PUBLIC RELATIONS (PR)

[PR014 – PR018]

Subject categories and sub-categories fully available for research are bolded. Closed categories and sub-categories have a simple phrase describing their contents.

DESCRIPTION OF SECONDARY FILE CODES

File Code Description

PR014 Presidential Favors, requests for (0.8 ft; boxes 1-2)

A secondary subject category containing material pertaining to requests from Congressmen, the general public, and children to President Reagan and the First Lady for advice, recipes, a chance to sleep in the White House, authorization to display an item from the President, authorization to use or receive White House stationery, authorization to use the Presidential Seal, an opportunity to ride one of the President's horses, a chance to travel with the President on a domestic or foreign trip, information regarding the White House, items for charity auctions, photographs of the President or First Lady, mementos, and Army surplus items.

PR014-01 Children, Requests to the President from

(3.4 ft; boxes 3-11)

A secondary subject category containing material pertaining to letters and drawings from children regarding the inauguration; taxes; the cost of fuel, clothing, and food; hostages; school busing; pollution and the environment; crime; nuclear weapons; gun control; and drug use. This category also includes correspondence between President Reagan and his pen pal, Rudolph Hines, of Washington, DC (boxes 8 and 9).

PR014-02 Donations from the President, requests for

(1.2 ft; boxes 11-14)

A secondary subject category containing material pertaining to requests from charity organizations, schools, universities, and the general public of the President and First Lady for recipe cards, jelly beans and jelly bean jars, items of clothing, money, photographs, doodles, and endorsement letters. This category also contains letters regarding the percentage of the President's income that he contributes to charity, letters and memos regarding the First Lady's decision to no longer accept designer-loaned clothing, and letters regarding her decision to donate dresses to schools and museums.

PR014-03 Dedications to the President (one folder; box 14)

A secondary subject category containing material pertaining to poems, games, plays, music, songs, and books dedicated to the President.

PR014-04 Entertain, Request to (3.2 ft; boxes 14-22)

A secondary subject category containing material pertaining to requests from individuals or groups who wish to or did perform for the President and First Lady at the White House, Camp David, or Rancho del Cielo. Documents pertain to "In Performance at the White House," the Congressional Barbecue, the Senate Wives' Luncheon, "Young Artists at the White House," State Dinners, and the White House Staff and Congressional Christmas Parties. Artists who are represented in the files include Beverly Sills, Gene Kelly, the Statler Brothers, Itzhak Perlman, the Boys Choir of Harlem, Leontyne Price, Mary Martin, John Raitt, Julio Iglesias, Isaac Stern, Bob Newhart, Charlie Daniels, Yakov Smirnoff, Vladimir Horowitz, Marvin Hamlisch, Liza Minnelli, and Dionne Warwick. This category also contains material regarding the cancellation of a cabaret show, "Beach Blanket Babylon," because of its non-union status.

PR014-05 Excerpts, Presidential (0.8 ft; box 22-24)

A secondary subject category containing material pertaining to requests for quotations from the President for books, events, and individuals regarding topics such as the institution of marriage; women and the unemployment rate; the inauguration; other political leaders; and Eureka College football coach Ralph "Mac" McKinzie. This category also contains a number of requests to the President and First Lady to write forwards to books and periodicals; and a collection of quotations from President Reagan.

PR014-06 Forwards, requests for Presidential (0.2 ft; box 24)

A secondary subject category containing material pertaining to forwards written by President Reagan or the First Lady for books and periodicals. The President wrote forwards for government publications such as The Public Papers of the Presidents; Restoring America's Wildlife, 1937-1987; Schools that Work: Educating Disadvantaged Children; the Tenth Annual Report of the Inspectors General; and the Report of the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency. Some of the non-governmental publications for which the President wrote forwards are Norman Rockwell's Patriotic Times; Lighting of America, a book about the Olympic torch crossing America; and In Defense of Freedom, a collection of speeches by Margaret Thatcher.

PR014-07 Impersonation of the President (one folder; box 24)

This folder contains only one item, a letter to Rich Little.

PR014-08 Opinions - Statements - Questionnaires - Articles

(15.6 ft.; boxes 1-39)

A secondary subject category containing materials relating to the preparation, dissemination, and use of statements or quotations by, or on behalf of, the President, his advisers, or the First Lady, includes interviews, articles, endorsements, and commemorative statements. Topics include the nominations of Judge Bork and Judge Kennedy to the Supreme Court, aid to the Nicaraguan "Freedom Fighters", the INF Treaty, and the Iran-Contra Report. It also records the formulation of public documents issued by the Office of the Press Secretary. Most of the material dating from late 1983 to Fall 1984 concerns the White House's correcting of interview answers and other material which the President's 1984 re-election committee drafted. This category also contains Administration responses to questions posed by Senator Pell of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and by Senator Quayle of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Finally, there are some compilations of Ronald Reagan statements, usually assembled by the White House.

PR014-09 President's Name - Likeness (5.6 ft; boxes 1-14)

A secondary subject category containing information pertaining to the authorized and unauthorized use of the President's or First Lady's name, signature, or likeness, or the likeness of the White House.

PR014-10 Sell to the President, Request to (0.3 ft; box 15)

A secondary subject category containing information pertaining to requests for the President or the First Lady to purchase various items ranging from land to pieces of art.

PR014-11 Sit for Portrait Painters - Sculptors (0.5 ft; boxes 15-16)

A secondary subject category containing information pertaining to requests for and scheduling of Presidential portraits.

PR014-12 Sponsorship, Request for Presidential

(9.2 ft; boxes 1-23)

A secondary subject category containing correspondence from the public requesting the President and the First Lady to serve as honorary chairpersons for committees, fundraising programs, and charities. Includes requests for honorary membership and Presidential endorsement of candidates for public office; congressional bills; economic programs; fundraising organizations, and works of art.

PR014-13 Pushing of Button - Ringing Bell, Request for

(0 ft. box 24)

Empty at time of processing.

PR014-14 Flags flown over White House, Request for

(0.1 ft. box 24)

A secondary subject category containing correspondence requesting flags flown over the White House from the public; students, and members of Congress on behalf of their constituents.

PR014-15 Gifts, Request for Presidential (0.3 ft. box 24)

A secondary subject category containing correspondence requesting White House gifts, and mementos from the public, and members of Congress on behalf of their constituents.

PR015 Public Opinion Polls (10 ft; boxes 1-25)

A secondary subject category containing information pertaining to the results and analysis of public opinion polls, including national polls such as the Harris and Gallup polls, network polls such as the ABC and CBS/Times polls, newspaper polls such as the LA Times and Washington Post polls, Decision/Making/Information (Dick Wirthlin) polls, USIA opinion polls (foreign views of US policies), polls taken by Senators, Congressman, state and local officials (regarding local issues and views), and polls taken by private organizations or citizens. Topics covered by the polls include rating President Reagan's job performance and reaction to the President's State of the Union Address, and public views on the Reagan administration's economic, domestic, and foreign policies, and on such issues as Social Security, school prayer, defense spending and arms control policy.

PR016 Publicity (7.2 ft; boxes 1-18)

A secondary subject category containing information pertaining to requests for interviews with President Reagan, Mrs. Reagan, and members of President Reagan's staff; including briefings for interviews, draft presidential remarks, op. ed. pieces, press releases, questions concerning the press, and correspondence regarding issues relating to the press, such as S. 742, which would codify the "Fairness Doctrine". Bulk copies of press releases have been transferred to the Office of the Press Secretary collection of press releases and press briefings.

PR016-01 Broadcasts - Telecasts (3.6 ft; boxes 19-27)

A secondary subject category containing general correspondence regarding President Reagan's and Mrs. Reagan's appearances on television, such as the interview with Walter Cronkite and in various Barbara Walters Specials; guest appearances on news programs by Cabinet officials discussing administration policies, correspondence regarding decisions and rulemaking affecting television or networks, such as S.742 and S. 2436 the Public Broadcasting Amendments Act (see also UT001, UT001-01 and BE003-04); and correspondence regarding specific television programs.

PR016-02 Presidential News Summary (0.2 ft; box 28)

A secondary subject category pertaining to correspondence regarding the use and distribution of the White House News Summaries, specific highlights from the news summaries, copies of various daily news summaries, and issues relating to the White House News Service. A complete set of the White House News Summaries is located in the following collection: News Summary Office, White House: News Summaries, 1981-89.

PR016-03 Press Accreditation - Passes (0.2 ft; box 28)

A secondary subject category pertaining to correspondence regarding the obtaining of White House press passes by members of various news organizations, problems and issues concerning the issuing or denial of press credentials, and complaints from news organizations regarding White House access policies and procedures.

PR016-04 Press Briefings (0.6 ft; boxes 28-30)

A secondary subject category pertaining to correspondence regarding access to press briefings by members of news organizations, topics discussed at press briefings, and press briefing materials. A complete set of press briefings is located in the following collection: Press Secretary, White House Office of the: Press Releases and Press Briefings, 1981-89.

PR017 Seminars-Lectures-Forums-Debates-Symposiums

(2.4 ft; boxes 30-36)

A secondary subject category containing correspondence regarding Presidential or Federal participation in various types of seminars or lectures including management seminars, such as the Harvard University/John F. Kennedy School of Government Seminars and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) seminars; and forums or lectures focusing on administration policies and current events in which administration or federal officials participated as speakers or guests, such as the National Forum of Women State Legislators and Close Up Foundation seminars on the presidency.

PR018 White House Tours - Visitors (1 ft; boxes 36‑38)

A secondary subject category containing correspondence regarding information on public tours of the White House and requests for special White House tour tickets from members of Congress for their constituents, school groups, senior citizens groups, and private individuals; problems encountered in arranging tours or incidents during tours; schedules for special tours, such as the Spring and Fall White House tours and the Christmas Candlelight tours; and notices of special events causing cancellation of public and special tours.