BAKSHIAN, ARAM JR.: Files, 1982-1983 – REAG AN LIBRARY COLLECTIONS

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BAKSHIAN, ARAM JR.: Files, 1982-1983.

Office of Public Liaison: Special Assistant to the President (Arts, Humanities, Education/Academia, International Affairs), 1981 (See separate inventory)

Office of Speechwriting, 1982-1983

Aram Bakshian (1944- ) is a native of Washington, DC. In addition to his political positions, he has been a free-lance writer, art critic, magazine editor, Harvard University lecturer, and corporate consultant. His political experience prior to the Reagan Administration included work as an aide to Congressman William Brock (1966-70), a special assistant to the chairman of the Republican National Committee (1971), a speechwriter and aide for Presidents Nixon and Ford (1972-75), and a consultant to Treasury Secretary William Simon (1976-77). In the Reagan White House, Bakshian served in the in the Office of Public Liaison from March to November 1981, then was Director of the White House Office of Speechwriting until September 1983. In 1987, President Reagan nominated him to a term on the National Council on the Humanities. The term ended in 1992, and that same year, he began in his present position as Editor-in-Chief of the periodic journal American Speaker.

In addition to this very small collection, other Reagan Presidential record collections (e.g., Office of Speechwriting: Speech Drafts) contain scattered material pertaining to Bakshian’s work in this office. Despite the size we have divided this collection into two series: Series I: Speech Edits, 1982-1983; Series II: Presidential Medals.

SERIES I: SPEECH EDITS, 1982-1983 (-1 l.ft., Box 1)

This series consists of internal White House routing of Presidential speeches and statements written by outside entities or staff other than speechwriters. The material is photocopies of the comments and edits on this material made by Mr. Bakshian. It is in chronological order.

SERIES II: PRESIDENTIAL MEDALS, 1981-1983 ( l.ft., Boxes 1-)

This series appears to have started while Mr. Bakshian was a staff member in the Office of Public Liaison. He was tasked with responding to recommendations for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, particularly if it was someone notable in the arts or humanities. He carried this material and function with him when he went to the Speechwriting Office. He continued to respond to these recommendations and maintained a file of names with background information for reference use in composing the awards speech if the individual received a medal. In addition, this series contains a series of edits and speeches for the February 1983 Presidential Medal of Freedom winners, and internal memos and notes regarding the presentation of the Medals. It also contains a small amount of background research and speeches regarding the awards of the Presidential Citizens Medal.

CONTAINER LIST

SERIES I: SPEECH EDITS

Box 1

Miscellaneous Edited Speeches, 1982

Edited Miscellaneous Material February 1983 (1)-(3)

Edited Miscellaneous Material March 1983

Edited Miscellaneous Material April 1983-May 1983

Edited Miscellaneous Material July 1983-December 1983 (1)(2)

SERIES II: PRESIDENTIAL MEDALS

Box 1, cont.

A (1)(2)

B

C

Box 2

D (1)-(5)

F (1)-(3)

G (1)-(3)

H

Box 3

J (1)(2)

K (1)-(3)

L (1)-(3)

M (1)(2)

N

P

R

Box 4

S (1)-(3)

V (1)(2)

W (1)-(3)

XYZ

Medal of Freedom: AB Memos February 1981-February 1983 (1)(2)

Medal of Freedom: Miscellaneous Inquiries

Box 5

Award Ceremony: 10/09/1981 Biographies, etc.

Award Ceremony: Philip C. Habib 09/07/1982

Award Ceremony: Kate Smith 10/26/1982, Raleigh, NC

Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony: 02/23/1983 (1)(2)

Citation: Presidential Medal of Freedom to Simon Ramo (02/23/1983)

Citation: Presidential Medal of Freedom to George Balanchine (02/23/1983) (1)(2)

Citation: Presidential Medal of Freedom to Paul "Bear" Bryant (Posthumously)

(02/23/1983)

Citation: Presidential Medal of Freedom to James Burnham (02/23/1983)

Citation: Presidential Medal of Freedom to Dr. James Cheek (02/23/1983)

Citation: Presidential Medal of Freedom to Richard Buckminster Fuller

(02/23/1983)

Citation: Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rev. William F. Graham (02/23/1983)

Citation: Presidential Medal of Freedom to Eric Hoffer (02/23/1983)

Citation: Presidential Medal of Freedom to Senator Jacob Javits (02/23/1983)

Citation: Presidential Medal of Freedom to Claire Boothe Luce (02/23/1983)

Citation: Presidential Medal of Freedom to Dr. Dumas Malone (02/23/1983)

Citation: Presidential Medal of Freedom to Mabel Mercer (02/23/1983)

Presidential Citizens Medal Recommendations (1)-(3)

Presentation of Presidential Citizens Medal to Raymond Weeks, 11/11/1982

Presentation of Presidential Citizens Medal to Samuel C. Jackson (Posthumously)

(Harper presenter) 11/19/1982