joe B.
Furman
University
HEW Projects
Jones, G. Paul
Kennedy Center
Schedule
Messages from
President Ford
Moore
Correspondence
Moran, Miss
Florence
Nomination
Notices
Presidential
Personnel Decisions
Presidential
Schedule Suggestions
Presidential
Representatives to International Conferences (1)‑(2)
Press Office ‑
Briefings and Miscellaneous
Stark, Gus
University of
Georgia Glee Club
Vinson, Carl
White House
Fellows
White House Tour Requests