Office of Public Liaison
Special Assistant to the President for Labor
Folders noted as “Open” may still contain closed material due to Freedom of Information Act restrictions. Most frequent withdrawn material is national security classified material, personal privacy, protection of the President, etc. Folders noted as closed are subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA).
If you are interested in submitting a FOIA request for access to any of the unavailable records or have any questions about these collections or series, please contact our archival staff.
SERIES I: SUBJECT FILE
OA 6841
closed
Advisors for Elizabeth H. Dole
open
Air Traffic Employees [Federation of]
closed
Airlie House – Labor / Management Symposium 06/09/1982-06/11/1982
closed
Airline Employee Protection
closed
Airline Employees Association
open
Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) 1981 (1)(2)
closed
Airline Pilots Association 1982
closed
Alaskan Oil Exports
open
Allegheny – Mohawk Airline Merger Provisions (1)(2)
open
AFL-CIO (February 1981-June 1981) (1)-(6)
open
AFL-CIO July 1981-January 1983 (1)-(5)
open
AFL-CIO Centennial Convention (1)(2)
open
AFL-CIO Executive Council 12/02/1981 with the President (1)-(6)
open
AFL-CIO Executive Council, Bal Harbor, February 1982 (1)(2)
open
AFSCME [American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees]
closed
Anti-Administration Releases
closed
Apprenticeship and Training
closed
Association of Wall and Ceiling Industries
open
Auto Industry (1)-(3)
open
Auto Workers (United) 1981 (1)-(5)
closed
Auto Workers (United) 1982
closed
Balanced Budget
closed
Baltic Shipping Company
closed
Beach Blanket Babylon
open
Black Lung (1)(2)
open
Black Lung 12/05/1981
open
Black Lung / Bill Signing Ceremony
closed
Boards and Commissions
closed
Boilermakers
closed
Bricklayers
closed
BRAC [Brotherhood of Railway, Airline and Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express and Station Employees]
closed
Budget Appeals
closed
Budget Coalition
closed
Building and Construction Trades
closed
Building and Construction Trades / Washington, D.C. Conference, 04/05/1982-04/07/1982
closed
Building and Construction Trades Convention / Washington, DC, 03/30/1981
closed
Building and Construction Trades Convention / Atlanta City, 10/21/1981
closed
Cargo Preference
closed
Carpenters (United Brotherhood)
closed
Carpenters Convention 09/03/1981 Chicago, IL
OA 6842
open
Chamber of Commerce [of the United States]
closed
Child Labor Laws
open
China / USA Exchange
closed
Christmas Cards 1981
open
Clean Air Act (1)-(3)
open
Clean Air Act / Environmental Protection Agency / 08/20/1981
open
Clements, Governor
open
Clothing and Textile Workers (1)(2)
closed
Coal Gasification
closed
Coal Negotiations
closed
Coal Slurry
closed
Combined Federal Campaign
open
COPE [Committee on Political Education]
closed
Communication Workers of America
closed
Commuter Services / Presidential Emergency Board: New York, New Jersey
open
CETA [Comprehensive Employment and Training Act]
closed
Conference Board
closed
CONRAIL
closed
Continuing Education (National Advisory)
closed
Contract Expirations
open
Crusade for Freedom
closed
Davis-Bacon Act
closed
Davis-Bacon Campaign – July 1981
closed
Death Benefits
closed
Deconcini, Susan
open
Democratic National Committee - Coalition with AFL-CIO
closed
Detroit Trip (Elizabeth H. Dole)
closed
Detroit Trip (Elizabeth H. Dole): Trade Adjustment Assistance, etc.
digitized
Dialogue with Labor
open
Donovan, Raymond J. (1)(2)
closed
Driver of the Year
closed
Driver’s Log Forms
closed
Drunken Driving (Presidential Commission On)
closed
Dubinsky, David
closed
Earnings
open
[Economic Recovery Program Mailings to Unions - 1981] (1)-(3)
closed
Economic Renewal Briefing 03/26/1981
closed
Economic Renewal Briefing 04/02/1981 (Legislative Aides)
closed
Economic Renewal Program
open
El Salvador
closed
Electrical Workers (International Brotherhood)
open
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
open
Employment Policy
open
Employment Relations Report 1981 (1)(2)
open
Employment Relations Report 1982 (1)(2)
closed
Employment Training System
closed
Endorsements
closed
Endorsers Meeting 02/10/1981
closed
Endorsers Meeting 07/11/1981
closed
Energy
closed
Energy Independence (Americans for)
closed
Engineering Association (American)
closed
Engineers and Scientists Organizations
OA 6843
open
Enterprise Zones
open
Enterprise Zones 1981-1982 (Bonitati) (1)-(9)
open
Enterprise Zone Meeting 05/17/1982 (1)(2)
open
Enterprise Zone Meeting 05/27/1982 (1)-(3)
closed
Environmental Balance (National Council For)
closed
Environmental Education
closed
(EDB) Ethelyne Dibromide
closed
Export Trade Bill
closed
Farrell, Janice
open
FAA [Federal Aviation Administration]
closed
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
closed
Federal Emergency Management Agency
open
Federal Employees (1)-(4)
open
Federal Labor/Management Relations Program
open
Federal Labor Relations Authority (1)-(3)
closed
Federal Managers Association
closed
Federal Meditation/Conciliation Service
closed
Federal Services Impasses Panel
closed
Firefighters (International Association) 1982
closed
Flexitime
closed
Flight Attendants
closed
Flight Attendants: Campaign for Air Passenger Safety – Congressional Responses
closed
Flight Attendants: Campaign for Air Passenger Safety – Newsclips
closed
Food and Commercial Workers (United)
closed
Food Banks
closed
Football League Players (National)
closed
Foreign Policy Briefing 10/12/1982 with the Vice President
closed
Fraternal Order of Police
closed
Fringe Benefits
closed
Garment Workers (United)
open
Government Employees (American Federation of) (1)-(4)
open
Government Employees (Assembly of) (1)-(3)
open
Government Employees (General)
open
Government Employees (National Association of)
closed
Grain Millers (American Federation of)
closed
Hobbs Act
digitized
Hotel and Restaurant Employees
open
HUD (Housing and Urban Development)
closed
Housing (President’s Commission)
closed
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) & Theatrical Unions
closed
Immigration Task Force Guest Workers and Braceros
OA 6844
closed
Inaugural Address
closed
Independent Truckers Association (ITA)
open
Independent Unions (Congress of)
open
Independent Unions (National Federation)
open
Independent Unions with the President
closed
Industrial Homework
closed
Industrial Union Department
closed
Intelligence Briefing 10/15/1982 Director Bill Casey/Heymann
closed
[Intelligence:] AHV Briefing on Intelligence Issues
closed
Interior [Department of]
open
International Association of Firefighters, 1981 (1)-(5)
closed
International Brotherhood of Police Organizations
open
International Labor Movement (1)-(3)
open
ILO [International Labor Organization]
closed
ILA (International Longshoremen’s Association)
open
International Trade Union Movement
closed
Interstate Commerce Commission
closed
Ironworkers
closed
Issues Forecast
closed
Job Training Act 1982
open
Kamber, Victor
closed
Kigin, Joe
closed
Labor – Accomplishments – 1982 (Major)
closed
Labor Advisory Committee
closed
Labor Day
closed
Labor Department Briefings 04/27/1981 and 04/28/1981
closed
Labor, Department of
closed
Labor Department Statistics
closed
Labor Directive – Memo to Heads of Dept/Agencies – RR
closed
Labor and 1982 Elections
closed
Labor – 1982 Elections
closed
Labor Industry Coalition for International Trade
closed
[Labor:] Inter-Departmental Labor Communications Group
closed
Labor Issues Working Group
closed
Labor-Management Committee
closed
Labor-Management Cooperation
closed
Labor Meetings
closed
Labor Policy Association
closed
Bonitati – Labor (Press Clippings) – General (1981)
closed
Bonitati – Labor (Press Clippings) – General 1982
OA 6845
digitized
Labor Strategy – 1982
digitized
Labor Strategy (1)
digitized
Labor Strategy (2)
open
Labor Strategy (3)
digitized
Labor Strategy (4)
digitized
Labor Strategy (5)
digitized
Labor Strategy (6)
closed
[Labor Strategy]
closed
[Labor Strategy:] Portfolio Analysis – RFB
closed
Labor Women
closed
Laborers’ International Union
closed
Ladies Garment Workers’ Union
closed
Law Enforcement
closed
Law of the Sea Treaty
closed
Legislative / IGA
closed
Licensed Practical Nurses
closed
Life International
closed
Local Union Contracts
closed
Locigno, Paul
closed
Locomotive Engineers (Brotherhood of)
open
Machinists (International Association of)
open
Mailing to Affiliate Unions
open
Marcos, President (Philippines)
closed
Marine Engineers Beneficial (MEBA)
closed
Maritime Committee – AFL-CIO
closed
Maritime Leaders Meeting 04/15/1981
closed
Maritime Policy – General – 1981, 1980 & Undated Material
closed
Maritime Policy – General 1982
closed
Maritime Trades Department – AFL-CIO
closed
Masters, Mates and Pilots
closed
Medicare Funds / Union Organizing
closed
Merchant Marine Trophy
closed
Middle East Briefing 10/07/1982 R. 450 Business / Labor
closed
Middle East Speech
closed
Mine Safety and Health Administration
closed
Mine Workers (United)
open
Minimum Wage
closed
Minority Construction Roundtable
closed
Murphy, Betty S.
closed
MX
closed
National Association of Manufacturers
closed
NAPO (National Association of Police Organizations)
open
National Education Association
closed
National Environmental Development Association / Clean Air Act Project
open
NLRA [National Labor Relations Act]
open
National Labor Relations Board, 1981 (1)-(4)
open
National Labor Relations Board 1982 (1)(2)
open
National Maritime Union, 1981 (1)-(7)
closed
National Maritime Union 1982
closed
National Mediation Board
closed
National Security 05/15/1981
closed
National Transportation Safety Board
closed
Natural Gas
open
Negotiations (1)-(7)
closed
Negro Women (National Council of)
open
New Direction
OA 6846
closed
New Melones Dam – California
closed
New York Port Authority
closed
Newspaper Guild
closed
Nurses Association (American)
closed
O’Donnell, Peter
closed
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
open
OPM [Office of Personnel Management]
closed
Operating Engineers
closed
OPL General
open
OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] (1)(2)
closed
Outer Continental Shelf
closed
Overseas Private Investment
closed
Panama Canal
closed
Paperworkers
closed
Pension Guaranty Corp
closed
Photographs
closed
Plant Guard Workers
closed
Plasterers and Cement Masons
open
Plumbers (United Association)
closed
Police Benevolent Association (New York City)
closed
Police, International Association of Chiefs of
closed
Police (Union of International Association)
closed
Police Week
open
Polish Union/Solidarity (1)(2)
open
Political Profiles, Inc.
closed
Politics, People and Issues Report
open
Polling Data (1)-(8)
open
Postal Workers (1)-(6)
closed
Presidential Box
closed
Presidential Classroom
closed
Press List
closed
Press Releases (OPL)
closed
Private / Public Partnerships
closed
Private Sector Initiatives
closed
Productivity
open
PATCO – Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (1)-(4)
closed
Public Employee Retirement Income Security Act
open
Public Employees Department AFL-CIO (1)(2)
closed
PSOB (Public Safety Officers Benefit)
closed
Public Service Research Council
closed
Quality of Life
closed
Railway Emergency Board
closed
Railroad (Long Island Railroad Company)
closed
Railroad Retirement
closed
Reagan-Bush Committee Statements
closed
Recreation Coalition (American)
closed
Referrals / General Response
closed
Regulatory Task Force
closed
Republican Governors
closed
Republican Labor Advisory Council (Republican National Committee)
closed
Republican National Committee
OA 6847
closed
Republican National Committee / Labor Meeting / 03/22/1982
closed
Republican Platform Text
closed
Restive Labor Community
closed
Resumes 1981/1982
closed
Retirement
open
Right to Work Committee
closed
Royal Hawaiian Cruise
closed
Rubber Workers
closed
Sample Letters
closed
Screen Actors Guild
closed
S 577 (Screen Actors Guild)
open
Seafarers International Union, 1981 (1)-(3)
closed
Seafarers International Union 1982
closed
Secretaries Week (National)
closed
Sella, Benjamin
closed
Service Contract Act
open
Service Employees International Union
closed
Shale
closed
Sheet Metal Workers of America
closed
Shipping Act of 1981
open
Shultz, George (Secretary of State)
closed
SBA (Small Business Administration)
closed
Social Security
open
Solar
open
Solar Energy Industries Association
open
Solidarity Day (1)-(3)
closed
Speech Material
open
Standby Petroleum Allocation S.1503
closed
State Department – Labor Union List
closed
State Dinners
open
State of the Union Speech
closed
Steel – Weirton
closed
Steering Committee
closed
Steering Subcommittee – Trade
closed
Steubenville Steel
open
Support/Blue Collar Correspondence
open
Tax Briefing / 07/27/1981 / Burgess
open
Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (1)(2)
closed
Tax Initiatives
open
Tax Package / 07/15/1981 / Lyn Nofziger’s Staff
open
Tax Package / Supporters Reception
open
Tax Policy (1)(2)
open
Tax Reduction / Treasury 07/23/1981
closed
Tayloe House
closed
Tayloe House Reception 07/15/1981
open
Teachers (American Federation of)
closed
Teamsters – 1981
OA 6848
closed
Teamsters – 1982
closed
Teamsters Convention, 06/01/1981
closed
Teamsters Local 237 Conference
closed
Teamsters Meeting With the President – 12/01/1981
closed
Teamsters - Ohio Conference
closed
Teamsters: Roy Williams with the President 02/11/1982
closed
Tecumseh United Products Workers
closed
Tennessee Valley Authority
closed
Tile and Marble Union
closed
Tool Craftsmen
closed
Tool Die and Mold Makers
closed
Trade Advisory Committee
closed
Trades Issues (General)
closed
Training and Development (American Society of )
closed
Transport Workers
closed
Travel Vouchers
closed
Trucking Negotiations
closed
Tuition Tax Credits
open
Unemployment October 1982
closed
Unemployment Benefits
closed
Unemployment Compensation
closed
Unemployment – Defense Spending
open
Unemployment – Structural
closed
Uniformed Forces
digitized
Union Busters [and Union Attitudes]
open
Unions not Affiliated with the AFL-CIO
closed
[Union Publications, Requests for]
open
United States Information Agency
closed
United Steelworkers
closed
United Transportation Union (UTU)
closed
Urban Land Institute
closed
Urban Mass Transportation Association
open
User Fees
closed
Utility Workers Union
open
Vice Presidential Meetings
closed
Vice President’s Reception
closed
Victims of Crime
closed
Violent Crime
closed
Violent Crime 11/03/1981
closed
Voluntarism
closed
Voting Rights Act
closed
Walsh Healey Act
open
Weekly Summary/Forecast
open
Weekly Summary – James Baker
closed
Welcoming Ceremonies
closed
Year-End Reports – 1981
closed
Year-End Reports – 1982
SERIES II: CORRESPONDENCE AND MEMORANDA
OA 6849
open
Bonitati Correspondence March 1981-October 1982 [A-B]
open
Bonitati Correspondence March 1981-October 1982 [C-E]
open
Bonitati Correspondence March 1981-October 1982 [F-G]
open
Bonitati Correspondence March 1981-October 1982 [H-J]
open
Bonitati Correspondence March 1981-October 1982 [K-M]
open
Bonitati Correspondence March 1981-October 1982 [Mc-Q]
open
Bonitati Correspondence March 1981-October 1982 [R-S]
open
Bonitati Correspondence March 1981-October 1982 [T-Z]
closed
Bonitati Chron 10/28/1982-December 1982 (Binder)
closed
Bonitati Chron January 1983 (Binder)
closed
Bonitati Chron February 1983 (Binder)
closed
Bonitati Chron March 1983 (Binder)
closed
White House Memoranda – General
closed
Bonitati [OPL Meeting Reports, September 1981-September 1982] (Binder)
SERIES III: PHONE LOGS
OA 6849, cont.
open
Phone Log March 1981-December 1981 (1)-(9)
closed
Bonitati Phone Log 01/01/1982-10/03/1982 (Binder)
Scope and Content Note
Content Note
Robert Bonitati was the principal public liaison staff member for labor relations and the Reagan Administration. In addition to his role as labor liaison, Bonitati was also assigned responsibilities for liaison to public service groups and natural resource issues and groups. His collection contains a small amount of work product on these additional responsibilities.
The Robert Bonitati collection consists of three series; SERIES I: Subject Files, SERIES II: Correspondence and Memoranda, and SERIES III: Phone Logs.
Series List
SERIES I: SUBJECT FILE
SERIES II: CORRESPONDENCE AND MEMORANDA
SERIES III: PHONE LOGS
Biography
Biography
Robert Bonitati was a longtime government affairs specialist and Republican activist. He served in the first Reagan Administration as the Special Assistant to President Reagan for labor relations within the Office of Public Liaison.
Bonitati was born on September 19, 1938 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in political science. Following his graduation he was the Assistant Dean of Men at Arizona State University, 1962-1964 and Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Tennessee, 1964-1966.
While at Tennessee, Bonitati met Tennessee Senator Howard Baker (Republican) and worked on Baker’s reelection committee. In 1967, he joined Senator Baker’s staff as his Senate Chief of Staff.
After leaving Senator Baker’s staff, Bonitati worked in the Nixon Administration as the Assistant to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, 1973-1974 and then as Associate Director of the Cost of Living Council, 1974. Leaving the White House, Bonitati became the Public Affairs Director and lobbyist for the Airline Pilot’s Association for six years.
Soon after joining the Reagan Administration as public liaison to organized labor, Bonitati was one of the small group of White House staff accompanying the President to the Washington Hilton for his speech to the Building Trades Union on March 30, 1981. Bonitati was reportedly walking out with the President from the speech when he was stopped by a friend precisely when the President exited and was shot by John Hinckley.
Bonitati stayed active in Republican politics and government affairs after leaving the White House. He first worked for public relations and government affairs firm, the Kamber Group, and later he joined The Hawthorne Group, another public affairs firm. Bonitati was also part-owner of a local Washington, D.C. flower shop.
During the 1990s, Richard Tafel, who served as president of the national gay group, Log Cabin Republicans, states that Bonitati was a “key advisor for Log Cabin in the 1990s. He gave me great advice, great strategy.”
After retirement, Bonitati split his time between Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and Fort Lauderdale, Florida Bonitati died in Tampa, Florida undergoing cancer treatment on November 15, 2017.
Record Type
Textual
