PRESIDENT FORD COMMITTEE RECORDS

Press Office Files

Press Secretary Peter Kaye formed the PFC's small in-house Press Office in October, 1975. Kaye directed the organization's radio, television, and news activities through the primary campaign, reporting to the PFC Chairman. He resigned in July, 1976, when the Press Office was subsumed under a larger Communications Division, headed by newly-appointed Deputy Chairman for Communications William I. Greener, Jr. Thereafter, Deputy Director Ron Weber directed campaign press operations, including audio feed banks, newsletters, and field press operations. During the general election campaign, Peter Teeley served as Press Secretary in an enlarged Press Office with responsibility for drafting and distributing PFC press releases, fielding campaign-related press inquiries, and directing audio operations. (See Attachment A).

The division of responsibilities between the PFC's press operation and the White House Press office headed by Ron Nessen was unclear and periodically strained during the campaign. The PFC staff was to respond only to those queries related to the campaign organization and activities, directing more substantive questions to the President's own White House press operation. While this is not clearly documented in the PFC Press Office File, evidence is scattered in portions of the Ron Nessen Papers.

The Press Office collection incompletely documents the Office's significant role in the campaign as the organization's liaison to the media. The Press Secretaries' series contain little substantial or original material related to their activities. Peter Kaye's role in formulating and implementing an overall news strategy, his attendance at PFC sessions with White House officials and sometimes President Ford, and his frequent communications with White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen are not evidenced. Also lacking is documentation of Kaye's press plan presented at the PFC's November 1975 Finance Committee meeting and establishment of an advocates program using high administration officials as campaign surrogates. Additionally, the collection does not include material reflecting the work of several key staff members, such as Deputy Director Ron Weber.

The collection's major research value lies in campaign information in Press Office publications and the reference files in the Kaye, Teeley, and Clippings series. Press releases and in-house newsletters disseminated to the press, advocates and organization members nationwide are amassed in the Kaye and Teeley series and provide an excellent source of information on PFC activities and appointments. The Kaye and Clippings series provide abundant background material in folders related to Ford, Reagan and the state primaries.

Interesting final reports on aspects of the PFC's press operations prepared after the November election are found in Teeley's "Recommendations and 'Lessons Learned' for Future Republican Campaigns Book." Additionally, small amounts of valuable material are found in Teeley and Rosenker folders concerning an office controversy over a centrally or regionally organized audio program, and Rosenker's analysis of the 1972 CREEP audio program.

Interoffice memoranda filed in the Kaye, Teeley and Rosenker series partially document the Office's management of incoming media requests. Kaye passed requests for presidential appearances, with his recommendations, to Ron Nessen for response. The PFC Press Office provided the media with pre-recorded video and audio messages from the President, First Family, Advocates and PFC officials. Particularly well documented here are radio actualities, recorded excerpts from campaign speeches made nationwide, which Rosenker transmitted by Watts line to radio stations for free broadcast. While records were kept of the numerous messages sent, the texts are not included and there is no method of determining whether stations actually broadcast the messages.

Related Material

Related PFC press operation material may be found in the files of the Chairman's Office, the Office of Administration, and Campaign '76 Communications, Inc. Material related to Kaye's interaction with the White House is available in the files and papers of White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen, and the files of Counsellor to the President for Political Affairs Rogers Morton, Special Counsel David Gergen (including Kaye's state media files), and Directors of Press Advance Eric Rosenberger and Douglass Blaser. In addition, White House Central Files Name File includes files for many of the PFC Press Office staff.

G1-G7 Press Office: Peter Kaye Files, 1975-1976. (2.8 linear feet)

Correspondence, memoranda, printed matter, lists, statements, speeches, reports and working papers. The bulk of the material relates to the Office's collection and production of printed campaign news. Included are Kaye press releases and issues of PFC newsletters. Correspondence, memoranda, speeches, clippings, articles and state and local newsletters provide background material on candidates, PFC staff and political activities early in the campaign. Also included are background papers, copy carbons, proofs and layout sheets for the February and March 1976 issues of "The Inside News," prepared by editor G. M. Prather.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

G8-G12 Press Office: Peter Teeley Files, 1976. (1.7 linear feet)

Correspondence, memoranda, printed matter, notes, reports, question and answer briefing sheets, schedules and lists. The material documents aspects of the Office's operations and provides a record of its printed material. Included is an extensive series of reports prepared after the November election on Press Office programs, reports on the PFC's audio program and budget, staff lists and biographies, briefing material prepared for James Baker, and a complete set of press releases prepared under Teeley's direction.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

G12-G15 Press Office: Mark Rosenker Files, 1976. (1.3 linear feet)

Correspondence, memoranda, reports, drafts, copy, notes, lists, printed matter, logs and invoices. The material relates to Press and Communications Office policy and broadcast operations, especially the radio actuality program which Bill Hart and Rosenker operated throughout 1976. Included are advisory and policy memoranda, drafts of media messages, budgets, and daily and weekly activity reports.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

G15-G20 Press Office: Clippings File, 1975-1976. (1.9 linear feet)

Correspondence, memoranda, notes, printed material, and press clippings. The material forms a reference file of campaign information used by the Press Office to create media messages. Newspaper clippings submitted by various PFC staff to Assistant Press Secretary of Operations Ned Greene form the bulk of the file.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

G1 Press Office: Peter Kaye Files

Advocates Program

Callaway, Bo ‑ Schedule, 01/1976

"Delegate Special" ‑ Newsletters

Ford Administration Issues (1)-(2)

Hot Clippings (1)‑(3)

Important Dates for the 1976 Primaries

"Inside News" ‑ Newsletters

"Inside News" 02/1976 ‑ Background Material: Clippings

"Inside News" 02/1976 ‑ Background Material: General

"Inside News" 02/1976 ‑ Background Material: PFC Press Releases

"Inside News" 02/1976 ‑ Background Material: Publication Format

G2 Press Office: Peter Kaye Files

"Inside News" 02/1976 ‑ Background Material: States‑Related

"Inside News" 02/1976 ‑ Copy Carbons (1)-(2)

"Inside News" 02/1976 ‑ Customer Proofs

"Inside News" 02/1976 ‑ Galley Proofs (1)-(2)

"Inside News" 02/1976 ‑ Photographs

"Inside News" 02/1976 ‑ Printing (1)-(2)

"Inside News" 02/1976 ‑ Working Papers

"Inside News" 03/1976 ‑ Background Material: Clippings

G3 Press Office: Peter Kaye Files

"Inside News" 03/1976 ‑ Background Material: General

"Inside News" 03/1976 ‑ Background Material: PFC Press Releases

"Inside News" 03/1976 ‑ Background Material: States‑Related

"Inside News" 03/1976 ‑ Copy Carbons (1)-(2)

"Inside News" 03/1976 ‑ Customer Proofs

"Inside News" 03/1976 ‑ Editor's Copy (1)-(2)

"Inside News" 03/1976 ‑ Headlines, Galley Proofs and Layout Sheets

"Inside News" 03/1976 ‑ Working Papers

Media Buying ‑ New Hampshire and Florida

Media ‑ Notes

New Kwong Tai Press, 03/1976

G4 Press Office: Peter Kaye Files

PFC Finance Committee Meeting Book (1)-(2)

PFC Press Releases (1)-(3)

PFC Staff ‑ Biographies

PFC Staff ‑ Convention Attendance

Political Reports and Polls (1)-(3)

Press Office ‑ Newsletter Responsibility

Press Releases ‑ Special

Reagan, Ronald, 10/1975‑12/1975 (1)-(2)

G5 Press Office: Peter Kaye Files

Reagan, Ronald, 10/1975‑12/1975 (3)-(4)

Reagan, Ronald, 1/1976‑2/1976 (1)-(2)

Reagan's Welfare Reform ‑ Press Release

Speeches and Statements (1)-(3)

State of the Union (1)-(2)

States ‑ California (1)-(2)

G6 Press Office: Peter Kaye Files

States ‑ Lists

States ‑ Pennsylvania

States ‑ Rhode Island

States ‑ South Dakota

States ‑ Tennessee

States ‑ Texas (1)-(3)

States ‑ Texas: Clippings

States ‑ Texas: G.M. Prather's File

States ‑ Texas: G.M. Prather's Clippings File

G7 Press Office: Peter Kaye Files

States ‑ Texas: G.M. Prather's Press Release File (1)‑(2)

States ‑ Texas: PFC Press Releases

States ‑ Utah

States ‑ Vermont

States ‑ Virginia

States ‑ Washington

States ‑ West Virginia

States ‑ Wisconsin

States ‑ Wyoming

Supreme Court Decision on Federal Election Campaign Laws

Transcripts (1)-(3)

UPI Wires

White House Scheduling

G8 Press Office: Peter Teeley Files

Advocates

Auto Dealers

Briefing Book (1)-(2)

Daily Talking Points and Newsletter Book (1)-(8)

Endorsements

Foreign Press

G9 Press Office: Peter Teeley Files

HEW Survey ‑ "Major Issues for American College Students" (1)-(2)

Media Requests (1)-(2)

Memoranda ‑ Teeley

Milliken Meeting

Press Recommendations and "Lessons Learned" for Future Republican Campaigns Book

‑ Carter Reception

‑ Election Night

‑ Expenditures (1)-(2)

‑ Overview of Press Operations and Rosters

‑ Press Office Administration (1)-(2) (press kit)

G10 Press Office: Peter Teeley Files

Press Release Log Book (1)-(4)

Press Release Supplement Book ‑ People for Ford: State Chairmen

Press Release Supplement Book ‑ People for Ford: Physicians

Press Release Supplement Book ‑ People for Ford: Attorneys

Press Release Supplement Book ‑ People for Ford: Youth

Press Release Supplement Book ‑ People for Ford: Democrats

Press Release Supplement Book ‑ People for Ford: Realtors

Regional Operations

Schedules Book ‑ Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Dole (1)‑(2)

G11 Press Office: Peter Teeley Files

Schedules Book ‑ Senator Dole (1)-(3)

Schedules Book ‑ Jimmy Carter

Schedules Book ‑ Walter Mondale

Schedules Book ‑ Other (1)-(2)

Telephone Messages (1)-(3)

G12 Press Office: Peter Teeley Files

Telephone Messages (4)-(5)

Unions

G12 Press Office: Mark Rosenker Files

Audio Feed Logs (1)‑(9)

G13 Press Office: Mark Rosenker Files

Audio Section ‑ Costs

Background Material

Communication Division Memoranda ‑ Weber

Correspondence ‑ Rosenker

Drafts ‑ Print Media

Drafts and Copy ‑ Broadcast Media

Equipment

Job Applicants

Media Lists

Media Rental, Production and Distribution

Media Requests

Money Commitments

Network Services

PFC Campaign Letter

PFC Fact Sheets

PFC Memoranda

G14 Press Office: Mark Rosenker Files

PFC Press Releases

PFC Publications ("President Ford News" 04/1976)

PFC Staff Rosters

Press Office Memoranda ‑ Hart

Press Office Memoranda ‑ Kaye/Teeley

Press Office Memoranda ‑ Prather

Press Office Memoranda ‑ Rosenker

Radio Activity ‑ Democrats

Radio Activity Reports (1)‑(2)

Radio Actuality Feed Instructions

Radio Actuality Logs ‑ Alabama ‑ Delaware

Radio Actuality Logs ‑ Florida ‑ Kentucky

Radio Actuality Logs ‑ Louisiana ‑ Michigan

Radio Actuality Logs ‑ Minnesota ‑ New Jersey

Radio Actuality Logs ‑ New Mexico ‑ Rhode Island

G15 Press Office: Mark Rosenker Files

Radio Actuality Logs ‑ South Carolina ‑ Texas

Radio Actuality Logs ‑ Special Groups/Regional Networks

Radio Actuality Logs ‑ Utah ‑ Wyoming

Radio Actuality Program ‑ Primary States

Schedules

Tele‑Color Productions

Television Ratings ‑ Convention Film, Acceptance Speech

White House Memoranda

Young People for Ford

G15 Press Office: Clippings File

Bayh, Birch ‑ Campaign Literature

Budget Package

Callaway, Bo ‑ "Face the Nation" Interview, 12/07/1975

Colorado

Defense Policy ‑ Press Release

Florida ‑ Press Clippings

Ford, Betty

G16 Press Office: Clippings File

Ford, Gerald ‑ Accomplishments, Issues (1)-(2)

Ford, Gerald ‑ Excerpts from St. Petersburg, Fla. Remarks on Senior Citizens

Ford, Gerald ‑ Pre‑Florida Delegate Vote Counts

Ford, Gerald ‑ Veto of Public Works Employment Act

Ford, Gerald ‑ Vetoes

Ford, Jack

Houston Packages

Idaho

Illinois ‑ Press Clippings (1)-(2)

Illinois Package

Intelligence Committee Report ‑ Village Voice

International Bribe Inquiry

Kissinger, Henry

G17 Press Office: Clippings File

Magazine Clippings

New Hampshire ‑ Political Ads

New Hampshire and Florida (1)-(2)

Newspaper Clippings ‑ General (1)-(5)

G18 Press Office: Clippings File

Newspaper Clippings ‑ General (6)-(9)

Ohio ‑ Press Clippings (1)-(6)

Oregon ‑ Press Clippings

G19 Press Office: Clippings File

Packages for December 1975 Meetings

Physicians for Ford ‑ Florida

Polls

"President Ford News" 04/1976

Reagan ‑ Budget: $90 Billion Gaffe

Reagan ‑ Editorials and Magazine Articles

Reagan ‑ ERA/Abortion

Reagan ‑ Fiscal Policy

Reagan ‑ Grain Sales

Reagan ‑ "Let the People Rule" Speech

Reagan ‑ New Hampshire/Florida Press Clippings

Reagan ‑ Off Shore Oil Drilling

Reagan ‑ Packages (1)-(2)

Reagan ‑ Reaction to Budget Gaffe

Reagan ‑ Television Speech

Reagan ‑ Welfare Record

G20 Press Office: Clippings File

Reagan/Ford Issues

Rockefeller, Nelson

Texas ‑ Press Clippings

UPI Wire Clips