Series I : Legislative

The Nixon Tape Materials consist of 3 linear feet of material documenting Brademas' involvement in presidential records legislation beginning in September 1974 in response to the "Nixon-Sampson" agreement revealed by the White House. This agreement between former President Richard Nixon and Arthur Sampson, the Administrator of General Services Administration, granted Nixon control over his presidential materials and included provisions for the destruction of the materials. As chair of the Subcommittee on Printing of the House Administration, Brademas became the chief House sponsor of legislation leading to the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act, which nullified the Nixon-Sampson agreement and established the National Study Commission on Records and Documents of Federal Officials to study the status of records created by the President and other elected and appointed federal officials and make recommendations to Congress. This series documents the development of that legislation as well as the Presidential Records Act of 1978, which declared that Presidents could no longer claim title to their papers.

Materials include drafts of bills; correspondence; statements, testimony, and corrected hearings transcripts; memoranda; background reports; letters from constituents and various lobbyists, agencies, organizations and businesses; news clippings; and various drafts of reports by the General Services Administration (GSA) and the National Study Commission on Records and Documents of Federal Officials. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Folders related to the Presidential Recordings & Materials Preservation Act document the development of the initial legislation (Box I:02, Folders 19-23; Box I:03, Folders 21-27); the establishment and staffing of the National Study Commission on Records and Documents of Federal Officials (Box I:01, Folder 7-12); and the development and approval of the Commission's regulations for the disposition and preservation of records and documents of Federal officials (Box I:01, Folders 13-22; Box I:02, Folders 1-3, 14-18, 24-32; Box I:03, Folders 1-8).

Consult folders on the Ertel Bill, Presidential Records Act of 1978, and Preyer Bill for information regarding efforts to develop presidential records legislation. Materials include drafts of bills, reports and publications related to legislative records, staff memoranda discussing negotiations with various representatives and staff members including Representative Allen Ertel (D-PA), Representative Lunsford Preyer (D-NC), Administration staff, and members of the Subcommittee on Government Information and Individual Rights of the Government Operations Committee.

During the summer of 1974, Turkish troops employing American weapons and materials invaded Cyprus, an independent island nation off the coast of Turkey with a majority-Greek, minority-Turkish population. This series documents Brademas' involvement in the legislative response to the invasion, the subsequent arms embargo against Turkey, and its removal in 1978. There are 8 linear feet of records dating from 1966 to 1980 (bulk 1974-1980).

Materials include drafts of bills; committee prints; press releases; letters and telegrams from lobbyists, agencies, organizations, and businesses; drafts and final copies of standard reply (robo) letters in response to constituent mail; news clippings reporting on all aspects of the Turkish invasion and arms embargo; colleague mail; meeting summaries; speeches; and staff memos and reports. Files are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Brademas received copious amounts of information regarding the Cyprus situation from sources including the Embassy of Greece, Embassy of Cyprus, the United Nations, personal friends including John Koumoulides and Costa Carras, and various organizations (including the American Hellenic Institute, American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, United Hellenic Council, Save Cyprus Council, and the Hellenic American League). Correspondence, clippings and reports from these sources can be found throughout the series, generally filed by name of correspondent.

Memos composed by Brademas and his staff provide valuable insight into the politics behind U.S. foreign policy involving Cyprus, Turkey, and Greece. These memos report conversations with other government officials, detail events of meetings, and strategize for the passage and opposition of legislation. The documents are found throughout the series, but see especially folders "Aid to Turkey," "Briefing Material," "Cut-Off Amendments," "Dear Colleague Letters," "Discussion Points," "Floor Fight," and "Turkish Defense Cooperative Agreement."

The "Aid to Turkey" files and "Discussion Points" files provide the most comprehensive overview of Brademas' involvement in the Cyprus situation. Most major issues involved with the legislation are addressed in these folders through staff memos, newsclippings, and various reports and statements. Insights into the political struggle between embargo supporters in Congress and the policies of the Ford and Carter Administrations can also be found in these files. Additional information about the legislation is filed separately under more specific titles (e.g., "Arms Export Control Act," "Cut-Off Amendments," "Turkish Defense Cooperative Agreement").

This subseries also contains materials related to public opinion in America, Greece, and Cyprus through constituent letters (see "Cyprus Correspondence," "Greek Correspondence," "Personal Correspondence: Greek Matters" and "Personal Correspondence: Greek Trip"); press (see "Greek Press Reaction – Trip" and "Newspaper Clippings"); and Greek-American organizations (see "Andy Athens Material," "Community," and "Hellenic American Neighborhood Action Committee".

"NOTE: THESE FILES ARE RESTRICTED UNTIL 2010

Brademas served as chairman of this subcommittee from 1969 to 1979. There is 5 linear feet of material dating from 1968 to 1980. Materials include constituent correspondence, interoffice memoranda, subcommittee memoranda, hearing testimony, transcripts, opening statements and summaries, committee prints, committee reports, conference materials, floor statements, clippings, background reports and other materials on specific legislation considered by the subcommittee.

This subseries documents Brademas' efforts to create child development legislation. In 1969, he began drafting legislation and in cooperation with Senator Walter Mondale (D-Minn.) conducted hearings over the next three years. See "Comprehensive Child Development Act" folders for materials regarding the initial Comprehensive Child Development Act, including copies of the bill, comparisons with other bills, and analysis of the bill. "Child and Family Services: Clippings" contains additional material on the bill, including general background articles and numerous articles about the legislation authored by Brademas. Brademas and Mondale's subsequent attempts to pass child development legislation are documented in the "Child & Family Services" folders. Attacks on this bill by the media are well documented in the files, including a flyer that sparked controversy over the bill (see "Child & Family Services: Print" for a copy of the flyer and "Child & Family Services: Rebuttal" for Brademas' point-by-point rebuttal).

The National Institute of Education (NIE) folders document the reauthorization of appropriations for the NIE during the 94th and 96th Congress. Also present are materials related to the oversight of the Institute, including the monitoring of specific departments -- see Compensatory Education, Dissemination & Resources Group, Educational Laboratories and Centers, National Council on Educational Research, and Review.

Brademas' efforts on behalf of vocational rehabilitation and the rights of handicapped individuals can be found in folders on the Handicapped, Revenue Sharing, and Vocational Rehabilitation. The Handicapped folders document the creation of the Education for All Handicapped Act of 1975 and contain some constituent correspondence discussing the implications of its implementation. Brademas' request for the General Accounting Office (GAO) to determine the extent to which revenue sharing funds were being targeted to handicapped of all ages and handicapped children is included in the Revenue Sharing folders.

Materials related to the creation of the Department of Education and the implications of its jurisdiction over certain educational programs can be found in the Department of Education folders as well as Vocational Rehabilitation folders. Materials detail amendments and other proposals to waive the requirement of a single organizational unit in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services Amendments of 1978 are documented in Box I:07, Folders 24-27 and Box I:08, Folders 2-5, 15-32.

Additional files provide general overview information (see folders on Legislation: 96th Congress) or administrative information (see folders on the Budget; Correspondence Files for 1978 (contain outgoing correspondence filed alphabetically by recipient); and Educational Policy Fellows Program. "

This group of files includes documents from Brademas' assignments to subcommittees and groups related to higher education – the Advisory Group on Higher Education, Special Subcommittee on Education, and Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education. Materials measure 2.5 linear feet and span the length of Brademas' tenure in Congress (1959-1980). Brademas served as chairman of the Advisory Group on Education in 1961 and 1962. He was a member of the Special Subcommittee on Education from 1966 to 1974 and the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education from 1975 to 1980.

Only one folder documents the Advisory Group. It contains correspondence with universities, memoranda, and notes by Brademas related to the group's mandate to identify unmet needs in higher education.

Two folders relate specifically to the Special Subcommittee on Education. "Office of Education Hearings" contains questions and answers for the hearings, statements of witnesses, some background material, and other material related to the study of the U.S. Office of Education. "Student Unrest Hearings" contains Brademas' floor speech, memos, newspaper editorials and clippings regarding student disorder legislation (H.R. 11941).

Folders on Higher Education consist of material from both subcommittees documenting amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 during the 92nd, 94th, and 96th sessions of Congress. Materials related to the Higher Education amendments are filed under the Congressional session (e.g. 92nd Congress, 94th Congress) as well as by specific issue (e.g. Higher Education: Guaranteed Student Loans) or bill number (e.g. Higher Education: H.R. 3471). "Higher Education: Memos" and "Higher Education: Memo Book" contain detailed memos from Administrative Assistant Jim Mooney and Brademas that discuss major provisions of the amendments as well as some of the negotiations and politics involved in its development.

Additional folders relate to the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education. Topics covered include the reauthorization of the National Foundation of the Arts and Humanities Act, the Museum Services Act and the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Act.

This subseries consists of 1.5 linear feet of material dating from 1967-1984. The majority of files contain information about H.R. 69, a bill introduced in 1974 to amend and extend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. Major issues in the act included revision of the Title I formula for distribution of federal funds to states, criteria for distribution of Title I funds (testing vs. poverty levels), the consolidation of education programs, and impact aid laws. Information about these amendments can be found under the specific issue name (e.g. Title I, Consolidation, Testing). Additional information appears in the various briefing and floor binders. The Committee Markup binder contains overview information about all issues regarding the amendments; memoranda addressing the Administration's input on the amendments and political implications for major sections of the bill; and drafts of amendments. "ESEA: Floor -- Amendments Binder" contains summaries of proposed amendments organized by the sponsor (e.g. Brademas, O'Hara, Peyser, Carey, etc.) The "ESEA: Floor Book" addresses the Title I formula, including Brademas' formula based on the Orshansky Index as well as alternatives. "ESEA: Floor – General Debate" materials also focus on Title I and include committee votes, overview information of H.R. 69, and proposed questions and answers for Brademas regarding Title I. Correspondence folders contain letters from constituents, lobbying groups, and various institutes and organizations voicing their opinion on the amendments.

A small amount of material does not deal with the 1974 amendments, including the ESEA Amendments of 1967 (H.R. 7819). Two folders provide summaries of meetings of the subcommitee with outside experts: "Child Development – Bronfenbrenner, Urie" and "Meeting Summary" (with Dr. Robert Dentler and Dr. David Fox).

Brademas served on the General Subcommittee on Labor during the 92nd and 93rd sessions of Congress (1971-1974). These files document pension reform hearings that took place at Indiana University at South Bend in March 1973.

Brademas served on this subcommittee from 1964 to 1980. Folders contain hearings statements and questions, reports, correspondence, and memoranda related to hearings investigating various programs and issues involving the Smithsonian Institution in 1970. Topics covered include the sale and disposal of art works, the Hirshhorn museum and sculpture garden, the incorporation of the Museum of African art into the Smithsonian, and educational programs.

This subseries consists of 1.5 linear feet of materials dating from 1970 to 1976. Brademas served as chair of the Subcommittee on Printing from 1971 to 1976. As a member of this subcommittee, he also served on the Joint Committee on Printing from 1971 to 1976. Materials from both subcommittees are filed together. Additional materials from the Subcommittee on Printing can be found in Subseries I: Special Issues Files, Nixon Tape Materials.

Documents include editions of the Government Printing & Binding Regulations, correspondence with public printing organizations, typographical unions, and constituents, memoranda between subcommittee and joint committee members, Government Printing Office reports, and meeting minutes and agendas. Major issues faced by the Subcommittee on Printing and the Joint Committee on Printing include the Depository Library Program, paper specifications for government documents, use of micropublishing to distribute government documents, format and content of the Congressional Record, and issues concerning the oversight of the Government Printing Office.