Hartmann, Robert

INTRODUCTION

Discussed below under separate headings are: Robert Hartmann's role in the Ford White House, the scope and content of the Hartmann files, and related collections at the Ford Library.

Hartmann's Role in the Ford White House

Gerald R. Ford appointed his long-time aide Robert Hartmann as Counsellor to the President (with Cabinet status) as one of the first official acts of his Presidency. In this position Hartmann's main responsibility was to supervise the White House Office of Editorial Staff in the preparation of presidential speeches, statements, messages, and correspondence. He was also responsible for White House liaison with Republican Party organizations and advised President Ford on a wide variety of matters that went beyond his formal duties.

In the early months of the Ford administration Hartmann continued to draft a number of President Ford's speeches, as he had done for several years, but as time passed he did less speechwriting (except for a few major addresses) and concentrated on his other duties. Although Paul Theis and then Robert Orben headed the day-to-day work of the Office of Editorial Staff, Hartmann supervised the work and often edited material prepared by that office.

After Dean Burch left the White House in 1974, Hartmann became responsible for White House liaison with the Republican Party and various Republican organizations. Burch's aide Gwen Anderson joined Hartmann's staff to assist with these duties. During 1975 John Calkins also assisted Hartmann with political matters. While Hartmann and Anderson continued to handle liaison with the Republican Party in 1976, they did not play a key role in the campaign. Richard Cheney and his staff in the White House Operations Office handled most of the campaign work, including liaison with the President Ford Committee. With the exception of the President's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Hartmann did not write any campaign speeches. The Office of Editorial Staff and David Gergen of the Press Secretary's Office were responsible for most campaign speeches.

In his role as an adviser to the President, Hartmann spent a considerable amount of time in the Oval Office assisting the President and attending meetings with various groups and individuals, regularly attended Cabinet meetings, and received copies of White House staff and federal agency memoranda to the President for his input or editing before they were submitted to the President.

Scope and Content of the Hartmann Files

The Hartmann collection is strongest on speechwriting, the administration of the Office of Editorial Staff, political affairs, the selection of a new Vice President in 1974, personnel matters, and his editing or input on documents submitted to the President.

Hartmann's materials on speechwriting include case files on most, but not all, of the speeches and statements that he drafted for the President. Memoranda and multiple drafts appear for the Bicentennial speeches, the Republican Convention acceptance speech, and the 1977 State of the Union address. Smaller, but often significant, amounts of material appear for other speeches. Some major speeches, such as the 1975 and 1976 State of the Union addresses, are not represented.

The collection also documents the administration of the Office of Editorial Staff, including reports on speechwriting, message, and correspondence activity; schedules; and memoranda exchanged between Hartmann and Theis, Orben, or their staff. There are but few speech drafts by Hartmann's staff, the exceptions occurring when Hartmann took over the drafting of a speech and used another speechwriter's draft as a basis for his own work.

Hartmann's political files concern both his own work and the work of his assistants Gwen Anderson and John Calkins. Included is material on President Ford's activities in the 1974 congressional and gubernatorial campaigns, ongoing liaison with the Republican National Committee and other Republican organizations, and the 1976 presidential campaign. Although Hartmann handled some aspects of political affairs for most of the administration, White House Chief of Staff Richard Cheney had primary responsibility for White House liaison with the President Ford Committee. Hartmann's materials on the campaign relate to the drafting or editing of speeches and statements (especially the Republican Convention acceptance speech), his contacts (mostly routine) with the President Ford Committee, and documents received from Republican officials with whom he had long-time working relationships.

One special assignment which generated a significant file was to compile and report to the President on all suggestions from members of Congress, governors, the Cabinet, and others concerning the nomination of a new Vice President in August 1974. Hartmann's files contain the original incoming letters from these officials, along with tabulations and related documents.

Included in the collection are large files of documents submitted to Hartmann for his clearance and/or editing by the Domestic Council, National Security Council, White House Staff Secretary, and Presidential Personnel Office. While many of these bear only routine comments by Hartmann or his staff, some contain extensive editing or comments.

Since Hartmann was a long-time aide to Gerald Ford and had frequent access to the President, much of his advice on specific actions and issues may have been submitted orally rather than in writing. Much of the material on specific issues is routine in nature and duplicates materials found in other collections.

Related Materials (May 1987):

Other available collections on speechwriting include White House Central Files category SP (Speeches), the files of Paul Theis and Robert Orben of the Editorial Staff and David Gergen of the Press Secretary's Office, and the Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches.

The files of Hartmann's aides Gwen Anderson and John Calkins, the Dean Burch files, and White House Central Files category PL concern White House liaison with Republican Party organizations. Collections concerning the 1976 presidential campaign are listed on the Ford Library handout "The 1976 Presidential Campaign: A Guide to Manuscript Collections Available for Research."

Other material on the nomination of a new Vice President in 1974 appears in White House Central Files categories FG 38 and FG 38/A.

Hartmann's files from his work as an aide to Gerald Ford prior to August 1974 appear in the Ford congressional and vice presidential papers. Hartmann has donated some additional materials concerning his career to the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Hartmann's association with Gerald Ford is recounted in his 1980 memoir Palace Politics: An Inside Account of the Ford Years.

Series Descriptions

1-8 Presidential Speeches and Statements, 1974‑77. (3.2 linear feet)

Case files on presidential speeches containing drafts by Hartmann and other speechwriters; memoranda from the White House staff and others including suggestions on theme and contents or comments on drafts; and briefing papers and background information. Included are files on several speeches per month for the first seven months of the administration, but only scattered ones thereafter. Occasional changes in President Ford's handwriting appear on the drafts of some of the important speeches. Scattered speech drafts and other materials on the speechwriting process also appear in the General Subject File.

Arranged chronologically by the date of the speech.

9‑23 General Subject File, 1974‑77. (6.0 linear feet)

Memoranda exchanged between Hartmann and the President, White House staff, or departmental and agency officials; reports; briefing materials; speeches and speech drafts; messages; schedules; press releases; and occasional correspondence and clippings. One major focus of this series is the speechwriting process and the Hartmann's oversight of the White House Editorial Staff. Another important focus is the selection of an new Vice President in August 1974. Materials on economic and energy matters are abundant, but documents tend to be few and/or routine on other topics such as the Bicentennial, federal budget, appointments to government positions, and presidential trips.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

24‑29 Political Subject File, 1974‑77. (2.4 linear feet)

Memoranda and correspondence between Hartmann and the President, White House staff, Republican Party officials, or President Ford Committee officials; reports; schedules; speeches; briefing papers; and publications. This series concerns White House liaison with Republican organizations, the 1976 presidential campaign, President Ford's activities in the 1974 congressional and gubernatorial campaigns, campaign trips, fundraising, and other political matters.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

30‑35 Survey Research Program File, Oct. 1974-Apr. 1975. (2.4 linear feet)

Polling data and correspondence relating to a January 1975 proposal for a White House contract with Decision Making Information, Inc. (headed by Richard B. Wirthlin) to establish an ongoing White House program to survey changes in public opinion. The series includes results from two national surveys and five local surveys, the latter concerning changes in perceptions of President Ford and his programs after presidential visits to those locales. The major focus of these surveys was on issues, especially economic and energy questions, rather than on politics. After a brief test of the program it was apparently discontinued as no materials from a later period have been discovered.

Arranged alphabetically by survey title.

36‑42 White House Memoranda, 1974‑77. (2.8 linear feet)

Memoranda exchanged between Hartmann and the President, Vice President, or White House staff on a wide variety of matters. Topics frequently discussed include: presidential speeches and messages, scheduling and trips, political affairs (including the 1976 campaign), and appointments to government positions. Large files of memoranda exchanged by Hartmann with his own staff are included.

Arranged alphabetically by name. Memoranda exchanged with junior members of the White House staff are often filed under the name of the head of their office.

43‑54 General Correspondence, 1974‑77. (4.8 linear feet)

Correspondence exchanged between Hartmann and government officials, Republican leaders, businessmen, friends, and the general public on a variety of matters. While small amounts of material on a variety of issues appear scattered throughout the series, one of the most common topics is political affairs, especially the 1976 presidential campaign.

Arranged alphabetically, with correspondents who wrote frequently having their own separate case files.

55‑72 Domestic Council Memoranda, Nov. 1974-Jan. 1977. (7.2 linear feet)

Copies of Domestic Council memoranda circulated to senior White House staff members for comment and editing before being submitted to the President. Included are enrolled bill and resolution reports; proposed budget and appropriations requests and budget rescissions; and drafts of decision memoranda, signing and veto statements, proclamations, proposed legislation, executive orders, messages to Congress, policy statements, and occasional letters and memoranda. Many documents contain evidence of editing by Hartmann or his staff or reflect the work of the Editorial Staff's research office in checking for factual accuracy.

Arranged chronologically.

73‑75 National Security Council Memoranda, Feb. 1976-Jan. 1977. (1.0 linear feet)

Drafts of outgoing head of state and head of government correspondence along with scattered drafts of messages to Congress concerning international agreements and drafts of letters to American citizens concerning foreign policy and defense matters. The NSC submitted these drafts to Hartmann for his editing. While some of the head of state correspondence is substantive, the bulk consists of routine messages concerning birthdays, national day celebrations, or the American Bicentennial celebration.

Arranged chronologically.

75‑77 Staff Secretary Memoranda, 1974‑77. (1.0 linear feet)

Copies of draft memoranda circulated to senior White House staff members for comment and editing prior to being submitted to the President. They relate in part to issues and legislation, but more frequently concern presidential decisions on administrative matters, issuance of Executive orders, proposed studies, approval of staff projects, decisions on presentation of medals and awards, and proposed letters. Nearly half of the documents in this sequence were drafted by the Office of Management and Budget.

Arranged chronologically.

78‑89 Personnel Decision Memoranda, 1974‑76. (4.8 linear feet)

Hartmann's copies of decision memoranda drafted by the Presidential Personnel Office and circulated to the White House senior staff for comments. Most of these documents bear annotations by Hartmann or one of his assistants, but such notes are usually brief (often "No comment" or "OK"). The memoranda concern the appointment of department and agency officials, federal judges, U.S. attorneys and marshals, and appointments to advisory councils, delegations, boards, and commissions.

Arranged chronologically.

90‑93 Personnel Correspondence, 1968‑1976. (1.6 linear feet)

Correspondence between Hartmann and persons seeking positions in the White House or the federal departments, agencies, boards, and commissions. Much of the material in this series actually dates from Gerald Ford's congressional and vice presidential service, but Hartmann's staff continued to add some material throughout the Ford presidency.

Arranged alphabetically.

94‑96 Speechwriter Job Applications, 1974‑76. (1.2 linear feet)

Case files containing correspondence, resumes, and writing samples from persons interested in joining the speechwriting staff. While material from throughout the administration is included, many of the applications date from the early months of 1976 when several new speechwriters were sought and hired.

Arranged alphabetically by name of the applicant.

Container List

Box 1 Presidential Speeches and Statements

1974/08/09 ‑ Swearing‑in Ceremony

1974/08/12 ‑ Address to Congress

1974/08/19 ‑ Veterans of Foreign Wars, Chicago, IL (1)‑(2)

1974/08/30 ‑ Ohio State University

1974/09/06 ‑ Dinner Honoring Reconvening of the First Continental Congress, Philadelphia, PA (1)‑(3)

1974/09/08 ‑ Announcement of the Nixon Pardon

1974/09/18 ‑ United Nations General Assembly

1974/10/03 ‑ Congressional Retirees Dinner

1974/10/08 ‑ Economic Address to Congress (1)‑(2)

1974/10/15 ‑ Future Farmers of America, Kansas City, MO

1974/11/04 ‑ Election Day Statement

Box 2 Presidential Speeches and Statements

1974/11/08 ‑ Address to Congress (1)‑(2)

1974/12/02 ‑ Opening Remarks to Press Conference

1974/12/03 ‑ American Conference on Trade

1974/12/09 ‑ American Freedom Train Certification

1974/12/11 ‑ Business Council

1974/12/13 ‑ Statement on the Canonization of Mother Seton

1975/01/28 ‑ National Religious Broadcasters

1975/01/30 ‑ National Prayer Breakfast

1975/02/13 ‑ Salute to Vice President Rockefeller Dinner (1)‑(2)

1975/02/21 ‑ Reserve Officers Association

1975/03/04 ‑ Remarks Upon Vetoing the Energy Bill (1)‑(3)

1975/03/13 ‑ Radio and TV Correspondents Dinner

Box 3 Presidential Speeches and Statements

1975/03/17 ‑ University of Notre Dame (1)‑(3)

1975/03/22 ‑ Gridiron Club (1)‑(2)

1975/04/15 ‑ Republican Senate ‑ House Dinner

1975/05/03 ‑ U.S.S. Nimitz Commissioning

1975/05/26 ‑ Unknown Soldier Wreath ‑ Laying Ceremony

1975/05/27 ‑ Energy Address on Television (1)‑(2)

1975/06/09 ‑ Opening Statement re CIA for Press Conference

1975/06/19 ‑ Crime Message Briefing

1975/07/24 ‑ Phone Call to Apollo Crew

1975/07/25 ‑ Americans of Eastern European Background

1975/12/15 ‑ Remarks to White House Staff Christmas Party

1976/04/05 ‑ American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) (1)‑(2)

1976/05/08 ‑ Dedication of Harry S. Truman Statue

Box 4 Presidential Speeches and Statements

1976/07 ‑ Bicentennial Speeches: Correspondence and Memoranda (1)‑(4)

1976/07 ‑ Bicentennial Speeches: Correspondence Received After Delivery (1)‑(2)

1976/07 ‑ Bicentennial Speeches: Publication of (1)‑(3)

1976/07/01 ‑ Air and Space Museum Dedication: Background

1976/07/01 ‑ Air and Space Museum Dedication: Drafts

1976/07/02 ‑ National Archives: Background

Box 5 Presidential Speeches and Statements

1976/07/02 ‑ National Archives: Drafts (1)‑(2)

1976/07/03 ‑ Bicentennial Television Message

1976/07/03 ‑ Kennedy Center

1976/07/04 ‑ Independence Hall: Background

1976/07/04 ‑ Independence Hall: Drafts (1)‑(3)

1976/07/04 ‑ Operation Sail, New York City

1976/07/04 ‑ Valley Forge

1976/07/05 ‑ Monticello: Background

1976/07/05 ‑ Monticello: Drafts (1)‑(2)

Box 6 Presidential Speeches and Statements

1976/08/19 ‑ Convention Acceptance Speech: Composite Draft 1

1976/08/19 ‑ Convention Acceptance Speech: Composite Draft 2 (1)‑(2)

1976/08/19 ‑ Convention Acceptance Speech: Composite Draft 3 (1)‑(2)

1976/08/19 ‑ Convention Acceptance Speech: Composite Draft 4

1976/08/19 ‑ Convention Acceptance Speech: Composite Draft 5 (1)‑(2)

1976/08/19 ‑ Convention Acceptance Speech: Composite Draft 6 (1)‑(4)

1976/08/19 ‑ Convention Acceptance Speech: Composite Draft 7

Box 7 Presidential Speeches and Statements

1976/08/19 ‑ Convention Acceptance Speech: Hartmann Draft

1976/08/19 ‑ Convention Acceptance Speech: Memoranda

1976/08/19 ‑ Convention Acceptance Speech: Past Acceptance Speeches, 1948‑72

1976/08/19 ‑ Convention Acceptance Speech: Press Release and Printed Versions

1976/08/19 ‑ Convention Acceptance Speech: Suggestions and Drafts by Staff and Others (1)‑(7)

1976/12/08 ‑ Les Arends Portrait Unveiling

1977/01/12 ‑ State of the Union: Background and Memoranda

1977/01/12 ‑ State of the Union: Draft 1

1977/01/12 ‑ State of the Union: Draft 2 (1)‑(2)

Box 8 Presidential Speeches and Statements

1977/01/12 ‑ State of the Union: Draft 3

1977/01/12 ‑ State of the Union: Draft 4 (1)‑(3)

1977/01/12 ‑ State of the Union: Draft 5 (1)‑(2)

1977/01/12 ‑ State of the Union: Draft 6 (1)‑(2)

1977/01/12 ‑ State of the Union: Draft 7 (1)‑(2)

1977/01/12 ‑ State of the Union: Reading Copy ‑ 2nd Edition

1977/01/12 ‑ State of the Union: Reading Copy ‑ 2nd Edition Changes

1977/01/12 ‑ State of the Union: Reading Copy ‑ Final Edition

Box 9 General Subject File

Advancemen ‑ Requests To Be

American Revolution Bicentennial Administration ‑ Advisory Council

Amnesty (1)‑(2)

Bicentennial

Bicentennial Coins

Bicentennial Sound and Light Show

Biographies ‑ President, First Lady, and Susan Ford

Blacks

Budget ‑ FY1975 (1)‑(3)

Budget ‑ FY1976

Budget ‑ FY1977 (1)‑(2)

Budget ‑ FY1978

Busing Legislation

Busing Policy Paper

Box 10 General Subject File

Cabinet

Cabinet And Key White House Staff ‑ Out of Town Schedules

Cabinet Dinner Honoring the President and First Lady, 1977

Camp David ‑ History

China ‑ Trade Delegation

Common Situs

Congress ‑ New Members (94th)

Congressional Black Caucus Meeting, 1974/08/21 (1)‑(4)

Congressional Recess Schedule, 1975

Congressional Relations Office

Congressional Staff Reception, 1974/09/24

Council of Economic Advisers Memoranda to the President (1)‑(4)

Box 11 General Subject File

Defense Officials Dinner

Domestic Council

Doral Celebrity Dinner Videotape

Editorial Staff Activity

Education and Work Initiative

Eisenhower, Dwight D. ‑ Farewell Address

Energy

Energy Policy and Conservation Act

Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog

First Lady

Fletcher, Arthur

Foreign Policy Speech ‑ Materials (1)‑(5)

Foreign Visitors ‑ 1974/08/16: King Hussein of Jordan

Foreign Visitors ‑ 1974/09/10: Prime Minister Rabin of Israel

Foreign Visitors ‑ 1975/01/30: Prime Minister Wilson of Great Britain

Foreign Visitors ‑ 1976/12/06 ‑ Prime Minister Andreotti of Italy

Box 12 General Subject File

Freedom of Information Act Amendments

General Revenue Sharing

Grain Sales to the Soviet Union

Hartmann, Robert ‑ Interview by Sarah McClendon and Others

Hartmann, Robert ‑ National Press Club Speech, 1975/01/16

Hebert, F. Edward ‑ Message

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Dedication

Housing

Independence Day Message, 1975

Inflation, Conference on (1)‑(2)

International Economic Report, 1977

International Economic Summit ‑ Puerto Rico, 1976

International Monetary Fund Meeting, 1974

Issues

Jackson, Marvin

Kriegsman, William E.

Laird, Melvin R.

McCrary, John Reagan

Medal of Freedom

National Endowment for the Arts

National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Dinner, 1974/12/10

National Governors' Conference, 1975

Box 13 General Subject File

National Religious Broadcasters Convention

Natural Gas Shortage (1)‑(2)

Navy

New York City (1)‑(2)

Nixon Papers

Nixon Pardon

Office ‑ Christmas Card Lists

Office ‑ Christmas Vacation Schedules

Office ‑ Organization

Office ‑ Personnel Matters (1)‑(3)

Office ‑ Requests for Equipment and Supplies (1)‑(2)

Box 14 General Subject File

Office ‑ Requests for Equipment and Supplies (3)‑(4)

Office ‑ Sequoia Cruise

Oil Cargo Preference Legislation

Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Development

Oval Office Objects

Panama Canal Treaty

Personnel

‑ Ambassadorial Status Report

‑ Appointments Pending at the Transition

‑ Boards and Commissions Vacancy Reports (1)‑(2)

‑ Executive Level Vacancy Reports (1)‑(4)

‑ General

‑ Position Specification Sheets

President

‑ Briefing Book

Box 15 General Subject File

President

‑ Christmas Presents (1)‑(2)

‑ Economic and Energy Proposals (1)‑(4)

‑ House Votes by Subject

‑ Interview with U.S. News and World Report

‑ Mail Summaries

‑ Messages to Groups and Individuals (1)‑(2)

‑ Official Picture

‑ Papers (Publication)

‑ Proposed Interviews by Groups of Columnists

‑ Recommended Telephone Call Procedures

‑ Report: One Year (1)‑(2)

Gerald R. Ford Library

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