Records of the White House Press Office: a Guide to Its Records at the Jimmy Carter Library
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441 Freedom Parkway NE Atlanta, GA 30307 http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov Records of the White House Press Office: A Guide to Its Records at the Jimmy Carter Library Collection Summary Creator: White House Press Office Title: Records of the White House Press Office Dates: 1977-1981 Quantity: 535 linear feet, 2 linear inches, 1223 containers Identification: Accession Number: 80-1 National Archives Identifier: 1119 Scope and Content: The files of the White House Press Office consist of correspondence, memoranda, notes, briefing papers, press releases, news conferences, pool reports, daily schedules, speech drafts, wire copies, photographs, press clippings, and miscellaneous printed material. These materials illustrate how the Press Office, under the direction of Press Secretary Jody Powell, coordinated the daily press briefings for electronic and print media representatives. This office also routinely issued copies of all of Carter’s official statements and scheduled his interviews with the media. Powell and designated members of his staff frequently served as official spokespersons for the administration. Creator Information: White House Press Office Throughout the majority of presidential administrations, the Press Secretary has been a senior White House official whose primary responsibility is to act as spokesman for the government administration. The Press Secretary is responsible for collecting information about actions and events within the President's administration as well as issuing the administration's reactions to developments around the world. The Press Secretary interacts with the media, and deals with the White House Press Corps on a daily basis, generally in a daily press briefing. The Press Secretary and his staff speak for the President at daily press briefings; monitor press coverage and summarize it for the staff; brief the President for his own press conferences and other media encounters; advice on press relations; help the press gather information; and provide logistical support to the press. During the Carter Administration, various staff units of the Press Office were responsible for certain specialized duties: Media Liaison Office (dealt primarily with non- Washington, D.C. press); Press Advance Office (coordinated logistics for traveling press); News Summary Office (prepared daily summary of press coverage for the President and staff); and the Lower Press Office (compiled and retained copies of all press briefings, press releases, and press pool reports. Biographical information on key office personnel is located at the end of the finding aid. Restrictions: Restrictions on Access: These papers contain documents restricted in accordance with applicable executive order(s), which governs National Security policies, applicable statutes/agency restrictions, and material which has been closed in accordance with the donor’s deed of gift. Terms Governing Use and Reproduction: Copyright interest in these papers has been donated to the United States Government. Some of the records may be subject to copyright restrictions (i.e. newspapers, publications, etc.). Researchers should contact the publisher for further information. Related Material: Related materials in this repository: Communications Office; Gerald Rafshoon Papers; Speechwriter’s Office; Barry Jagoda Papers; Pat Bauer Papers; Jody Powell Papers Separated material: Bradley Woodward’s audio tapes of radio actualities and Jim Purks’ audio cassettes were transferred to audio-visual. Index Terms: Limited to major topics under each category Persons: Jody Powell, Rex Granum, Ray Jenkins, Walt Wurfel, Anne Edwards, Patricia Bario, Pat Bauer, Janet McMahon, Jim Purks, Elizabeth Lumpkin, Charles Goodwin Subjects: Media; Press; Communications; Speeches Types of Material: Correspondence, memoranda, notes, briefing papers, press releases, news briefings, daily schedules, speech drafts, wire copies, photographs, press clippings, and printed materials Administrative Information: Preferred citation: [Type of Document], [Names of Sender and Recipient or Title of Document], [Date], [Collection Title], [Series Title], [Folder Title], [Container Number], Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Acquisition information: These historical materials were received under provisions of the instrument of gift that Jimmy Carter signed January 31, 1981. Processing information: The first series of the collection were opened in 1987. Subsequent series in the collection were opened in 1988, 2001, 2003, 2010-2012. The open dates are indicated in the series descriptions. System of Arrangement: Arrangement Note: The White House Press Office contains the files of the parent office as well as sub-offices that were created to handle specific tasks. The records of the White House Press Office are divided into five sub-offices: White House Press Office Media Liaison Office Press Advance Office News Summary Office Lower Press Office Records of the White House Press Office Series Summary System of Arrangement: Arrangement Note: The records of the primary White House Press Office contain the files of Press Secretary, Jody Powell; Deputy Press Secretary, Rex Granum; and Special Assistant, Ray Jenkins. The records of the White House Press Office are divided into twenty-four series: Series Title National Archives Identifier Jody Powell’s Transition Files 166836 Jody Powell’s 1980 Campaign Files 166930 Jody Powell’s News Clippings Files 167052 Jody Powell’s Correspondence Files 167102 Jody Powell’s Memoranda Files 167292 Jody Powell’s Subject Files 167469 Jody Powell’s News Wire Files 167929 Jody Powell’s Oversized Attachment Files 7385771 Rex Granum’s Pre-Presidential Files 169339 Rex Granum’s Correspondence Files 169440 Rex Granum’s Invitation Files 170740 Rex Granum’s Memoranda Files 170753 Rex Granum’s Presidential Schedules Files 170866 Rex Granum’s Presidential Transcripts Files 170953 Rex Granum’s Press Briefings Files 170961 Rex Granum’s Press Conferences Files 170999 Rex Granum’s Press Releases Files 171036 Rex Granum’s Subject Files 171218 Rex Granum’s Telephone Log Files 169467 Rex Granum’s Trip Files 169497 Rex Granum’s News Wires Files 169596 Ray Jenkins’ Subject Files 171412 Ray Jenkins’ Chron Files 171475 Walter Wurfel’s Subject Files 6687466 Carolyn Wimmer’s Oversized Attached Files 7385772 Detailed Description of the Series Jody Powell’s Transition Files Scope and Content: Containers 1-6. This series was opened in January, 1987. The series consists of correspondence, memoranda, briefing material, notes, schedules, press releases, newspaper clippings, and printed material. This series was reconstructed by Carter Library archivists using material that was maintained by Powell’s secretary, Carolyn Shields, and material deposited in the White House Central files as oversized attachments. The material is a small sampling of briefing papers and memoranda sent to Jimmy Carter during the 1976 campaign. Arranged alphabetically by folder title. Jody Powell’s 1980 Campaign Files Scope and Content: Containers 7-14. This series was opened in January, 1987. The series contains a complete set of Carter’s campaign schedule; press releases and backup material; legal papers, photographs and printed material; and speeches given by the President. Also included is memoranda and correspondence dealing with a cross-section of the campaign staff’s concerns and issues. This series also includes substantive material on each state primary or caucus. Arranged alphabetically by title of folder. Jody Powell’s News Clippings Files Scope and Content: Containers 15-19. This series was opened in January, 1987. This series mainly consists of newspaper clippings and printed material, with scattered correspondence, memoranda, photographs, and notes. Clippings are arranged chronologically. Other material is this series relates to black media issues and government reorganization and is arranged alphabetically by title of folder. Jody Powell’s Correspondence Files Scope and Content: Containers 20-35. This series was opened in January, 1987. This series mainly consists of correspondence with the media, VIP’s, and the general public on various topics. Some memoranda, notes, schedules, newspaper clippings, printed material and photographs are interspersed with the material. Arranged either alphabetically by correspondent’s last name or chronologically. Jody Powell’s Memoranda Files Scope and Content: Containers 36-49. This series was opened in January, 1987. This series mainly consists of memoranda relating to issues within various White House offices or between staff members. Material also includes correspondence, briefing materials, schedules, notes, press releases, photographs, and newspaper clippings. Arranged alphabetically by name of White House staffer or unit. Jody Powell’s Subject Files Scope and Content: Containers 50-82. This series was opened in January, 1987. This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, briefing material, notes, schedules, press releases, speeches, photographs, newspaper clippings, and printed material. The material relates to issues regarding the functions and staffing of White House offices; various topics such as Cabinet and staff resignations; energy, elections, foreign media reactions, interviews, the hostage crisis, Panama Canal Treaties, budget issues, press question and answer sessions; Vice President’s schedules; and heads of state visits to the U.S. Arranged alphabetically by title of folder. Jody Powell’s News Wire Copies Files Scope and Content: Containers 83-150. This series