Edwin Meese Papers, 1951-1991
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt358035d1 No online items Inventory of the Edwin Meese papers, 1951-1991 Finding aid prepared by Aparna Mukherjee, 1991. Revised by Alexandra Dunlop, Beth Goder, Casey Limgenco, and Steven Wandro, 2013. Hoover Institution Archives Stanford University Stanford, California 94305-6010 Phone: (650) 723-3563 Fax: (650) 725-3445 Email: [email protected] © 2013 Hoover Institution Archives. All rights reserved. Inventory of the Edwin Meese 91005 1 papers, 1951-1991 Collection Summary Title: Edwin Meese papers Date (inclusive): 1951-1991 Creator: Meese, Edwin. Collection Number: 91005 Repository: Hoover Institution Archives Stanford, California 94305-6010 Collection Size: 771 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize box, 1 card file box, 1 envelope, 4 phonotape cassettes, 2 motion picture film reels (325 linear feet) Abstract: Speeches, correspondence, memoranda, reports, schedules, press releases, legal documents, printed matter, photographs, and sound recordings related to California politics and administration of the California state government during the governorship of Ronald Reagan; and to American domestic policy, Republican Party politics, and federal administration of justice during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Physical Location: Hoover Institution Archives Language of the Materials: The collection is in English. Access Collection is open for research. The Hoover Institution Archives only allows access to copies of audiovisual items. To listen to sound recordings or to view videos or films during your visit, please contact the Archives at least two working days before your arrival. We will then advise you of the accessibility of the material you wish to see or hear. Please note that not all audiovisual material is immediately accessible. Publication Rights For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Archives. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Edwin Meese papers, [Box number], Hoover Institution Archives. Acquisition Information Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 1991 and in an increment in 1995. Accruals Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. To determine if this has occurred, find the collection in Stanford University's online catalog at http://searchworks.stanford.edu/ . Materials have been added to the collection if the number of boxes listed in the online catalog is larger than the number of boxes listed in this finding aid. Related Materials Ronald Reagan subject collection, Hoover Institution Archives Citizens for Reagan records, Hoover Institution Archives Governor and the Students videotape series, Hoover Institution Archives 1931, Dec. Born, Oakland, California 2 1954-1955 Served in the United States Army 1953 A.B. in public administration, Yale University 1958 J.D., University of California, Berkeley Married Ursula Herrick 1959-1967 Deputy district attorney, Alameda County, California 1967-1968 Legal affairs secretary (previously called secretary on clemency and extradition) to Governor Reagan 1969-1974 Executive assistant, chief of staff to Governor Reagan, Sacramento, California 1975-1976 Vice president, administration, Rohr Industries, Chula Vista, California 1976-1980 Attorney at law 1977-1978 Director, Center for Criminal Justice Policy andd Management, University of California, San Diego 1977-1981 Professor of law, University of California, San Diego 1980 Chief of staff and senior issues advisor, Ronald Reagan Presidential Campaign 1981-1985 Counselor to President Reagan, Washington, D.C. Member of President Reagan's Cabinet Inventory of the Edwin Meese 91005 2 papers, 1951-1991 Member of the National Security Council 1983 Recipient, Distinguished Public Service Award 1985 February-1988U.S. attorney general, Washington, D.C. August 1988- Distinguished visiting fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, California Ronald Reagan chair in public policy, The Heritage Foundation 1992 Author, With Reagan: The Inside Story 1996 President, Council for National Policy 1996-2004 Member, Board of Visitors, George Mason University 1997 Author, Making America Safer 2001-2013 Chairman, Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, Heritage Foundation 2004 Author, Leadership, Ethics and Policing 2006 Member, Iraq Study Group 2008 Named honorary Reagan fellow of Eureka College, Illinois 2012 Recipient, Bradley Prize Scope and Content of Collection The collection was acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 1991 and arranged into seven groups, including a biographical file, speeches and writings, and materials from Meese's time serving President Reagan at the White House and his work as attorney general in the Department of Justice. The majority of the collection was received as an increment to this original accession. Although the incremental materials have not been arranged, the materials are divided into two major groups based on Meese's service to Ronald Reagan during Reagan's terms as governor of California and president of the United States. The index to major groups can serve as a guide to the incremental materials in the collection. The Edwin Meese papers document Meese's role in the presidential and gubernatorial administrations of Ronald Reagan. The collection contains speeches, correspondence, memoranda, reports, schedules, press releases, legal documents, printed matter, photographs, and sound recordings related to California politics and administration of the California state government during the governorship of Ronald Reagan; and to American domestic policy, Republican Party politics, and federal administration of justice during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Meese began his work for Ronald Reagan during Reagan's two terms as governor of California. In his book With Reagan, Meese notes that he was recommended to the governor based on his experience with law enforcement. From 1967 to 1968, Meese served as legal affairs secretary, tasked with resolving issues of extraditions, prisons, and capital punishment, as well as acting as a liaison to legal, judicial, and law enforcement departments. From 1969 to 1974, Meese was executive assistant and chief of staff, directing the governor's executive office and serving on the cabinet. In this role, Meese also had responsibilities concerning the National Guard, the Office of Emergency Services, and the Office of Criminal Justice Planning. The Gubernatorial Administration of Ronald Reagan file documents Meese's work during this period through correspondence, clippings, memoranda, reports, schedules, speeches, and court documents. During Reagan's campaign for the presidency in 1980, Meese served as chief of staff and senior issues advisor. In order to devote time to the campaign, Meese spent less time teaching as a professor of law at UC San Diego and gave up his duties managing the Center for Criminal Justice Policy and Management. After Reagan was elected, Meese served as a counselor to the president and as a member of his cabinet. Boxes 566 to 582 document the Iran-Contra Affair, a scandal involving the sale of arms to Iran in exchange for Iran's help in releasing American hostages. In November 1986, after news of the scandal became public, Meese announced that some of the money gained from selling arms to Iran had been used to fund the Contras in Nicaragua. The collection includes clippings, correspondence, memoranda, testimony of Meese and others, phone logs, and chronologies related to the Iran-Contra Affair. From February 1985 to August 1988, Edwin Meese held the position of attorney general of the United States. In this role, Meese influenced policy initiatives concerning drug abuse, civil rights, and criminal procedure, in addition to creating a national marijuana eradication program. His accomplishments included prevention and control of crime, improvement of the criminal justice system, protection of civil rights, promotion of economic growth, improvement of the legal system, government financial integrity, and the preservation of constitutional values. The Presidential Administration of Ronald Reagan file documents Meese's work during Ronald Reagan's presidency from 1981-1988, including his efforts as the 75th attorney general of the United States. Source: Meese, Edwin, III. With Reagan: The Inside Story. New York: Regnery Gateway, 1992. Arrangement Statement Inventory of the Edwin Meese 91005 3 papers, 1951-1991 Initial accession, boxes 1-127, arranged in seven groups. Incremental materials, boxes 128-773, ordered as acquired. Original order and titles retained. See index to major groups for content. Box Nos. Groups Gubernatorial Administration of Ronald Reagan file, 1951-1974. Contains correspondence, clippings, 128-554, 772-773 film shelf memoranda, reports, schedules, and court documents related to Meese's role during Ronald Reagan's terms as governor of California. 349-353, 364-367 Agriculture and Services Agency 481-487 Appointments to government positions 312-335 Budget 370-378 Business and Transportation Agency 160-170 California Council on Criminal Justice (CCCJ) 456-480 Clippings 191-193 Community and minority relations 288-300 Conference file 144-149, 154-155, 501-505, 529 Correspondence and memoranda 390-395 Department of Corrections 193-201, 487-494 Education 176-190 Emergencies and disaster planning 440-446 Energy 424-439 Environment 378-387, 552 Health and Welfare Agency 494-497 Intelligence 206-217, 247-251, 300-311 Intergovernmental management 217-240, 264-271 Legal affairs, legislation, and