Gerald R. Ford Library

1000 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI  48109-2114

www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov

 


 

Congressional Relations Office

 

 

 

 

 

WILLIAM E. TIMMONS

Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs:

Files, 1969‑74

 

 

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

 

       Material compiled by Timmons and his assistant Powell Moore from August to December 1974 and Timmons' routine personal correspondence from 1969 to 1974.  The files document the organization of the White House legislative liaison staff and contacts between Timmons and individual Members of Congress on pending legislation, presidential appointments and routine political matters.

 

QUANTITY

9.2 linear feet (ca. 18,400 pages)

 

DONOR

Gerald R. Ford (accession number 77-107)

 

ACCESS

Open.  Some items are temporarily restricted under terms of the donor's deed of gift, a copy of which is available on request, or under National Archives and Records Administration general restrictions (36 CFR 1256).

 

COPYRIGHT

Gerald R. Ford has donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.  The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them.  Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain.

 

Prepared by Paul Conway, June 1985

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                                           BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

                                           William E. Timmons

 

 

 

12/27/30                             Born, Chattanooga, Tennessee

 

1949                                   Graduated from Baylor Military Academy

 

1950                                   Sales, Provident Insurance Company

 

1951‑55                              U.S. Air Force

 

1955‑61                              Aide to Senator Alexander Wiley (Wisconsin)

 

1959                                   Graduated from Georgetown University (BS)

 

1961‑62                              Executive Secretary, Hamilton County Branch Tennessee Republican Party

 

1963‑69                              Administrative Assistant to Representative William Brock (Tennessee)

 

1969‑74                              Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs

 

1974--                                President, Timmons and Company, Inc. (Washington, D.C. public relations firm)


BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

                                           Powell A. Moore

 

 

 

1/5/38                                 Born, Milledgeville, Georgia

 

1955                                   Northwestern University

 

1955‑56                              Georgia Military College

 

1956‑59                              University of Georgia (ABJ)

 

1959‑62                              U.S. Army Reserves

 

1962‑64                              Editor, Union Recorder, Milledgeville

 

1965‑66                              Public Affairs Officer, Southern Natural Gas Company, Birmingham, Alabama

 

1966‑71                              Press Secretary to Senator Richard Russell (Georgia)

 

1971‑72                              Public Information Officer, Office of Attorney General, Department of Justice

 

1972‑73                              Committee to Reelect the President and Director of Press Relations, Inaugural Committee

 

1973‑74                              Deputy Special Assistant to the President, Congressional Relations Office

 

1975--?                               Marketing Corporation of America

 

1981‑82                              Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs

 

1983‑84                              Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional        Relations


INTRODUCTION

 

 

 

            The William E. Timmons Files consist of memoranda, correspondence, briefing papers, notes and reports on legislation compiled by Timmons and his assistant Powell Moore from August to December 1974, and Timmons' routine personal correspondence from 1969 to 1974.

 

During the first five months of the Ford administration, Timmons continued to head the White House Congressional Relations Office, as he had done since 1970.  He was the main contact point for often routine requests from individual senators and representatives to the White House.  Timmons also transmitted and explained the administration's legislative goals and advised the President on congressional activities.

 

Timmons supervised six staff assistants.  Max Friedersdorf, Vernon Loen and Eugene Ainsworth kept close tabs on the House of Representatives while Tom Korologos and Patrick O'Donnell worked with the Senate.  Powell Moore assisted Timmons directly by monitoring the status of pending legislation and recently passed bills, and notifying the House and Senate of high level appointments, disaster relief action and major federal grants.  In late 1974 Timmons, Korologos and Ainsworth quit government service to form a Washington, DC public relations firm.  President Ford appointed Friedersdorf to succeed Timmons.

 

Timmons' files document his activities well.  While there is little record of the significant volume of telephone calls between Capitol Hill and the White House, the files provide an overview of the key legislative issues of the early Ford administration.  Particularly well documented is liaison with Congress on specific bills such as amnesty for draft evaders, cargo preference, federal pay deferral, and Nixon papers and tapes.  Also documented is congressional advice on the selection and confirmation of Nelson Rockefeller as Vice President and President Ford's travel for congressional candidates in 1974.   Timmons maintained close contact in writing with his assistants, especially Tom Korologos.  Their notes and memos are often candid records of the tit for tat of executive-congressional relations.

 

A large portion of the Congressional Relations Office's time was spent notifying Members of Congress on White House personnel actions, including seeking suggestions, obtaining clearances, and urging prompt congressional action.  Timmons' files document his mostly routine activities in this area.

 

Powell Moore maintained a separate file on his responsibilities, but because he often reported directly to Timmons in writing, Timmons' files are interspersed with information about Moore's activities and those of other Congressional Relations Office staff.

 

 

Related Materials (June 1985):

Material on the responsibilities and activities of the Congressional Relations Office is located in the files of Timmons' office colleagues, especially Max Friedersdorf and Vernon Loen.  The files of individual White House staff will contain information on specific pieces of legislation and executive-congressional relations in their respective policy areas.

 

The White House Central Files subject categories on the House and the Senate (FG 30 to FG 39) contain cross references, briefing papers, correspondence, and memoranda on White House contacts with the Congress.  The Legislation Case Files (White House Permanent Operating Offices) contain information on every public and private bill sent to the White House for action.


 

Series Descriptions

 

1‑12         Subject File, 1974.  (4.8 linear feet)

Memoranda to the President, White House staff and others, correspondence, notes, briefing papers for presidential meetings with Members of Congress, and schedule proposals on a wide range of domestic and foreign policy issues before the Congress. 

Arranged alphabetically by subject.

 

13‑14       Chron File, 1974.  (0.8 linear feet)

Carbon copies of outgoing memoranda and letters from Timmons to the President, White House staff, Members of Congress, and others.  Occasional photocopies of memos from Tom Korologos routed through Timmons for approval are also included.  Incoming correspondence and notations on action taken are rarely located here, but are instead filed in the subject file (containers 1‑12).

Arranged chronologically.

 

15‑16       Personal Correspondence, 1969‑74.  (0.8 linear feet)

Memoranda and letters extending and maintaining Timmons' personal contacts with professional associates and friends.  Included are files of invitations and messages received and sent.  Written primarily during the Nixon administration but given courtesy storage during the Ford administration, all items are cross- referenced into the Nixon White House Central Files.  Similar correspondence from October to December 1974 apparently was filed in Timmons' chron file (containers 13‑14).

Arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent or subject.

 

17‑21       Personnel Files, 1974.  (2.0 linear feet)

Memoranda, correspondence, applications, clearance forms and other material on congressional interests in appointments to Executive agencies, boards, and commissions.  Included is information on individuals actively supported by Members of Congress, pending appointments to high level positions, and material on possible job offers to retiring or defeated Members of Congress.

Arranged alphabetically by subject and thereunder either chronologically or alphabetically.

 


22‑23       Powell Moore Subject File, 1974.  (0.8 linear feet)

Correspondence drafted by Moore, memoranda to White House staff, legislative action memos, federal grant applications, disaster assistance requests, and White House Personnel Office memos accumulated by Moore in his various duties for the Congressional Relations staff.

Arranged alphabetically by subject.


 

Container List

 

Box 1       Subject File

Action Memos ‑ Cover Pages (1)‑(9)

Action Memos ‑ Log

Agriculture

American Political Report

Amnesty for Draft Evaders and Military Deserters

Appropriation Bills

 

Box 2            Subject File

Beef and Poultry Problems

Black Caucus

Budget Committees in Congress

Budget Reduction Proposals, 11/26/74 (1)‑(3)

Budget Reductions

Budget Rescissions and Deferrals

Campaign Financing Reform Legislation

Cargo Preference

Commerce Department

Conference on Inflation

Congressional Relations ‑ Internal Memos

Congressional Relations ‑ Procedures and Problems

Consumer Protection Agency Legislation

 

Box 3            Subject File

Council on Wage and Price Stability

Counsel to the President ‑ Memoranda

Counsellors to the President ‑ Memoranda

Defense Department Issues in Congress

Domestic Council ‑ Memoranda

Domestic Council ‑ White House Conferences

Economic Adjustment/Development Legislation

Economic Advisors ‑ Memoranda

Editorial Staff ‑ Memoranda

Emergency Powers Legislation

Environmental Protection Agency

Energy Research and Development Administration

Evans ‑ Novak Political Report

Executive ‑ Legislative Relations: 93rd Congress, First Session

Executive Branch Reorganization

Executive Office Building ‑ Library Renovation

Executive Privilege

Export‑Import Bank

Federal Pay Deferral

First Lady's Staff ‑ Memoranda

Food Stamps

Foreign Affairs Issues ‑ Miscellaneous

Foreign Aid Legislation

 

Box 4            Subject File

Freedom of Information Act Veto (1)‑(2)

General Services Administration

Grain Sales to the Soviet Union

Health, Education and Labor Legislation

House of Representatives ‑ Miscellaneous

Housing Legislation and Issues

Illinois State Department of Labor

Interior Department Legislation

Justice Department Legislation

Lame Duck Session

Legislative Interdepartmental Group Meetings

Legislative Issues Pending (1)‑(3)

Leonard, Mildred ‑ Memoranda

Meetings with Congressional Leaders ‑ Attendance Records

Meetings with Congressional Leaders ‑ Briefing Papers (1)‑(2)

 

Box 5            Subject File

Meetings with Congressional Leaders ‑ Briefing Papers (3)‑(5)

Meetings with Representatives and Senators ‑ Briefing Papers (1)‑(5)

Meetings with Representatives and Senators ‑ Congressional Hour (1)‑(2)

Meetings with Representatives and Senators ‑ Social Events

Memoranda to the President (1)‑(4)

 

Box 6            Subject File

Memoranda to the President (5)‑(7)

Message to Congress, 1974/08/12

Message to Congress, 1974/09/12 (1)‑(2)

Message to Congress, 1974/11/17

Mid‑Term Elections ‑ Election Results

Mid‑Term Elections ‑ General (1)‑(2)

Mid‑Term Elections ‑ Presidential Campaign Travel (1)‑(6)

 


Box 7            Subject File

Mid‑Term Elections ‑ Presidential Campaign Travel (7)‑(8)

National Growth Report

National Health Insurance

National Security Council ‑ Memoranda

Nixon/Ford Transition ‑ Appropriations

Nixon/Ford Transition ‑ Hungate Committee Appearance (1)‑(2)

Nixon/Ford Transition ‑ Hungate Committee Appearance: Press Releases

Nixon/Ford Transition ‑ Nixon Papers and Tapes Legislation (1)‑(2)

Nixon/Ford Transition ‑ Nixon Pardon: Press Releases

Nixon/Ford Transition ‑ Nixon Pardon: Reaction (1)‑(2)

Nixon/Ford Transition ‑ Nixon Resignation: Press Releases

 

Box 8            Subject File

Office of Economic Opportunity

Oil Depletion Allowance ‑ Press Briefing

Passport Office

Peoples' Republic of China ‑ Congressional Trip

Photo Office ‑ Memoranda

Postal Service

Presentations, Drop‑Bys, Visits ‑ Briefing Papers

Presidential Address on the Economy, 1974/10/08

Presidential Personnel Office ‑ Memoranda

Presidential Press Conferences and Briefings (1)‑(3)

Presidential Speeches ‑ Congressmen Traveling with the President

Presidential Speeches ‑ VFW, 1974/08/19

Presidential Speeches ‑ Ohio State University, 1974/08/30

Presidential Travel ‑ Pending (1)‑(3)

Presidential Travel Pending: Washington, DC Area

Press Secretary ‑ Memoranda

Public Broadcasting Legislation

Public Liaison ‑ Memoranda

Revenue Sharing

Rice Legislation

 

Box 9            Subject File

Scheduling Office ‑ Memoranda (1)‑(4)

Scheduling Requests, 1973/05‑1974/10 (1)‑(10)

 


Box 10          Subject File

Scheduling Requests, 1974/10‑1974/12 (1)‑(9)

Senate Democrats

Sequoia Reservations

Signing Ceremonies ‑ Briefing Papers

Signing Ceremonies ‑ Correspondence

Small Business Administration

 

Box 11          Subject File

Staff Secretary ‑ Memoranda

State of the Union ‑ 1975

Strip Mining Legislation

Sugar Quotas ‑ National Confectioners Association

Tax Return Confidentiality

Telephone Call Recommendations (1)‑(3)

Tobacco Regulation (Cigarettes)

Trade Reform Legislation (1)‑(3)

Transportation Legislation

United Nations

Veterans Educational Benefits

Vetoes and Pocket Vetoes

 

Box 12          Subject File

Vice President Rockefeller ‑ Confirmation (1)‑(2)

Vice President Rockefeller ‑ Recommendations from the House (1)‑(2)

Vice President Rockefeller ‑ Recommendations from the Senate

Vice President Rockefeller ‑ Selection

Whip Inflation Now (1)‑(3)

White House Dinners ‑ Guest Lists

White House Dinners ‑ Invitations (1)‑(3)

White House Operations ‑ Memoranda

White House Social Events ‑ Attendance Records

White House Staff ‑ Miscellaneous: Memoranda

White House Staff ‑ Speeches

 

Box 13          Chron File

1974/08/09‑1974/10/04

 

Box 14          Chron File

1974/10/05‑1974/12/31

 


Box 15          Personal Correspondence

A ‑ Invitations

 

Box 16          Personal Correspondence

Invitations ‑ Z

 

Box 17          Personnel Files

Active Personnel Cases, A‑J

 

Box 18          Personnel Files

Active Personnel Cases, L‑Z

Boards and Commissions Subseries

Boards and Commissions ‑ Miscellaneous

Ambassadors

American Battle Monuments Commission

Atomic Energy Commission

Biomedical Research Panel

Clemency Board

Commodity Futures Corporation

 

Box 19          Personnel Files

Boards and Commissions Subseries

Council on Wage and Price Stability

Dole Requests

Federal Election Commission

Federal Energy Administration

Interstate Commerce Commission

Law Enforcement Assistance Administration

Legal Services Commission (1)‑(3)

Library of Congress

National Advisory Committee for Juvenile Justice

National Commission on Diabetes

National Commission on Regulatory Reform

National Commission on Supplies and Shortages

National Conference Committee

National Labor Relations Board

National Park Service

National Transportation Safety Board

President's Commission on Olympic Sports

President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board

Renegotiation Board

Science Advisory Board

U.S. Attorneys and Judges

U.S. Capitol Historical Society

Water Pollution Control Advisory Board

 

Box 20          Personnel Files

Boards and Commissions Subseries

White House Conservatives

Clearances of Personnel Appointments (1)‑(8)

Closed Personnel Cases (1)‑(2)

 

Box 21          Personnel Files

Congressional Relations Appointments ‑ Commerce Department (1)‑(2)

Congressional Relations Appointments ‑ Executive Agencies

Memoranda to the White House Staff

Pending Nominations (1)‑(3)

Retiring Members of Congress ‑ Possible Appointments (1)‑(3)

 

Box 22          Powell Moore Subject File

Administration Spokesmen Requested

Air Force One Seating

American Enterprise Institute Publications

Bicentennial Commemorative Plates

Bills Received (1)‑(4)

Bills Received ‑ Linder Action Memos

Bills Received ‑ Veto Tabulations

Blackburn, Ben

Congressional Statistics

Contract/Grant Notifications (1)‑(2)

Disaster Relief (1)‑(2)

 

Box 23          Powell Moore Subject File

Disaster Relief (3)‑(6)

Education Bill Signing Ceremony

Energy Legislation (1)‑(4)

Executive Protective Service Clearance

Franz, Joe B.

Furman University

HEW Projects

Jones, G. Paul

Kennedy Center Schedule

Messages from President Ford

Moore Correspondence

Moran, Miss Florence

Nomination Notices

Presidential Personnel Decisions

Presidential Schedule Suggestions

Presidential Representatives to International Conferences (1)‑(2)

Press Office ‑ Briefings and Miscellaneous

Stark, Gus

University of Georgia Glee Club

Vinson, Carl

White House Fellows

White House Tour Requests