House
of Representatives Papers (1960-1969)
ADMINISTRATIVE
NOTES
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
SCOPE AND CONTENT
ARRANGEMENT
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
SERIES
DESCRIPTIONS
Personal/Political
Campaign
Records
Includes planning materials relating to the first Dole congressional
race in 1960, the close 1964 race against William Bork, and the
1968 contest for the Senate seat vacated by Frank Carlson. A smaller
number of folders document the elections of 1962 and 1966. Files
contain voters' correspondence and replies from Dole and his staff,
newsletters, clippings, precinct lists, speeches, advertising,
volunteer lists, event planning, and opponent research. The files
contained in this series reflect the strategizing and labor which
went into following up on each and every personal contact Dole
made while campaigning throughout Kansas.
Caucus/
Political Party
Consists chiefly of information concerning party-related events,
initiatives, and people.
Includes folders on individuals who played a large part in local
and national party efforts,
the "87th Club" programming and other conservative caucus
activities, the Billie Sol Estes, Bobby Baker, Adam Clayton Powell
matters, and individuals in the Kennedy/Johnson administrations.
In general, files reflect a mix of background information and
Republican positions on contemporary issues. Files documenting
several efforts put forth by the Republican Party to spread conservatism
to the grassroots are found in this series, including Operation
Employment, Operation Survival, and the Paul Revere Panel, of
which Congressman Dole was a member. The 87th Club and Conservative
Freshman Group files provide insight into the alliances he formed
as a newly-elected representative. In 1964 Congressman Dole was
an active supporter of Senator Barry Goldwater for the presidency.
Nelson Rockefeller's bid among fellow Republicans for the same
nomination is illustrated in various files in this series, as
is the crushing disappointment felt by Republicans over the eventual
Democratic landslide. The 1964 race was a difficult one for Dole,
and files encompass his numerous Kansas public appearances and
those of his colleagues lending support to his candidacy.
Patronage/Job
Rec.
Primarily concerned with U.S. Post Office appointees and candidates.
Cigar
Box, Dawson's Drugstore 1947
Correspondence
Includes a wide range of routine courtesy correspondence, personal
appearance planning, political strategizing, family matters, and
VIP Correspondence. These folders also contain thank-you letters
and acknowledgements of congratulations, and include several folders
of correspondence describing Congressman Dole's first impressions
of life in Congress. Topics include Civil Rights, school prayer.
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Legislative
Records
General
Legislative subject files illustrate how Congressman Dole's interests
expanded over eight years from an initial narrow set of agricultural,
transportation, and education matters to a much broader range
of issues relating to the national and international political
climate and economy. Files reflect his focus widening from wheat
allotments, reclamation projects, and rail service reductions
to broader themes, including the ongoing conflict that Republicans
from farm states experienced with Secretary of Agriculture Orville
Freeman, military base closings in the First District (coupled
with expansion of the military's role in Southeast Asia), increasing
global interdependence, and the pervasive presence of the federal
government in all aspects of Kansans' lives. Topics convey a sense
of the conservative view on dominant issues of the Kennedy/Johnson
administrations.
Bob
Dole and supporters watch returns at Republican
convention, 1964
Of particular interest are files relating to legislation authorizing
the shipment of wheat to India, tracing how Dole eventually allied
with President Johnson to alleviate Third World hunger. Likewise,
files concerning Food For Peace (P.L.480) legislation reveal how
Congressman Dole sought to modify this act in characteristically
conservative ways, by supporting an anti-Communist clause and
adding a Farmer-to-Farmer assistance exchange. Legislative initiatives
relating to hunger and nutrition that Congressman Dole led in
the House of Representatives formed the groundwork for his later
work in the Senate on implementing school lunch programs, the
WIC and Food Stamp programs. Files contain a broad range of background
research and topical information, reports, statements, clippings,
research, prints (some annotated), industry publications and promotional
material. Topics include: Cuba, Vietnam, admission of Red China
to the U.N.
Robert
J. Dole Campaign, 1964
Specific
Relate to passage (or blockage) of "New Frontier" and
"Great Society" legislation, farm bills, veterans' legislation,
transportation, and defense appropriations. Files include statements,
testimony, releases, correspondence, committee prints, updated
versions of bills, 'dear colleagues', and handwritten vote tallies.
Writings point to the support Dole gave to civil rights issues
and legislation: " …without question it seems the federal
government must prevail, particularly in this situation. In talking
to some of the Congressmen from Mississippi, you quickly sense
just how deep and serious this problem is." Topics include:
Food for Peace, Civil Rights, HUAC, Cuban Situation, Bread and
Butter Corps, Mexican Farm Labor, United Nations, Selective Service,
Peace Corps.
Constituent
Service
Issue
Mail
Issue mail content is extremely valuable in reflecting citizens'
continuing concerns with federalization of school aid, farm programs,
and medical care. It contains correspondence to and from individual
voters, state and local officials, businesses, institutions, and
grass roots organizations in response to proposed legislation
and current issues affecting constituents. Material in this series
consists of Dole's personal responses stapled to the original
constituent mail. The majority were dictated and proofread by
Dole; very few instances of form replies are evident in the series.
Issue mail illustrates how larger issues increasingly affected
the lives of Kansans as the nineteen-sixties unfold. Dole reiterates
that "…the great majority in Western Kansas still pride
themselves in the belief that they can better take care of their
needs and responsibilities than some federal bureaucracy",
while dealing with an ever-increasing assortment of national and
international issues. Topics include: Madlyn Murray O'Hare atheist
colony in Rook County, school prayer, Kennedy assassination.
Robert
J. Dole with "Bob-O-Links" ,1960.
Appointments
Service academy files (Closed to researchers)
Reference
Factual information on issues and organizations of ongoing interest
to constituents: the American Battle Monuments Commission services,
Selective Service regulations, the activities of HUAC, annual
Kansas events (air shows, Prairiesta, etc.), and other interests
with a continuing presence in Dole's district. Topics include:
WCTU, John Birch Society.
Robert
J. Dole at Food and Agriculture Conference, Rome, 1965
Press Relations/Media
Activities
Columns
Newsletters
Opinion Editorials
Op-Eds
Press Releases
Robert
J. Dole campaigning with farmers, 1974
Specialized Mailings
Speeches
Media Activities Plan
Newspaper Clippings
TV/Radio
Bob
Dole with members of Russell Fire
Department, c. 1961
Office
Administration Records
Office Operations
and Procedures
Personnel Files
Security Clearances
Office Space
Office Equipment
Office Funds
Robert
J. Dole at luncheon during Goldwater campaign, 1964.
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