WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF RECORDS MANAGEMENT: WHITE HOUSE STAFF EXIT INTERVIEWS, 1981-1988

 

Parts of this collection of Presidential records are not currently processed or available for research. Some audiotapes are processed and are currently available for research. This available material is noted in bold

 

The remainder of the audiotapes listed in these inventories is subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA).

 

If you are interested in submitting a FOIA request for access to any of the unprocessed records listed in this inventory or have any questions about this collection, please contact our archival staff at (800) 410-8354 or (805) 577-4000, or email reagan.library@nara.gov.

 

White House Office of Records Management: White House Staff Exit Interviews

 

Untranscribed audio recordings of interviews with departing White House staff, conducted by the

staff of the White House Office of Records Management and National Archives staff detailed to

the White House.  The date at end of description is when the interview was conducted.  The audio quality of the recordings varies greatly.

 

Abdoo, Helen T.  (Terry)

Speechwriting Secretary (1982-83); Staff Assistant - Media

Relations (1984--87); and Press Research Assistant in Office of Public Liaison. 

Interviewed by Terry Good on 11/24/87. [c. 45 minutes]

 

     Key topics discussed in this interview include duties of a Speechwriting

     Secretary, such as typing the President's speeches and preparing them for

     the Teleprompter, background research, and coordinating press calls;

     daily activities of a Staff Assistant for Media Relations include answering

     press calls press interviews, briefing the media, and serving as Editor for

     the White House News Service; duties of a Press and Research Assistant for

     Public Liaison included answering calls from the White House Press Corps,

     serving as a liaison with Arab. groups, managing the office, and assisting

     the Director with scheduling briefings and meetings.

 

Acle, Luis

Office of Public Liaison: Associate Director, Ethnic Americans (1985). 20 August 1986.

 

Anderson, Martin

Assistant to the President (1981-82) for Policy Development. 

Interviewed by Marie Allen on 2/26/82. [c. 75 minutes]

 

     Key topics discussed in the interview include 1980 Presidential campaign

     issues, such as economic policy and welfare reform; the 1980 Reagan-Bush

     Transition Team; New Federalism; and the organization of the Office of

     Policy Development (including the Cabinet Council system).

 

Arcos, Cresencio and Fisk, Daniel (Joint Interview)

Office of Communications, Public Diplomacy on Central America: Principal Coordinator

(1987-88). 4 February 1988.  Office of Public Liaison: Special Assistant to The President, and

Deputy Director, Women (1985-87).  4 March 1988.

 

Arey, Linda

Office of Public Liaison: Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director (1985). 2 November 1987.

 

Bakshian, Aram, Jr.

Office of Speechwriting: Deputy Assistant to the President and Director (1981-83).  Office

of Public Liaison: Special Assistant to the President, Arts, Humanities, Education, and

International Affairs (1981).  9 August 1983 [c. 40 minutes].

     

       Key topics include the President’s speechwriting skills; his involvement in the speechwriting

       process and how a speech is written.

 

Balcome-Rawding, Russell (Rusty)

Office of Presidential Personnel: Special Assistant (1985).  18 December 1985.

 

Bandow, Doug

Special Assistant to the President for Policy Development (1982).

Interviewed by Rod Ross on 5/6/82. [1   60 minute audio tape, c. 40 minutes]

 

     Key topics discussed in the interview include work performed in the 1980

     Reagan-Bush Presidential campaign and transition; involvement in the draft

     registration issue; role in Cabinet Councils and how they functioned;

     Law of the Sea conference and treaty; Balanced Budget Amendment; and

     role within the Office of Policy Development.

 

Banning, Ann  

Office of Presidential Personnel: Associate Director, Human Resources (1986-87); Director,

Recruiting (1985). 3 July 1987.

 

Barr, William

Office of Policy Development: Deputy Assistant Director, Legal Policy (1982-83).  

1 September 1983.

 

Barrett, Betty L.

Office of Policy Development: Secretary (1983). 11 October 1983.

 

Bauer, Gary L.

Office of Policy Development: Policy Analyst. (1981). 19 August 1982. [No tape retained of

Interview].

 

Benjamin, Barbara

Office of Political affairs: Secretary (1982). 3 October 1982.

 

Bistany, Joanna

Office of communications: Special Assistant to the President (1982-83); deputy (1982). 15 July

1983.

 

Blackwell, Morton C.

Office of Public Liaison: Special Assistant to the President, Religion (1981-83).  26 January

1984.

 

Bledsoe, Ralph C. - Special assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and

Executive Secretary, Domestic Policy Council (1985-88); Executive Secretary

for the Cabinet Council on Management and Administration (1985), and

Director of Property Review Board, Office of Policy Development; Associate Director

(1983-84), Office of Planning and Evaluation (1982).  Interviewed by Terry Good

on 10/19/88. [2   60-minute tapes, c. 105 minutes]

 

     Key topics discussed in the interview include 1981-1982 efforts to

     computerize and streamline the Reagan White House domestic policy

     process; the role of the White House Office of Planning and Evaluation;

     the Cabinet Council system of the first Reagan term; the issues addressed

     by the Cabinet Council on Management and Administration; the changes

     in White House staff organization which occurred early in the second

     Reagan term; Ronald Reagan's leadership and decision making styles;

     general observations on Presidential leadership, and on conflicts within a

     President's staff; and the organization of the Bledsoe materials retained

     for inclusion in the Reagan Presidential Library.

 

Boggs, Danny J.

Office of Policy Development: assistant Director, Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources

(1982-83); Senior Policy Advisor (1981).  12 August 1983.

 

Bonatati, Robert F.

Office of Public Liaison: Special Assistant to the President, Labor (1981-82).  22 March 1983.

 

Borcherdt, Wendy

Office of Public Liaison: Special Assistant to the President, Women (1982); Office of Presidential

Personnel: Associate Director (1981).  27 August 1982 [c. 73 minutes].

 

     Key topics discussed include 1980 campaign Fundraising, 1981 Inaugural; women’s issues in

     the White House.

 

Brandon, Mabel (Muffie)

Office of Social Affairs: Social Secretary (1981-83).  13 April 1983 [41:00].

   

 Key topics discussed include duties of the Social Secretary, such as Coordination of White House events,  preparations for the first State dinner, the role of the First Lady in planning such  events, entertainment, the “Young Artists in Performance at the White House” specials.

     

Buckalew, Judi

Office of Public Liaison: Special Assistant to the President, Youth (1983-85). 20 June 1985 [c. 43 minutes].

 

     Key topics discussed include her role in Public Liaison; Health care for Seniors and Youth.

 

Burgess, Jack

Office of Public Liaison: Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director (1981-82).  18

March 1983.

 

Byler, Gary

Office of Cabinet Affairs: Staff Assistant (1982-83). 2 June 1983

 

Camalier, Kathy

Office of Chief of Staff: Staff Assistant (1982) 6 February 1985.

 

Carleson, Robert B.

Office of Policy Development: Special Assistant to the President, Health and Human

Resources (1981-84). 29 March 1984.

 

Castine, Michael

Office of Private Sector Initiatives: Deputy Director (1982-84).  3 June 1987.

 

Cavaney, Red

Office of Public Liaison: Deputy Assistant to the President (1981-82).  1 March 1983.

 

Cave, Julie

Research Assistant, Speechwriting (1982-88).  Interviewed by

Terry Good on 6/7/85. [c. 60 minutes]

 

     Key topics discussed in this interview include the duties and responsibilities

     of a researcher in the speechwriting process; stages of a speech; working

     relationship with speechwriters and the specialties of some speechwriters.

 

Chavez, Linda

Deputy Assistant to the President (1985-86) and Director of the

Office of Public Liaison.  Interviewed on 1/29/86 by Terry Good. [c. 40 minutes]

 

     Key topics discussed in the interview include how she came to work

     in the White House; her view of the mission of the Office of Public

     Liaison; the organization of the office; contacts with Congress and

     members of the White House staff; and her typical day.

 

Chew, David L.

White House Operations: Deputy Assistant to the President (1987-88).  Office of the Staff

Secretary: Deputy Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary (1985-87).  Interviewed

by Terry Good on 3/22/88. [c. 15 minutes]

 

     Key topics discussed in this interview include the role and duties of the

     Staff Secretary; composition of the staff; and role in transition of the Chief

     of Staff's office from Donald Regan to Howard Baker.

 

Christiansen, Kathryn

Office of Public Liaison (1983). 9 April 1982.

 

Clarey, Donald A.

Office of Cabinet Affairs: Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director (1985-87);

Associate director (1983-85). 1 May 1987.

 

Cobb, Joe Michael

Office of Public Information: Deputy Director (1982-83).  28 October 1982.

 

Coyne, James L. (Jim)

Office of Private Sector Initiatives: Special Assistant to the President and Director (1983-84). 21

March 1985.

 

Coyne, Martin J., Jr.

Office of the First Lady: Director, Scheduling and Advance (1983-87).

17 June 1987[c. 14 minutes].

 

     Key topics discussed include First Lady scheduling, speeches, briefing papers for Drug

     Abuse programs.

 

Crawford, Marjorie

Office of Deputy Chief of Staff: Staff Assistant (1982-85). 31 July 1985.

 

Cutler, Lloyd

President's Commission on Strategic Forces: Senior counsel (1981). 2 March 1981.

 

Danner, Donald

Office of Public Liaison: Special Assistant to the President and Director, Economic and Business

Issues (1986-88).  2 June 1988.

 

Daolas, Sue

Office of Policy Development: Policy Analyst (1985); Drug Abuse Policy Office: Policy Analyst

(1982-85). 12 June 1986[c. 43 minutes].

 

     Key topics discussed include projects within the Drug Abuse Policy office and Liaison with

     other Agencies.

 

Davis, Randall E.

Office of Policy Development: Special Assistant to the President and Assistant Director, Energy

and Natural Resources (1984-85).  Office of legislative Affairs: Special Assistant, House (1983).

9 April 1985

    

Des Coteaux, Andrea

Office of Chief of Staff: Staff Assistant (1985).  4 May 1987

 

Djerejian, Edward

Office of the Press Secretary: Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Press Secretary,

Domestic Affairs (1985). 1 August 1986.

 

Dole, Elizabeth 

Assistant to the President for Public Liaison (1981-83).

Interviewed by Marie Allen on 4/16/83. [c. 60 minutes]

 

     Key topics discussed in the interview include background information on

     Elizabeth Dole's role as a two way conduit for the President between the

     private sector and the Executive Office; the function of Office of Public

     Liaison; and the establishment of the Coordinating Council on Women

     at the White House.

 

Donatelli , Frank J.

Office of Public Liaison: Deputy Assistant to the President (1984-85).  10 May 1985

 

Donnelly, Thomas (Tom) R., Jr.

Office of Legislative Affairs: Special Assistant, House (1983-85).  18 October 1985 [25 minutes].

 

     Key topics discussed include Budgetary process between White House and House of    

     Representatives; Omnibus Crime Control Bill; Immigration Bill; Social Security Act Amendment.

 

Dowham, Vera

Office for Presidential Personnel: Secretary (1981). 16 August 1982.

 

Dressendorfer, John

Office of Legislative Affairs: Special Assistant to the President, House (1981, 1982-83).  14

August 1983.

 

Duberstein, Kenneth

Office Legislative Affairs: Assistant to the President (1982-83); Deputy Assistant to the

President, House (1981).   Interviewed on 12/15/83 by Marie Allen.   [3 90 minute

audio tapes, c. 200 minutes]

    

     Key topics discussed in the interview include the reasons for President

     Reagan's success dealing with Congress; key early congressional votes

     during President Reagan's first year (Gramm-Latta 1 and the Dairy bill);

     the Legislative Strategy Group; the 1982 tax bill; "Gang of 17;"

     1982 budget battle; dense pack and the MX missile; the lame duck session;

     Social Security Reform Act; the Caribbean Basin Initiative; and the

     Invasion of Grenada.

  

Duggin, Thelma

Office of Public Liaison: Director, Fifty States Project (1982); Deputy Special Assistant, Blacks

and Youths (1981). 26 March 1983.

 

Dunlop, Becky Norton

Deputy Assistant to the President (1983-85) and Deputy

Director, Office of Presidential Personnel; Special Assistant to the President and

Director, Office of Cabinet Affairs (1981-83); and Deputy Director, Presidential

Personnel.  Interviewed on 7/16/85 by Terry Good.  [c. 56 minutes]

    

     Key topics discussed in the interview include a description of her

     position and duties in the Office of Presidential Personnel; her contacts

     with Congress and various departments and agencies; the basis for

     White House clearance and placement; her typical day at Presidential

     Personnel; her function and duties in Cabinet Affairs; Organization of

     the Office of Cabinet Affairs; her typical day in Cabinet Affairs; the

     management of Presidential Personnel; involvement in the development

     of policy; and her new duties and responsibilities.

 

Duval, Janice

Office of communications: Media Coordinator, Media Relations and Planning

(1981-84).  4 November 1984.

 

Eberly, Donald

Office of Public Liaison: Executive Assistant (1986). 10 April 1986.

 

Eberly, Sheryl L.

Office of the First Lady: Deputy Director, Projects (1981-83).  10 May 1984 [c. 20 minutes].