Governor Lamar Alexander Papers 1979-1987 Gp 53
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GOVERNOR LAMAR ALEXANDER PAPERS 1979-1987 GP 53 Processed by: Harry A. Stokes Archives & Manuscripts Unit Technical Services Section Completed: 1991 MICROFILMED BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 1940 July 3, born in Knoxville, Tennessee, son of Alexander Lamar and Geneva Floreine (Rankin) Alexander 1946-1958 educated in Maryville Public Schools and graduated from Maryville High School, Blount County, Tennessee 1962 awarded Bachelor of Arts Degree by Vanderbilt University 1965 awarded Jurisprudence degree by New York University; admitted to the Bar to practice law in Louisiana and Tennessee; law clerk to presiding justice U. S. Court of Appeals (5th Circuit), New Orleans 1967-1968 legislative assistant to Senator Howard Baker 1969 January 4, married to Leslee Kathyrn Buhler 1969-1970 executive assistant to Bryce Harlow, White House Congressional Liaison Office 1970 manager of Windfield Dunn for Governor Campaign 1971-1978 partner in the law firm of Dearborn and Ewing, Nashville 1974 Republican party candidate for Governor of Tennessee 1979-1987 Governor of the State of Tennessee 1987-1988 Chairman of the Leadership Institute of Belmont College 1989-1991 President of University of Tennessee 1991 U. S. Secretary of Education Organizations: member of President's Task Force on Federalism chairman of National Governors Association, 1985-1986 Chairman of President's Commission on American Outdoors, 1985-1987 board of directors of Corporation Child Care, Inc., Nashville; Martin Marietta Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland; and First Tennessee National Corporation, Memphis Sigma Chi Fraternity Awards and Achievements: Silver Anniversary scholar athlete by National Collegiate Athletic Association, 1987 National Distinguished Service to Education Award by Burger King, 1988 James A. Conant award by Education Commission of the States, 1988 Distinguished State leadership award by American Association of State Colleges and Universities, 1989 Significant Sig, Sigma chi Fraternity Author: Steps Along the Way (1986) Six Months Off (1988) Source: Who's Who In America, 46th Edition SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE Lamar Alexander (1940- ) is the first Tennessee governor to serve two consecutive four year terms. The Governor Lamar Alexander Papers, 1979-1987, represent an official record of those years. Totaling over 426 cubic feet of 1017 manuscript boxes, the Alexander Papers have been arranged under boards and commissions, clippings, correspondence, extraditions and renditions, financial records, governor's private files, Granville Hinton files, McKeel Hunt files, Lewis Lavine files, legal counsel, legislation, ombudsman, photographs, policy group, printed materials, proclamations, reports, scheduling, speeches, and subject files. Early in the first Alexander administration the news media identified a small group of advisors ("the brain trust") which provided coordination to Alexander's legislative proposals. Identified on the "Organization Chart" as the Policy Group, these young men and women gave Governor Alexander advice on how to run the state. The Policy Group was particularly active and influential in the first half of the first administration. Boards and commissions files provide information on 165 state boards and commissions. The files may include correspondence dating back to the Governor Ray Blanton administration (1975-1979). Clippings are arranged by date and subject according to Nashville papers and the statewide papers from the ninety-five counties. Correspondence comprises over one third of the collection. The volume of mail increased so rapidly that by January 1982 a correspondence center was established in order to expedite the processing of mail (see "Organization Chart"). By April of 1985 the center was receiving an average of 23,000 letters annually. The general correspondence covers a wide range of subjects that reflect the concerns of Tennesseans of this time period; the arguments for and against the completion of the Columbia Dam project; increasing teacher salaries; the death penalty for Ronald Harries; requests for a Tenne-Senior discount ticket; unemployment; legalization of gambling; the Better Schools bill; litter; pornography; seat belt proposal; and many other serious and not so serious concerns. Although the general correspondence has not been indexed, there is an "Index of Names and Subjects" found outside of this series. The press influence in the Alexander administration is seen as several of Lamar Alexander's closest advisors came from newspaper backgrounds. In addition, the press influence is demonstrated, in part, by the volume of press releases issued by the Information Office. In February 1979 Governor Alexander created the office of Ombudsman ("red tape cutter"). The idea apparently originated from his 1022 mile walk across the state during the 1978 campaign. During the walk he heard from the citizenry a common complaint that there should be an easier way of communicating problems and having them responded to. The Ombudsman office in Nashville was soon expanded to include six regional offices. A wide variety of personal services were rendered to Tennesseans by these "red tape cutters" which contributed to the general belief of the accessibility of the Alexander administration. The Ombudsman files comprise over sixty boxes in the collection. The Scheduling office played an important role in arranging public appearances for the Governor. The office of the governor received numerous requests from organizations as well as individuals asking that the Governor appear and often to speak at the dedication or opening of a new facility, to ride in a parade, or to participate in some public event. Most invitations were of necessity declined because of scheduling conflicts but a few were carefully accepted. Correspondence relating to these invitations are arranged in the scheduling files. Several statewide programs were initiated by the Alexander administration. In his book Steps Along the Way, Lamar Alexander lists, among others, the following projects that his tenure helped happen: 1.) Master Teachers and Principals ("Career Ladder"); 2.) Homecoming '86; 3.) Saturn and Nissan; 4.) Knoxville's Oak Ridge Corridor ("Technology Corridor"); 5.) Clean Water Program ("Safe Growth"); 6.) Better Schools Task Force; 7.) Basic Skills First; 8.) Memphis Jobs Conference; and 9.) Tenne-Senior. Reference to the key programs may all be found listed under "Index of Names and Subjects" in the finding aid. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS Agriculture: Griggs, Jere Walker, William H. III Commerce and Insurance: Neff, John C. Conservation: Tuck, Ann R. Howell, Charles A. III Correction: Bradley, Harold B. Long, William H. Norris, Stephen H. Economic and Community Development: Cotham, James C. III Parish, John L. Long, William H. Education: Cox, Edward A. McElrath, Robert L. Employment Security: Bible, Robert J. Young, Thomas L. Neel, C. Warren Finance and Administration: Donelson, Lewis R. Sansom, William B. McCullough, Hubert L., Jr. Jackson, Donald W. Financial Institutions: Mottern, Thomas C. Adams, W. C. General Services: Puett, Sammie Lynn Guess, Francis S. Simons, Susan Health and Environment: Fowinkle, Eugene W. Word, James E. Human Services: Pleasure, Mose Puett, Sammie Lynn Salle, Marguerite W. Labor: Richesin, J. B., Jr. Guess, Francis S. Mental Health and Mental Retardation: Brown, Dr. James S. Sivley, Richard D. Military: Wallace, Gen. Carl D. Personnel: Koch, William C., Jr. Akins, Darrell D. Olsen, Martha B. King, John K. Revenue: King, John K. Olsen, Martha B. Celauro, Kathryn B. Safety: Roberts, Gene Wood, Gus A. III Jones, Bill L. Tourist Development: Waugh, Irving C. Parker, Etherage J., Jr. Wade, John A. Transportation: Sansom, William B. Farris, Robert E. Kelley, Dale Veterans' Affairs: Roden, William H., Jr. INDEX OF NAMES AND SUBJECTS Name/Subject Box and Folder Number Basic Skills Test 102-7; 649-3; 667-7; 668-1; 669-1; 716-15; 996-3; 997-1 Better Schools Program 102-8; 550; 551; 644-4 to 10; 645-1 to 4; 649-4; 670; 717-1; 827; 991-11, 38; 992-10 Brown, George 101-9; 645-11; 782-12 Career Ladder 649-5; 671-1, 3; 901-2; 992-10 Class X Crime Bill 101-10; n531-3; 718-13 Driver's License Photo 102-2; 569-1; 741-9; 995-7 "Expo '82" (World's Fair) 103-4; 105-13; 531-12; 580-2; 682-2; 731-7; 785-20 Gambling 103-10; 568-2; 820-8; 822-11; 825-1 Harries, Ronald 558-3, 4; 559-1, 2; 560-1, 2; 652-4; 786 Homecoming '86 104-1; 652-13, 14; 735; 736-1; 755-1; 895-1; 896-2; 991-25; 996-13 Jobs for High School Graduates 104-6; 563-2; 654-3; 683-6; 738-2; 905-1; 1001-4 Lear Jet 100-21 Master Teacher Program 684-5, 6, 7; 992-10 Memphis Jobs Conference 104-9; 566-19; 704-9; 739-8; 804-4; 906-3, 4; 1005; 1006; 1007-1, 2 Monitored Retrievable Storage (MRS) 656-1; 686; 687-1, 2; 739-17; 925-5 Nissan 104-16; 657-3; 740-5 "Safe growth" 104-27; 570-1; 691-1; 743-1; 760-8; 925-6; 1012-1 Saturn 1012-2, 4 Scotty Grubbs et. al. v. Stephen H. 647-3; 724-5; 909-10; 910-1, 2 Norris et. al. seat belts 570-4; 760-12; 812-4; 1013-3 state automobiles use 104-29 Technology Corridor (Pellissippi Parkway) 105-2; 657-10; 679-6; 696-4; 761-4 Tenne-Senior Discount Program 105-3; 575-3; 662-3; 695-6; 706-12; 883-3; 911-8; 1015-2 Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway 105-8; 666-8; 695-9; 745-11; 1016-1 West Tennessee Jobs Conference 105-12; 579-6; 697-7; 748-15; 911-14 to 24; 925-10; 1017-1, 2 SERIES Series No._____Series Title_______________Subseries Title__________Box Number 1 Boards and Commissions General Correspondence 1 - 4 Legislative Correspondence 5 - 6 Member Files 7 - 22 Recommendation