Ronald Reagan Governor's Papers: Governor's Office, 1967-1975: Files

This office facilitated the development of administration policy, initiatives and procedures. The Cabinet used a list of numbered “issues papers” prepared by agencies and boards, and used these papers to gauge the administration’s progress. Cabinet material was considered "confidential," and was not circulated generally to staff. Most of these files appear to have been maintained in Deputy Cabinet Assistant Edward Thomas’ office. Mr. Thomas later worked for Edwin Meese on domestic policy at the White House in 1981-January 1982.

This series consists of six subseries. The subseries are as follows:

1. SUBSERIES A: Cabinet Office Files - Administrative (Box GO1). This subseries consists of lists, correspondence, memos, statistics, personnel records, biographies, and reports. The material covers agency and department goals and programs, personnel issues, cost of government, and procedures (e.g. how to issue Governor Reagan’s Executive Orders).

2. SUBSERIES B: Cabinet Office Files - Budget. (Box GO2) This subseries consists of finance information and budgets. The material is concerning the 1973-1974 California state budget.

3. SUBSERIES C. Cabinet Office Files – General (Boxes GO3-GO19) This subseries contains correspondence, memos, statistics, reports, and summaries. The material is subject files concerning programs, operation and activities of agencies, departments and other government organizations. Major issues include reorganization and reduction of government, California budget, health care, welfare, government employees’ salaries, benefits and problems, energy issues, environmental issues, management, and transferring public services to private sector. Additional items include statistics on correspondence, Ronald Reagan’s June 1973 correspondence with oil companies, payroll rosters, a study of microwave communications, 1972 Survey of Plural Bodies (Boards & Commissions) and the “Little Hoover Commission.”

4. SUBSERIES D.: Cabinet Office Files – Position and Policy Papers, 1974 (Boxes GO20-GO22) This subseries consists of research papers prepared by departments on selected issues of statewide importance. The papers generally include bibliographies, analyses, and discussion. There is an indexing system, but to facilitate research the files have been ordered by category, in alphabetical order.

5. SUBSERIES E.: Cabinet Meeting Material (Boxes GO23-GO38) This susbseries consists of agendas, minutes, and background material prepared for and related to Cabinet meetings.

6. SUBSERIES F.: Duplicate Series (Boxes GO39-GO52). This subseries consists of copies of the Cabinet Meeting material, possibly retained for reference purposes.

Alex Sherrifs served as a liaison between the Reagan administration and the California State

Colleges and Universities. Most of the records in this series document this sometimes contentious relationship. This period was one of considerable unrest on California campuses, and the series includes material documenting the many incidents of violence and waves of activism that a part of college life in the 1960s. Of particular interest is the documentation on such notable figures such as Morris Starsky (anti-Vietnam war activist), Eldridge Cleaver and Robert Scheer (Congressional Candidate) and other well known California activists. The material also includes information on the activities of certain faculty, including Michael Tigar (anti-war activities for class credit), Herbert Marcuse, Angela Davis, Dean George Maslach (Berkeley), Tom Hayden and Harry Edwards.

There are four subseries within this series. They are as follows:

1. SUBSERIES A. California Post Secondary Education Commission, 1974. (Boxes GO53-GO54) This subseries consists of meeting minutes and reports for this Commission. The Commission was established by AB 770. In addition, there is material related to the Trustees of the California State Universities and Colleges, including meeting material (1974 only). There is also resolutions and material related to the Regents of the University of California, including meetings, and Coordinating Council on Higher Education reports. The material within this subseries is arranged chronologically.

2. SUBSERIES B. California State Colleges / University of California, 1967-1974. (Boxes GO54-GO69) This subseries consists of meeting minutes, memos, correspondence, reports, and agendas for the meetings of the Regents and Board of Trustees for the two large California state higher education systems – the University of California and the California State Colleges. The meetings typically relate to the operation and financial condition of the university system, but a wide range of issues are covered including: acquisition of new buildings (e.g. hospitals and clinics), an education “master plan,” enrollment, admission policies, tenure of faculty, and administrative appointments. Additionally, the material reflects the working relationship between the Regents and the University presidents, including discussions about funding, curriculum, faculty problems, student unrest, graduate programs, the library system, research grants, fees for services (such as parking), laboratories, tuition and financial aid. The material within this subseries is arranged chronologically.

3. SUBSERIES C. Coordinating Council on Higher Education. (Box GO69) This subseries consists of reports on the cost of operating higher education programs and facilities in California.

4. SUBSERIES D. Higher Education (Boxes GO69-GO70) This subseries consists of reports, correspondence, memos. This material was collected on appointments, prominent individuals in the University system, and others, mostly faculty, who came to notice because of their activities on campuses. The material within this subseries is arranged alphabetically.

This department provided legal analysis for legislation, developed policies concerning the state’s legal responsibilities and limitations, and provided legal interpretations on issues as required.

Along with copies of selected legislation, there are handwritten notes, analyses and evaluations, press releases and other reports covering important elements of the bills. There are also reports, briefs, memos, correspondence and discussion papers outlining the state’s legal responsibilities, statutory authorities and limitations of various issues, including civil disobedience, campus rioting, law enforcement, and emergency services.

Copies of proclamations are filed here, with background information included with certain issues (particularly disasters). Informational files were maintained on high profile lawsuits (and other complaints) against the State of California. Examples include: Atascadero State Hospital (patient records were altered); busing (compulsory busing in Los Angeles); campus disturbances (especially Berkley, Santa Barbara and San Francisco State College); and Mammoth County (a landmark “environmental impact” lawsuit re: development in wilderness areas).

The Secretary for Legal Affairs appears to have played a supportive role on the Governor’s Advisory Commission for Children and Youth, which held related annual “Statehouse Conferences” that were concurrent with the National White House Conference on Children and Youth. Also logistical and policy material are filed within this series.

This unit was set up to conduct program evaluations and special investigations for the Governor and the Executive Assistant to the Governor. Reports were submitted to the Executive Assistant to the Governor and the Executive Assistant was responsible for their dissemination (usually to cabinet secretaries). The vast majority of the evaluations concern problems (or suspected problems) of management, procedures, workflow, etc. There are two subseries in this series. They are as follows:

1. SUBSERIES A. Law Enforcement Programs and Administrative Material. (Box GO80).

2. SUBSERIES B. Program Evaluations (Boxes GO81-GO92). This subseries consists of the files containing the working notes of the evaluators, memos summarizing the interviews and listing recommendations, background material about the unit of concern, reports produced by the OEU, and reports from other investigations and evaluations. Some of the major investigations were of the California Council on Criminal Justice (CCCJ), Department of Consumer Affairs, Department of Industrial Relations (and sub-departments), pre-paid health plans (contract range of health services for a flat fee), and the State Athletic Commission (corruption within the boxing industry).

Headed by Don Livingston, the Program and Policy Unit was responsible for coordinating the administration’s point of view for prominent or controversial issues. The office oversaw statements, letters to and meetings with outside entities such as congress, the public and industry.

The files include copies of legislation, analysis, meeting material, background material, articles, clippings, studies, agency manuals, correspondence and memoranda. Among the issues covered are the implementation of provisions of federal legislation (e.g. the Clean Air Act), state legislation, the energy crisis, pollution, environmental impact, urban development and state buildings and property. There are also files on the so-called “legacy” task forces concerning local government, tax reduction and public safety; along with 1974 files prepared for the incoming Brown administration. The folders are arranged alphabetically by topic.

This unit was part of the Human Relations Agency and handled internal communications, complaints from the public, employee relations, handling special reports, displays / exhibits and news media. The files cover Public Affairs Unit functions, staff, policy and program development matters. The largest amount of material are the working files concerning welfare programs and related legislation, including background information, press books, reports and memoranda.

This material appears to be an early iteration of the Program and Policy Unit. Don Livingston also headed this office, and the bulk of the material relates to the task force on local government, which was also a concern of the Program and Policy Unit.

(1 l.ft., Boxes GO111-GO113)

This series consists of reports and memoranda from California state agencies and departments on how to reorganize and economize state government.

This series documents the 1973 special ballot proposal to reform California taxes. The proposal came out of the Governor’s Task Force on Tax Reduction (1972, Frank Walton, Secretary of Business and Transportation Agency). The Task Force conducted an extensive study of the state’s tax program. The study concluded that government’s growth and spending outpaced the economic growth and state revenues, and put forth a series of recommendations to bring the two back into balance. The analogy used by proponents and the task force conclusions was "government should only spend based on its income" The task force and Governor Reagan felt most Californians with personal budgets could relate to this principal. The special ballot proposed major changes in government spending, services, tax programs and other revenue sources designed to re-align the state budget with economic growth. To many political observers, this campaign represented Governor Reagan’s “opening bid” for the Republican nomination for president.

This series has four subseries. They are as follows:

1. SUBSERIES A. Office Files. (Boxes GO114-GO118). This subseries consists of correspondence, memoranda, reports, analyses, scheduling and logistical information documenting the administration’s campaign to pass Propostion One.

2. SUBSERIES B. Press Files (Boxes GO118-GO120) This subseries consists of press releases, correspondence, memoranda and other material documenting media relations specific to this issue.

3. SUBSERIES C. Publications and Reports. (Box GO121) This subseries consists of polls, summaries, brochures, studies, press kits, fact kits and other printed material about Proposition One, mostly from the administration, but also from opposition and other interested parties.

4. SUBSERIES D. Duplicates (Box GO122)

This series consists of material from Governor Reagan’s 1970 bid for re-election as for governor of the state of California. Highlights of the material include speakers’ manual of administration accomplishments and 1966, 1970, 1972 and 1974 fact/issues books from the Republican State Central Committee of California. The fact books were designed to be reference sources of quotes, facts, voting and other information about key issues and events in the state.

This series consists of reports and studies by California state agencies and departments.

(23 l. ft., Boxes GO144-GO244)

Molly Sturgis Tuthill was a fellow at the Hoover Institute, and coordinator of the “History and Archives Project," Fall, 1974. She worked from within the Governor’s Office or with the Governor’s Office to, according to a bulletin dated 10/25/1974, “collect and compile documents of the significant programs and policies that marked the past 8 years. … to insure the preservation of an historical record and to provide complete and accurate data for future use by researchers, writers, and other interested persons.” The type of items sought included memos, reports, outlines, analyses, fact sheets, historical resumes, etc. documenting significant efforts or contributions of the administration. Evaluations and other analytical reports – both positive and negative – were collected, along with any information that would facilitate an historical appraisal of the “motivation, value and impact of those efforts.”

The History and Archives Project was aided by an earlier 1973 request from the Cabinet Office for Agency heads to submit historical resumes of historical items which included the date, a descriptive title, background, chronological history and summary. Also requested were lists of related AV material, supporting documents. It appears that at some point an effort was made to combine the 1973 and 1974 document sets to make one large research file.

For the most part, the material consists of staff prepared items designed to explain various issues, and to a lesser extent, files created in the course of doing work. Most of the folder titles are fairly descriptive of their topics, but researchers will find that the quality of the documentation is uneven. For example, one issue may consist of nothing but newspaper clippings, while another issue includes staff and cabinet memos following its development. The files are arranged alphabetically by topic, or by agency and department. Topics include the accomplishments of the administration, appointments – including minority and cabinet appointments, the "Creative Society" (better government not bigger government), reorganization of the state government, and other administrative and staff issues.

Perhaps of greatest researcher interest are the files that were collected specifically on Governor Reagan. Since Governor Reagan did not maintain personal files within the Governor’s Office, these files are particularly useful to researchers. An effort was made to compile documents as clippings, press releases, speeches and memos that reveal Governor Reagan’s personal views on terms of office, the state economy, taxes, free enterprise, governance, citizen participation in government, welfare, morality, vision of California and national defense. Some of the files cover his post-gubernatorial activities, such as his foreign travel (through 1979). There is material documenting the Reagans’ efforts to build a new Governor’s Mansion, which lasted from 1970 – to the end of his administration. A small amount of material on his 1976 bid for the presidency is included, but it consists of only newspaper clippings. Files relating to Mrs. Reagan (1967-1977) consist mostly of clippings, with some correspondence from the public responding to a newspaper article.

There are materials on the 1966 transition, including clippings, agency background reports and staffing material, as well as transcripts of pre-1966 speeches. Some of the most extensive files – speeches, publications, memos, correspondence, press clippings – have been collected on campus unrest at California universities and colleges, particularly the Berkeley campus of the University of California. Other significant topics include the California State budget, the California health care system, law enforcement, and environmental policies and issues.

This series consists of four subseries. The subseries are as follows:

1.SUBSERIES A.: Daily Schedules, (Boxes GO210- GO217) These items include an

outline of the Governor's movements. It also includes background information related to meetings, logistical information, and travel itineraries for his entire term as governor.

2. SUBSERIES B.: Weekly Schedules (Boxes GO218- GO221) This material consists of schedule drafts for week long periods.

3. SUBSERIES C.: Monthly Blocks (Box GO222) This material is a schedule in a month perspective.

4. SUBSERIES D.: Appointments (Boxes GO222- GO223) This subseries consists of appointment books.

Material in this series was collected, apparently, for public distribution. The material is of a very broad nature e.g. biographies) that might have been used in the 1976 campaign.