CICCONI, JAMES W.: Files, 1981-1985 – REAGAN LIBRARY COLLECTIONS

This collection has been reviewed by the Reagan Library staff and it is available for research. You may access this collection in our research room. There is no need to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for any of the contents of this collection

CICCONI, JAMES W.: Files, 1981-1985 (9 l.ft., Boxes 1-24)

Office of the Chief of Staff: Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff, 1981-1985

In November 1981, James Cicconi joined the White House staff to assist Chief of Staff James Baker in management and policy execution, including oversight of the White House’s decision making process.

Cicconi was born in Elmira, New York in 1952. During his childhood, he lived in various cities, finally arriving in southeastern Texas during his last year of high school. Cicconi attended the University of Texas in Austin from 1970 to 1977, earning both a Bachelor’s degree and a law degree. Active in politics from a young age, he held positions in Texas state government starting in 1976, and worked on Baker’s unsuccessful 1978 campaign for attorney general of Texas. When Baker left the White House to become Secretary of the Treasury in early 1985, Cicconi left as well, and joined a prominent Washington law firm. In 1988-1989 Cicconi worked on the transition staffs of both Secretary of State-Designate Baker and President-Elect George H. W. Bush. He then served in the Bush White House, as Staff Secretary, in 1989-1990. Cicconi played an active role in each Republican Presidential campaign from 1988 to 2000, served on the George W. Bush transition staff in 2000-2001, and was an advisor for the Progress for American Voter Fund (a Section 527 political committee) during the 2004 campaign season.

Cicconi joined AT&T’s legal staff in 1998, and is currently AT&T’s General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Law and Government Affairs. He also serves as Vice President of the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation, advises former President Bush on Presidential record issues, and represents the former President and the Bush Foundation in their dealings with the National Archives.

Though Cicconi came to the White House upon the departure of Baker assistant Frank Hodsoll, his tasks were not exactly the same as Hodsoll’s. Cicconi was not involved in foreign policy or immigration issues to the extent that Hodsoll was. Instead, Cicconi’s files reflect his handling of many of the memos, meeting materials, and reports that were created by or for Baker. Many of these documents were eventually filed in Cicconi’s files, to the extent that Cicconi’s files document Baker’s work as much as they do his own. Many of the memos that Cicconi wrote to Baker and others were returned to Cicconi and kept in his files. Several documents in Cicconi’s collection contain handwritten notes from Baker, Baker’s Executive Assistant Margaret Tutwiler, or others in the Chief of Staff office. Some documents from Hodsoll were also incorporated into Cicconi’s files.

Cicconi’s files consists of six series, the first of which is divided into three subseries.

I. MEMORANDUM FILES.

SUBSERIES A: Memos to Staff, 1981-1985 (1.1 l.ft., Boxes 1-3)

This subseries contains chronologically arranged memos from Cicconi to others on the White House staff, plus background and supporting materials. Many of the memos from 1981-1983 are the originals that Cicconi wrote to James Baker or Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Deaver, which were returned to Cicconi with comments after Baker or Deaver had read them. (For 1984-85 memos specifically for James Baker, see Subseries B) Topics include: administrative issues, such as White House staff organization and the scheduling of Senior Staff meetings; personnel matters, including recommendations for positions; the work of Federal agencies and departments, the Cabinet Councils, and the Judicial Selection Committee; Reagan Administration outreach to minorities and other constituent groups; economic policy (including tax and budget policy); the state of the US economy; agricultural policy; and trade policy.

SUBSERIES B: Memos to James Baker, 1984-1985 (0.3 l.ft., Box 4)

This subseries is a continuation of Subseries A for 1984-1985, but contains chronologically arranged memos from Cicconi to James Baker only. Cicconi received these memos back for filing after Baker had read them. Many were written to update Baker on the work of the Cabinet Councils, White House offices, and other Executive Branch bodies. Others pertain to White House personnel and scheduling matters, or to some of the issues reflected in Cicconi’s Subject File (Series II). Many memos contain handwritten comments from Baker recommending follow-up action. For January 1985, there are also copies of outgoing Baker letters pertaining to memos that he received.

SUBSERIES C: Offices and Staff People, 1981-1983 (0.9 l.ft., Boxes 4-5)

This subseries contains memos to and from White House offices and staff people, and other material documenting issues handled by the various parts of the White House and Executive Branch. Most material was initially to or from James Baker, and was forwarded to Cicconi for filing or further action. A few memos predate Cicconi’s arrival in the White House, and a few are copies of outgoing Baker memos. After December 1983, these sorts of materials were filed differently in Cicconi’s office and can now be found in the Subject File (Series II). This material is arranged alphabetically by office or staff person.

II. SUBJECT FILE, 1981-1985 (4.3 l.ft., Boxes 5-15)

This series contains alphabetically arranged folders pertaining to many of the issues, persons, White House Office units, and organizations that Cicconi, Baker, and others in the Office of Chief of Staff dealt with directly. The series contains copies of some of the memos in Cicconi’s Memorandum Files (Series I). Many documents in this series were initially sent to Baker, and were forwarded to Cicconi for filing or further action. Some documents predate Cicconi’s time on the White House staff.

The series includes material pertaining to: the Wilson Center; the Washington Education Project (a private program allowing college students to receive credit by tutoring); the Working Group on Southwestern Border States; relations with constituent groups (Armenian-Americans, blacks, Hispanics, European ethnics, organized labor, evangelicals, senior citizens, women); the 1984 World Population Conference; the investigation of the Environmental Protection Agency; the closing of the Fort Chaffee detention center for Cuban refugees; the drafting of a new Executive Order on intelligence; the Federal Communications Commission; policy toward the homeless; regulatory reform; gun and ammunition control; civil rights; proposed revisions to the criminal code; the proposed balanced budget amendment; education; enterprise zones; industrial policy; acid rain; the air traffic controller’s strike; product liability; the steel and textile industries; civil rights; tuition tax credits; a few personnel matters, including some 1984 judicial selection material; material from a few Cabinet and Cabinet Council meetings (background papers, scheduling materials, and meeting notes); and some James Baker speeches.

III. SENIOR STAFF MEETING FILE, 1981-1985 (2.2 l.ft., Boxes 15-20)

This series contains chronologically arranged materials pertaining to meetings of the White House Senior Staff, and breakfast meetings held by the leadership “Troika” of James Baker III, Edwin Meese III, and Michael Deaver. Although Cicconi was not a member of the Senior Staff, and did not join the White House staff until November 1981, it appears that this series was maintained in his files once he joined the staff.

During President Reagan’s first term, the senior staff consisted of: the “Troika” of Meese, Baker, and Deaver; the “Assistants to the President,” who directly oversaw the various units within the White House Office; the Vice President’s Chief of Staff; the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA); and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). However, many others attended Senior Staff meetings, often as substitutes for one of the meeting principals.

For all four years of this series, there are lists of “action items” for Senior Staff discussion, along with meeting agendas. The action items lists often have handwritten notes that James Baker apparently took during the meetings. In addition, the files from 1981 include copies of some of the President’s and Vice President’s daily schedules, copies of some monthly Presidential block schedules, and memos and published articles pertaining to some of the discussion items. The files for 1982 are divided into a set of action items lists and a set of agendas, and contain little material beyond these two types of documents. Beginning in 1983 the agendas and action items were filed together again, and an occasional Presidential daily schedule was included in the file. In late 1983, a separate section was added to the action items list for handwritten notes that Baker apparently took while meeting with President Reagan after the Senior Staff meetings.

During the Independent Counsel investigation of Franklyn (Lyn) Nofziger in 1987-1988, the White House Counsel’s office attached self-stick notes (“Post-it Notes”) to documents in this series that were deemed relevant to the Independent Counsel’s requests for records. Photocopies of these documents were supplied to the Independent Counsel.

IV. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE FILE, 1981-1985 (0.7 l.ft., Boxes 20‑22)

This series consists of correspondence with people not in the White House Office, including members of the public, members of Congress, and federal agency staff. Many of the correspondents were Texas acquaintances of Cicconi or Baker. Cicconi responded to some correspondents, including some that had written to Baker, with a letter or phone call. Other correspondents received a written response from Baker. Still other correspondence was forwarded to a federal agency, or filed without further action. Many correspondents wrote to recommend either themselves or someone they knew for a position in the White House. Many also offered their views on issues of the day.

Most of the material is divided into four chronological sets (1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984-1985), each of which is arranged alphabetically by correspondent. There are also two other sets of materials from 1981-1983: a folder of correspondence involving Cicconi’s predecessor in the Chief of Staff office, Frank Hodsoll, and an alphabetically arranged file of

Baker correspondence. Since there is also Baker correspondence in the rest of the General Correspondence File, it is not clear why this material was maintained separately.

A copy of a response letter from Cicconi is attached to most of the incoming material from 1984-1985 and some of the material from 1981-1982.

V. AGENCY FILE, 1981-1983 (0.6 l.ft., Boxes 22-23)

This series contains material pertaining to cabinet departments and other selected Federal agencies, including correspondence from agency staff to Cicconi, Baker, and others in the White House. A large percentage pertains to Texas state officials or issues directly impacting Texas. This material is arranged alphabetically by agency/department.

VI. TELEPHONE LOGS, September 1983-January 1985 (0.3 l.ft., Boxes 23-24)

These daily phone logs include the names and telephone numbers of callers, the times calls were received, and remarks regarding the calls. There are also some remarks regarding follow-up work, including Cicconi responses to the callers. Some logs are on a form titled “Daily Phone Log for James A. Baker III,” but all the calls appear to be to Cicconi (via his secretary). This material is arranged chronologically.

CONTAINER LIST

SERIES I: MEMORANDUM FILES.

SUBSERIES A: Memos to Staff, 1981-1985

Box 1

[Cicconi Memos – 1981]

[Cicconi Memos – January 1982-June 1982] (1)-(4)

[Cicconi Memos – July 1982-December 1982] (1)-(7)

Box 2

Cicconi Memos – January 1983-June 1983 (1)-(11)

Cicconi Memos – July 1983-December 1983 (1)(2)

Box 3

Cicconi Memos – July 1983-December 1983 (3)-(7)

Cicconi Memos – 1984 (1)-(6)

Cicconi Memos – 1985 (1)(2)

SUBSERIES B: Memos to James Baker, 1984-1985

Box 4

JWCicconi Memos to Mr. Baker, January 1984-June 1984 (1)-(3)

JWCicconi Memos to Mr. Baker, July 1984-December 1984 (1)-(3)

JWCicconi Memos to Mr. Baker, 1985

SUBSERIES C: Offices and Staff People, 1981-1983

Box 4, cont.

[Memos – Appointments and Scheduling, Office of]

Memos – Baker, James A., III

[Memos – Bradley, Melvin]

[Memos – Correspondence Office]

Memos – Counsel’s Office [1981-1982]

[Memos – Counsel’s Office (1983)]

Memos – Darman, Richard

Memos – Deaver, Mike

Memos – Dole, Elizabeth (1)-(3)

Box 5

Memos – Fuller, Craig

Memos – Hickey, Edward V.

Memos – Hodsoll, Frank

Memos – Meese, Edwin

Memos – [Office of] Intergovernmental Affairs

[Memos – Office of Legislative Affairs]

Memos – Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (1)(2)

[Memos – National Security Council]

Memos – [Office of] Policy Development (1)(2)

Memos – [Office of] Political Affairs

[Memos – Office of Presidential Personnel]

Memos – Office of Public Liaison [1981-1983 (Dole, Elizabeth)] (1)(2)

[Memos – Office of Public Liaison 1983-1985 (Whittlesey, Faith)]

Memos – Rollins, Edward J.

Memos – Sittman, Bill

[Memos – Vice President’s Office]

SERIES II: SUBJECT FILE, 1981-1985

Box 5, cont.

Acid Rain/Environment

Box 6

[Air Traffic Controllers]

[American Conservation Corps Act]

Armenian-Americans (1)(2)

[Armenians] (1)(2)

[Armenians:] Genocide Treaty

Balanced Budget Amendment (1)-(3)

Bankruptcy Courts (1)(2)

Black History Event

Black Strategy [November 1984 – February 1985] (1)-(3)

[Cabinet Council on Commerce and Trade 01/26/1983]

[Cabinet Council on Commerce and Trade 10/03/1983]

[Cabinet Council on Commerce and Trade 10/26/1983]

[Cabinet Councils on Commerce and Trade, Food and Agriculture 02/16/1984]

[Cabinet Council on Commerce and Trade 04/11/1984]

[Cabinet Council on Human Resources 04/06/1984]

[Cabinet Council on Legal Policy 05/19/1983 and 06/20/1983]

[Cabinet Council on Legal Policy 01/16/1984]

[Cabinet Council on Legal Policy 02/14/1984]

[Cabinet Council on Legal Policy 05/17/1984]

[Cabinet Council on Management and Administration 09/28/1983]

[Cabinet Council on Management and Administration 10/06/1983]

[Cabinet Council on Management and Administration 01/05/1984]

Box 7

[Cabinet Council on Management and Administration 05/03/1984]

[Cabinet Council on Management and Administration 05/21/1984]

[Cabinet Council on Natural Resources and Environment 03/09/1983]

[Cabinet Council on Natural Resources and Environment 04/07/1983]

[Cabinet Council on Natural Resources and Environment 03/22/1984]

[Cabinet Council on Natural Resources and Environment 03/26/1984]

[Cabinet Meeting 03/24/1983]

[Cabinet Meeting 04/21/1983]

[Cabinet Meeting 06/08/1983]

[Cabinet Meeting 08/09/1983]

[Cabinet Meeting 11/01/1983]

[Cabinet Meeting 06/25/1984]

California Agricultural Leadership Program

Cicconi – 1984/1985 – Copies of Scheduling Recommendations

Civil Rights Commission

“Cop Killer Bullets” (1)-(4)

Criminal Code Revision [Moral Majority Comments]

CX Cargo Plane

Dade County Set-Aside Case (1)-(3)

Economy [01/13/1982 Report]

[Education: Child and Family Protection Institute]

[Education – Federal Role]

[Education – Federal Role:] Education Strategy

Box 8

Enterprise Zones (1)(2)

Environmental Protection Agency – General

EPA Contacts – Miscellaneous [Investigation of Environmental Protection Agency, &

Miscellaneous Topics ] (1)-(4)

Ethnic Strategy (1)(2)

FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) – Ferris Letter

(Federal Communications Commission:) FCC Syndication Rule

Federal Communications Commission Memos (1)(2)

Federal Trade Commission

Federalism (1)(2)

Box 9

50 States Project (1)(2)

Fort Chaffee Closing (1)(2)

Freedom of Information Act (1)(2)

Grain Embargo

Grove City Case: “Financial Assistance” Definition

[Hispanic] Bilingual Education

Hispanic Outreach – OPL (Office of Public Liaison) (1)(2)

Hispanic Scheduling – Cicconi

Hispanic Strategy (1)-(3)

Hispanic Strategy [Outreach – White House and Vice President] (1)-(3)

Hobbs Act (1)(2)

[Homeless, Health and Human Services Working Group on the]

Box 10

Immigration

Immigration Policy: Cubans and Haitians

Indians

Industrial Policy

Infanticide

Intelligence [Executive Order] (Jim Cicconi) (1)-(3)

[Judicial Selections: Federal Judicial Selections Committee 02/28/1984]

[Judicial Selections: Judicial Selections Committee 08/16/1984] (1)-(3)

[Judicial Selections: Logs (February 1984)]

Labor Outreach (1)(2)

[Labor Outreach:] Labor Strategy

Law of the Sea

LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) (1)(2)

Maritime Policy (1)(2)

Box 11

McClure-Volkmer (Firearms Control Act)

Medicaid

Mine Safety

Minorities and Women, Ad Hoc Group on (1)(2)

[Miscellaneous] Issues (Jim Cicconi) (1)-(3)

Natural Gas Decontrol

Nebraska Christian School

Office of the Chief of Staff’s Participation in Partnerships in Education

Pending

[Personnel]

Policy Implementation Strategy (1)(2)

Press

Box 12

Private Sector Initiatives (1)(2)

Product Liability (1)-(3)

Property Review Board

Regulatory Reform Issue [1981] (1)-(6)

[Regulatory Reform Issue [1982]

[Religious Groups]

Resumes

[Section] 504 – Disability (1)(2)

[Senior Citizen Outreach]\

Small Business Innovation Act

Southwestern Border States, Working Group on (1)(2)

Box 13

Southwestern Border States, Working Group on (3)(4)

Space Commercialization

Speeches – Baker, James A. III

Steel Industry

Stockpile Grain – Federal Emergency Management Agency [Texas Drought]

Telephone Rates

Textiles (1)-(4)

Title IX (1)-(5)

Tuition Tax Credits (1)(2)

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Voting Rights Act (1)

Box 14

Voting Rights Act (2)-(5)

Washington Education Project – Norman Manasa (1)-(5)

Wilson Center (1)-(4)

Women – Legal Equity for Women, Task Force

Women’s Issues (1)(2)

Box 15

Women’s Issues (3)

World Population Conference I (1)-(3)

World Population Conference II

World Population Conference [Revised Draft Statement 07/10/1984]

SERIES III: SENIOR STAFF MEETING FILE, 1981-1985

Box 15, cont.

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – January 1981-February 1981

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – March 1981

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – April 1981 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – May 1981 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – June 1981 (1)(2)

Box 16

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – July 1981 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – August 1981-September 1981 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – October 1981

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – November 1981 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – December 1981 (1)(2)

Agendas for Senior Staff Meetings – 1982 (1)-(4)

Box 17

Agendas for Senior Staff Meetings – 1982 (5)-(7)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – January 1982

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – February 1982

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – March 1982

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – April 1982

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – May 1982

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – June 1982

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – July 1982

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – August 1982 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – September 1982

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – October 1982

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – November 1982

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – December 1982

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – January 1983 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – February 1983 (1)(2)

Box 18

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – March 1983 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – April 1983 (1)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – April 1983 (2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – May 1983 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – June 1983 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – July 1983 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – August 1983

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – September 1983 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – October 1983 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – November 1983 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – December 1983 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – January 1984 (1)(2)

Box 19

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – February 1984 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – March 1984 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – April 1984 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – May 1984 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – June 1984 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – July 1984

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – August 1984

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – September 1984 (1)

Box 20

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – September 1984 (2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – October 1984 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – November 1984 (1)(2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – December 1984 (1)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – December 1984 (2)

Senior Staff Meeting Action Items – January 1985 (1)(2) [includes 02/01/1985]

SERIES IV: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE FILE, 1981-1985

[Baker General Correspondence Forwarded to Cicconi – 1981-1983] [A-BN]

[Baker General Correspondence Forwarded to Cicconi – 1981-1983] [BO-BZ]

[Baker General Correspondence Forwarded to Cicconi – 1981-1983] [C-LT]

[Baker General Correspondence Forwarded to Cicconi – 1981-1983] [LU-Q]

[Baker General Correspondence Forwarded to Cicconi – 1981-1983] [R-Z]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [A-BQ]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [BR-BT]

Box 21

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [BU-CZ]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [D-E]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [F-GP]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [GQ-I]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [J]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [K-LIT]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [Little]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [LIU-MAS]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [MAT-MN]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [MO-PZ]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [Q-SN]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [SO-SZ]

General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1981-1982 [T-Z]

[General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1983] [A-B]

[General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1983] [C-D]

[General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1983] [E-SCHE]

[General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1983] [SCHF-SQ]

Box 22

[General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1983] [SR-Z]

[General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1984-1985] [A-G]

[General Correspondence – Cicconi, Jim – 1984-1985] [H-Z]

[General Correspondence – Hodsoll, Frank]

SERIES V: AGENCY FILE, 1981-1983

Box 22, cont.

Agriculture, US Department of

Agriculture, US Department of – Forest Service (1)-(3)

Budget Review Board (1)(2)

Consumer Affairs (1)-(4)

Defense, Department of – Memos

Education, Department of – Memos

Environmental Protection Agency (1)(2)

General Services Administration

Health and Human Services – Kidney Dialysis Regulations (1)(2)

Box 23

Health and Human Services – Kidney Dialysis Regulations (3)

Health and Human Services – Memos

Justice, Department of – Memos (1)-(5)

Labor, Department of – Memos (1)(2)

Legal Services Corporation

Peace Corps (1)-(3)

Property Review Board

Science and Technology Policy, Office [of] (empty)

Small Business Administration, US

Transportation, Department of – Memos (1)(2)

Treasury, Department of – Memos

United States Trade Representative (USTR)

SERIES VI: TELEPHONE LOGS, August 1983-January 1985

Box 23, cont.

1983 Telephone Logs [08/17/1983-10/05/1983]

1983 Telephone Logs [10/06/1983-11/15/1983]

1983 Telephone Logs [11/16/1983-12/31/1983]

[1984 Telephone Logs (01/01/1984-02/07/1984)]

[1984 Telephone Logs (02/08/1984-03/20/1984)]

Box 24

[1984 Telephone Logs (03/21/1984-04/30/1984)]

[1984 Telephone Logs (05/01/1984-05/28/1984)]

[1984 Telephone Logs (05/29/1984-07/31/1984)]

[1984 Telephone Logs (07/14/1984-09/30/1984)]

[1984 Telephone Logs (10/01/1984-11/30/1984)]

[1984 Telephone Logs (12/01/1984-12/31/1984)]

1985 Telephone Logs [01/01/1985-01/14/1985]

[1985 Telephone Logs [01/15/1985-01/31/1985]