PRESIDENT FORD COMMITTEE RECORDS

Research Office Files

Fredric W. Slight left the White House staff on September 22, 1975, and very shortly thereafter took up the newly created position of PFC research coordinator. Although he initially worked alone, by the heart of the primary season Slight had a staff of four assistants.

The Research Office, which at various times reported administratively to either the Deputy Chairman for Administration or the Political Office, handled a variety of tasks:

‑ Summarizing and analyzing public opinion polling data

‑ Compiling quotes made by President Ford and Jimmy Carter on various issues and events

‑ Responding to queries on the President's views and accomplishments

‑ Producing briefing materials for advocates campaigning on behalf of the President

In June 1976, Slight resigned from the PFC staff. For the next two months Answer Desk Coordinator Rob Quartel appears to have provided interim leadership. When campaign pollster Robert Teeter joined the PFC staff on a full‑time basis in August 1976, he was named Deputy Chairman and head of the Research Office. During the fall campaign, the staff quickly expanded from four to over 20 individuals, although many of them were volunteers.

On July 19, 1976, Slight rejoined the White House staff as a Deputy Special Assistant to the President in the Office of Communications. In this position, Slight's major responsibility was the drafting of responses to article requests and questionnaires addressed to the President by various organizations and publications. Since the PFC Research Office handled similar requests and often referred them to the White House for a response, he continued to work closely with his former aides.

The major strength of the extant files of the Research Office is the large series of public opinion polling data produced for the campaign by the firm Market Opinion Research (MOR). MOR Vice President Robert Teeter directed most of these studies under contract with the PFC.

Polling data and analysis from key states early in the primary period is especially strong. MOR often conducted a study analysis of voters several months before the primary, ran daily tracking studies as the election approached, and then completed a post‑ election analysis. As campaign funds became tighter later in the primary season, the number of polls per state dropped. They conducted no polling in several minor or uncontested primaries or even in some key primaries such as Ohio or New Jersey that occurred very late. A comparison of primary campaign MOR contracts with the polling data shows the set to be fairly complete, although no results appear from a survey commissioned for the Michigan primary.

The file also contains the results of several national surveys, three waves of general election polling in PFC priority states, and six statewide daily tracking studies for the last few days of the General Election. In addition to the MOR surveys, the General Subject File contains summaries of Gallup and Harris polls on various issues and candidates covering 1973‑76.

Other materials in the collection will be useful to researchers interested in quotes by Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford on various issues or compilations of administration goals, actions and accomplishments.

The extant files of the Research Office are not complete. Although letters and memoranda written by Fred Slight and others in the office appear in other portions of the PFC records, no copies appear here. In addition, there is little reflecting internal Research Office communication, interactions with other PFC offices, or office administration. Nothing other than the polling data produced by his firm reflects Robert Teeter's role with the Committee.

Related Material (July 1990):

Researchers should consult the personal papers of Robert Teeter which contain the results of some additional national surveys and general election priority state studies not included here. In addition, the files of Foster Chanock of the White House Operations Office contain materials on polling, including memoranda from Robert Teeter.

The White House files of Fred Slight are currently unprocessed and not available for research.

H1‑H20 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls, 1975‑76. (7.8 linear feet)

Polling data and analysis compiled by Market Opinion Research (MOR) of Detroit, Michigan. The PFC contracted with MOR to conduct these surveys, but MOR occasionally subcontracted the work to the firm Decision Making Information. The Ford Library created this sequence of polls by combining two sets of boxes, one labeled "Robert Teeter" and the other "Foster Chanock" (a White House aide who worked on campaign polling). It is evident that some of the early polls were originally part of the White House files, but all of them were apparently located at the PFC headquarters during the general election campaign.

Arranged chronologically by the month in which MOR conducted the poll and alphabetically thereunder by survey title.

H21‑34 Research Office: Carter Quotes File, 1975‑76. (5.6 linear feet)

A card file containing quotes by Jimmy Carter on a wide variety of domestic, foreign, economic and political events and issues. There is no indication as to which staff member compiled and maintained this file, but it is known that it was used heavily by David Gergen's office in the White House since photocopies of the cards often appear in the Debate Background File of his collection.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

H35‑H38 Research Office: President Ford Quotebooks, 1975‑76. (1.5 linear feet)

Compilations of quotes by President Ford on a wide variety of domestic, foreign, and economic events and issues. Joy Manson maintained these books, which primarily cover January to June 1976, with occasional items from as late as September.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

H39‑H41 Research Office: Answer Desk Coordinator's Subject File, 1975‑76. (1.2 linear feet)

Memoranda, correspondence, and reports concerning a variety of domestic and foreign issues, political affairs, and Ford administration accomplishments. Rob Quartel accumulated this material to respond to questions about President Ford and his views and achievements. Some of it was also used in compiling the President Ford Factbook, which the PFC distributed to Cabinet members and other advocates who campaigned for the President.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

H42‑H44 Research Office: Publication/Organization Questionnaires, 1976. (1.2 linear feet)

Correspondence, press releases, and reports relating to the handling of requests from publications and organizations for responses to questionnaires about President Ford's views on topics of interest to their readers or members. The Research Office responded to some directly, while referring others to the White House. Joy Manson coordinated these requests during the primary campaign and Rob Quartel assumed the responsibility for the general election.

Arranged alphabetically by the first letter of the publication or organization name; unarranged thereunder.

H45‑H50 Research Office: General Subject File, 1973‑76. (2.4 linear feet)

Briefing papers, clippings, polling data, memoranda and press releases. The material concerns such topics as the Carter campaign, voter demographics, Gallup and Harris public opinion polls, and mailings which either summarized President Ford's actions and accomplishments or distributed information of use to advocates campaigning on behalf of the President. The Ford Library staff created this series to accommodate several small unrelated batches of material received from the Research Office.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

H51‑H55 Research Office: Campaign News Summaries, 1976. (2.0 linear feet)

News summaries consisting of photocopies of newspaper articles on the campaign, often with a cover sheet highlighting the most important stories. These summaries were apparently produced by the PFC and cover September 22 to November 1, 1976. In addition many issues of News and Comment (the President's daily news summary) and occasional copies of the PFC newsletter appear. Ralph Stanley apparently maintained this file.

Arranged chronologically.

H1 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

2/75 ‑ U.S. National Study (1)‑(3)

10/1975 ‑ New Hampshire Primary Election Study Analysis

10/75‑11/75 ‑ Florida Primary Study Analysis (1)‑(2)

10/75‑11/75 ‑ Illinois Primary Study Analysis and Data (1)‑(2)

11/75‑12/75 ‑ U.S. National Survey Analysis and Data (1)‑(3)

H2 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

11/75‑12/75 ‑ U.S. National Survey Analysis and Data (4)‑(14)

H3 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

1/76 ‑ Focus Group Report: Haverhill, MA

1/76 ‑ New Hampshire Primary Study (1)‑(3)

1/76 ‑ North Carolina Primary Study Analysis

1/76‑2/76 ‑ Wisconsin Primary Study Analysis and Data (1)‑(3)

2/76 ‑ Current Voting Intentions: Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania

H4 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

2/76 ‑ New Hampshire Post Election Study (1)‑(2)

2/76‑3/76 ‑ Florida Tracking Study (1)‑(3)

2/76‑3/76 ‑ Pennsylvania Omnibus Study (1)‑(2)

3/76 ‑ Florida Post Election Study (1)‑(2)

3/76 ‑ Illinois Tracking Study (1)‑(2)

H5 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

3/76 ‑ Illinois Tracking Study (3)‑(4)

3/76 ‑ Poll Summary By State

3/76‑4/76 ‑ Texas Registered Voters

3/76‑4/76 ‑ Wisconsin Tracking Study (1)‑(7)

H6 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

3/76‑4/76 ‑ Wisconsin Tracking Study (8)‑(13)

4/76 ‑ Ford Approval Rating: Gallup Polls

4/76 ‑ Texas Statewide Study (1)‑(2)

4/76 ‑ Wisconsin Post Election Analysis (1)‑(2)

H7 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

4/76‑5/76 ‑ Indiana Tracking Study (1)‑(3)

4/76‑5/76 ‑ Nebraska Primary Study (1)‑(2)

4/76‑5/76 ‑ Texas Regional Study (1)‑(6)

H8 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

5/76 ‑ California Primary Study (1)‑(3)

6/76 ‑ Missouri Statewide Study

7/76 ‑ U.S. National Study (1)‑(6)

H9 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

7/76 ‑ U.S. National Study (7)‑(14)

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: California

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Colorado

H10 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Connecticut

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Florida

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Illinois (1)‑(3)

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Indiana

H11 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Iowa

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Kentucky

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Louisiana (1)‑(2)

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Maryland

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Mississippi

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: New Jersey

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: New Mexico

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: New York

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: North Carolina

H12 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Ohio

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Pennsylvania

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Special Tables ‑ Religion (1)‑(2)

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Tennessee

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Texas

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Virginia

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Washington

8/76‑9/76 ‑ Priority States Wave I: Wisconsin

9/76 ‑ Missouri Study for Citizens for Bond Committee (1)

H13 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

9/76 ‑ Missouri Study for Citizens for Bond Committee (2)‑(5)

9/76 ‑ U.S. National Study (1)‑(6)

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Alabama

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: California

H14 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Connecticut

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Florida

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Illinois

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Indiana

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Iowa

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Maryland

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Michigan

H15 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Mississippi

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Missouri

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: New Jersey

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: New York

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: North Carolina

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Ohio

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Oklahoma

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Oregon

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Pennsylvania

H16 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Rhode Island

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: South Carolina

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Tennessee

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Texas

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Vermont

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Virginia

9/76‑10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave II: Wisconsin

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: Alabama

H17 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: Arizona

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: Illinois

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: Indiana

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: Iowa

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: Missouri

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: New Jersey

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: New York

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: Ohio

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: Pennsylvania

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: Rhode Island

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: Texas (1)

H18 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: Texas (2)‑(6)

H19 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: Texas (7)‑(8)

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave III: Wisconsin

10/76 ‑ Priority States Wave IV: Ohio

10/76 ‑ Survey of Spanish‑Speaking California Voters

10/76 ‑ U.S. National Post Debate II

10/76‑11/76 ‑ Aggregate Tables Tracking Study

10/76‑11/76 ‑ California Statewide Tracking Study

H20 Research Office: Market Opinion Research Polls

10/76‑11/76 ‑ Illinois Statewide Tracking Study

10/76‑11/76 ‑ New Jersey Statewide Tracking Study

10/76‑11/76 ‑ New York Statewide Tracking Study

10/76‑11/76 ‑ Ohio Statewide Tracking Study

10/76‑11/76 ‑ Pennsylvania Statewide Tracking Study

H21 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

List of File Titles

Abortion (1)‑(2)

Access

Acceptance Speech

Advisors

Africa

Agriculture (1)‑(2)

Alcohol

America

Amnesty

Angola

Anti‑Trust

Anti‑Washington

Appointments

Arabs

Arms Control

Arts

Attorney General

B‑1 Bomber

Background

Blacks (1)‑(2)

Book

H22 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

Budget (1)‑(2)

Busing

Cabinet

Calley

Campaign (1)‑(8)

H23 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

Carter Family (1)‑(3)

Carter vs. Other Democrats (1)‑(3)

Catholics

Change

China

CIA

Civil Disobedience

Civil Rights

Civil Service

Collective Bargaining

Commerce

Common Situs Picketing

Compensatory Opportunity

Compromise

Concorde

Conflict of Interest

Congress (1)‑(2)

Consumers

H24 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

Contributors

Corps of Engineers

Credibility

Crime

Critics (1)‑(3)

Deals (Empty)

Death Penalty

Debates

Defense (1)‑(2)

Democratic Party

Detente

Diplomats

Divestiture

Dole, Robert

Drugs

Eastern Establishment

Eastern Europe

H25 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

Economics (1)‑(3)

Education

Egypt

Election

Embargoes

Endorsements

Energy

Environment

Ethics

Ethiopia

Ethnic Purity

European Communists

Experience

Family

FBI

H26 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

Federal Reserve Board

Federalism

Ford (1)‑(5)

Foreign Aid

Foreign Arms Sales

Foreign Policy (1)‑(5)

Foreign Trade

France

Friends (Personal)

H27 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

Gay Liberation

Gifts

Government (1)‑(4)

Governor: Campaign

Governorship/State Government (1)‑(3)

Grant Consolidation

Great Society

Greece

Gun Control

Housing

Humor

Humphrey‑Hawkins

Ideologies

Illegal Aliens

Illinois

Image

Indians (Empty)

H28 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

Inflation (1)‑(2)

Intelligence

Intergovernmental Relations

Israel (1)‑(2)

Issues

Italy

January 1977

Japan

Kissinger, Henry

Korea, South

Labor (1)‑(2)

Language

Latin America

Law

Leadership

Lebanon

Liberals

Lies

Lockheed/Coca Cola

Loser

Maryland

McCarthy, Eugene

H29 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

Merchant Marine

Middle East

Military Bases

Military Involvement

Minimum Wage

Mondale Quotes (1)‑(9)

Monetary Policy

National Health Care (1)‑(2)

National Purpose

NATO

H30 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

New Deal

New Jersey

New South

New York City

1977

Nixon (1)‑(2)

Nuclear Physicist

Nuclear Weapons

Occupational Hazards

Panama Canal

Partisanship

Peanuts

Personality (1)‑(5)

Philosophy

Planning

H31 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

Platform (1)‑(4)

PLO

Policy Statements

Political Bosses

Polls

Postcard Registration

Poverty

Power

Presidency (1)‑(3)

Press/Media

Primaries

Promises

Public

Public Employee Unions

Puerto Rico (Empty)

Reagan, Ronald

Regulated Agencies

H32 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

Religion (1)‑(4)

Republicans

Revenue Sharing

Reverse Veto

Rickover, Admiral

Right to Work

Rural

Sacrifice

SALT

Science Advisor

Selective Service

Senior Citizens

Social Programs

Social Security

South America

Southern Background

Southerners

Spanish‑Speaking

Special Interests

Staff: Bourne, Peter

Staff: Caddell, Pat

Staff: Eizenstat, Stuart

Staff: General (1)‑(2)

H33 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

Staff: General (3)‑(4)

Staff: Jordan, Hamilton

Staff: King, Mary

Staff: Kirbo, Charles

Staff: Powell, Jody

Staff: Rafshoon, Gerald

Stop Carter

Sunset Laws

Sunshine Laws

Supporters (1)‑(2)

Supreme Court

Tax Reform (1)‑(4)

Terrorism

Transition

Transportation

Truman, Harry

Trust

H34 Research Office: Carter Quotes File

UFOs

Underdeveloped Countries

Unemployment (1)‑(3)

United Nations

Unity

Urban Affairs

USSR

Vagueness

Veterans

Vetoes

Vice President (1)‑(2)

Vietnam

Voting Rights (Empty)

Wage and Price Controls

Welfare

Women's Rights

Youth

H35 Research Office: President Ford Quotebooks

File Categories

Agriculture

Big Government

Busing

Campaign

Civil Rights

Consumer Affairs

Crime

Defense (1)‑(3)

H36 Research Office: President Ford Quotebooks

Economy (1)‑(3)

Education

Employment

Energy

Environment

ERA

Family Life

Federal Spending

Foreign Relations (1)‑(2)

H37 Research Office: President Ford Quotebooks

Foreign Relations (3)‑(6)

General Response (1)‑(4)

Health

Housing

H38 Research Office: President Ford Quotebooks

Intelligence

Labor

Older Americans

Regulatory Reform

Restoring Faith in Government

Revenue Sharing

Small Business

Social Programs

Transportation

Unemployment

Veterans

Vetoes

Women

Youth

H39 Research Office: Answer Desk Coordinator's Subject File

Agriculture (1)‑(3)

Arts and Humanities

Black Americans

Campaign Tactics

Catholics

Caucus Teams

Civil Rights

Clemency/Amnesty

Common Situs Picketing

Consumers

Crime

Dead Letters

Debates

Defense

Delegate Related Materials

Delegate Special

Delegate Wishes Fulfilled

H40 Research Office: Answer Desk Coordinator's Subject File

Democratic Platform Planning

Democratic Vote Totals

Dole, Robert

Economy

Education

Energy

Environment

Ethnic Americans

Factbook

Federal Spending

Foreign Relations

Hatch Act

Health

Housing

Intelligence

Kissinger, Henry

Miscellaneous

Nixon ‑ China Trip

Nuts and Berries

Older Americans

Panama Canal

President Ford

H41 Research Office: Answer Desk Coordinator's Subject File

President Ford ‑ Accomplishments

President Ford ‑ Endorsements

President Ford ‑ Future Visions

Privacy

Radio and Television

Reagan, Ronald

Regulatory Reform

Republican Convention

Republican Platform

Schweiker, Richard

Social Programs

Space

Strategy

Transportation

Veterans

Vetoes

Women

Youth

H42 Research Office: Publication/Organization Questionnaires

General and A‑F (Including Common Cause)

H43 Research Office: Publication/Organization Questionnaires

G‑N

H44 Research Office: Publication/Organization Questionnaires

O‑Z and Private Citizens

H45 Research Office: General Subject File

Advocates Briefing Book (1)‑(5)

Carter Clippings

‑ Agriculture

‑ Campaign (1)‑(2)

‑ Catholics

‑ Economic Policy/Employment

‑ Education and Health

‑ Energy and Environment

‑ Ford/Carter Comparisons

‑ Georgia Record

‑ Gubernatorial Campaign

‑ Labor

‑ Liberal Attack Pieces

‑ Personality

‑ Platform and Views

‑ Political Philosophy

‑ Politics and Religion

‑ Quotebook Supplement

‑ Reorganization and Regulatory Reform

‑ Staff

H46 Research Office: General Subject File

Carter Clippings

‑ Urban Affairs/Civil Rights/Crime

‑ Views of the Presidency

Carter Quotebook (1)‑(3)

Demographics ‑ Alabama to Mississippi

H47 Research Office: General Subject File

Demographics ‑ Missouri to Wyoming

Gallup Survey

‑ Crime

‑ Economy (1)‑(2)

‑ Energy

H48 Research Office: General Subject File

Gallup Survey

‑ Foreign Affairs

‑ General Topics

‑ Politics (1)‑(7)

Harris Survey

‑ Crime

‑ Economy

‑ Energy

‑ Foreign Affairs

H49 Research Office: General Subject File

Harris Survey

‑ General Topics

‑ Politics (1)‑(3)

President Ford '76 Factbook (1)‑(3)

President Ford Committee Leadership Mailings

11/17/75 ‑ Regional Coordinators

11/25/75 ‑ Regional Coordinators and Leadership (1)‑(2)

12/15/75 ‑ Regional Coordinators (1)‑(2)

H50 Research Office: General Subject File

President Ford Committee Leadership Mailings

12/19/75 ‑ Regional Coordinators

1/15/76 ‑ Regional Coordinators and Leadership: Actions and

Accomplishments (1)‑(2)

2/11/76 ‑ Older Americans

2/25/76 ‑ Jobs Bill, etc.

3/5/76 ‑ Factbook

3/5/76 ‑ Health

3/5/76 ‑ Vetoes

3/11/76 - Education/Energy

3/20/76 to 4/6/76 ‑ Miscellaneous

4/12/76 ‑ Reagan's TV Address (1)‑(2)

4/15/76 ‑ Selective Leadership: Presidency and Energy Goals

4/27/76 ‑ RNC & PFC Leadership: Goldwater Speech

5/7/76 ‑ Post and Tribune Articles

5/7/76 ‑ Senator Goldwater's Remarks on the Panama Canal

5/20/76 ‑ Advocate Talking Points

President Ford Committee News Letter

State Chairmen's Meeting, Jan. 1976

H51 Research Office: Campaign News Summaries

9/22‑30/76

H52 Research Office: Campaign News Summaries

10/1‑7/76

H53 Research Office: Campaign News Summaries

10/8‑15/76

H54 Research Office: Campaign News Summaries

10/16‑22/76

H55 Research Office: Campaign News Summaries

10/23/76‑11/1/76