|
The Presidential historical materials of Susan A. Porter are in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration under the provisions of Title I of the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act of 1974 (44 U.S.C. 2111 note) and implementing regulations. In accordance with the act and regulations, archivists reviewed the file group to identify personal and private materials (including materials outside the date span covered by the act) as well as nonhistorical items. These materials have been returned to the individual who has primary proprietary interest.
Materials covered by the Act have been archivally processed and are described in this register. Items which are security classified or otherwise restricted under the act and regulations have been removed and placed in a closed file. A Document Withdrawal Record (GSA Form 7279 or NA Form 14021) with a description of each restricted document has been inserted at the beginning of each folder from which materials have been removed. A Document Control Record marks the original position of the withdrawn item. Employees of the National Archives will review periodically the unclassified portions of closed materials for the purpose of opening those which no longer require restriction. Certain classified documents may be declassified under authority of Executive Order 13526 in response to a Mandatory Review Request (NA Form 14020) submitted by the researcher.
- Linear feet of materials: 17
- Approximate number of pages: 34,000
Top of Page
Biographical Note
SUSAN ANNE PORTER
September 20, 1941 Born, Cincinnati, Ohio
1959-1963 B.A., Earlham College, Richmond, IN
1964-1970 M.S., Indiana State University, Terre Haute
1966-1971 Assistant Director of Admissions, Mount Holyoke College
1971-1972 Assistant Director of Correspondence for Mrs. Nixon
1972-1973 Assistant to Appointments Secretary to Mrs. Nixon
1973-1974 Appointments Secretary to Mrs. Nixon
1974-1977 Appointments Secretary to Mrs. Ford
1977- Special Assistant to the Assistant Attorney General of the Office for Improvements in the Administration of Justice, Department of Justice
- Staff, Assistant Attorney General for Administration, Department of Justice
1980 Married to Jonathan Chapman Rose
- Staff, Office of Barbara Bush
CORAL F. SCHMID
March 11, 1938 Born New York, New York
1956-1958 A.A., Centenary College for Women, Hackettstown, NJ
1962 San Francisco State College
1963 Secretary with Young & Rubicam, New York, NY
1963-1964 Sales, with the Katz Agency, New York, NY
1964-1969 Executive secretary, Time, Inc., New York, NY
1965 Goethe Institute, Ebersberg, Fed. Rep. Germany
1968 Secretary with Nixon Republican Vice Presidential Campaign, New York, NY
1969-1972 Special Projects Coordinator, Mrs. Nixon's staff
1972-1973 Appointments Secretary to Mrs. Nixon
1980 Campaign secretary for Nancy Reagan
1981-1984 Congressional liaison official for Department of Energy
December 12, 1984 Died, Alexandria, VA
STEPHANIE ANN WILSON
March 16, 1942 Born, Paterson, NJ
1960-1962 Western College for Women, Oxford, OH
1962-1964 B.A., Universite de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
1965-1966 Katharine Gibbs School
1966-1967 Secretary with Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., Nutley, NJ
1967-1968 Secretary with Tippetts, Abbett, McCarthy, Stratton, New York, NY
1968-1969 Secretary, Office of President-elect Nixon, New York, NY
1969-1972 Office of Mrs. Nixon
Top of Page
Scope and Content Note
The Susan A. Porter file group documents the activities of the First Lady's Appointments Office from 1969 through 1974. During the first administration (1969-1973) the office was primarily run by Coral F. Schmid and Stephanie A. Wilson, under the guidance of Chief of Staff, Constance C. Stuart. Susan Porter took over the office on January 22, 1973 and continued as Appointments Secretary until the President's resignation in August 1974. She continued at the White House as Mrs. Ford's Appointments Secretary until 1977. The administrative changeover in 1973 is most clearly evident in the change in the filing arrangement in the Correspondence File series, from chronological in the first term to alphabetical in the second.
The Appointments Office was in charge of scheduling events for Mrs. Nixon, Julie and David Eisenhower and Tricia and Edward Cox. The office, in collaboration with First Family members, constructed the official calendars and responded to invitations from organizations and individuals desiring the presence of a member of the First Family at an event, or the use of their name as chairman or member of an organization.
The most important series in the collection are Scheduling and Activities, which provides a complete record of First Family events, calendars, and affiliations; and the Subject File, which deals with topics and projects of interest to the First Lady. Also of interest is the Invitations series, which includes extensive outgoing correspondence in answer to invitations received in the First Lady's office. The Briefing Books series, while potentially of great interest, contains much classified material and is mostly restricted at this time.
Further material of interest can be found in the files of Lucy A. Winchester, Gwendolyn B. King and the White House Special Files. Taped exit interviews with Constance Stuart, Penelope A. Adams, William R. Codus and notes from an interview with Coral Schmid will also prove informative. In addition, an oral history program has recently begun which will include former members of the First Lady's office.
The extensive photographic, film and video collection contained in the Nixon presidential materials has much material documenting the activities of the First Lady. Also available are audio recordings of Mrs. Nixon and Constance Stuart taped by the White House Communications Agency.
Top of Page
Series Description
Boxes: 1-4
Series: Correspondence File | Folder Title List
Spans: 1970-1974
Description: Composed predominantly of carbons of outgoing correspondence regarding scheduling for Mrs. Nixon and the First Family and advancing for trips. Included are xerographic reproductions of some incoming invitations. Also included are memos between White House staff having to do with First Family scheduling and schedule proposals; wedding invitations received; and advancing of trips. There are also some travel vouchers for press accompanying Mrs. Nixon on trips, and copies of draft form letters used for answering correspondence. Correspondence for the first term is arranged chronologically, while the second term is arranged alphabetically. Staff memos are arranged alphabetically by staff member.
Boxes: 5-15
Series: Subject File | Folder Title List
Spans: 1969-1974
Description: Correspondence, lists, resumes, publications, press releases, schedules and biographies on various topics, projects, and organizations of interest to Mrs. Nixon. Arranged alphabetically and thereunder chronologically. A separate sub-file of events, arranged alphabetically by state, includes correspondence, schedules, clippings, press releases and printed materials.
Boxes: 16-27
Series: Scheduling & Activities | Folder Title List
Spans: 1969-1974
Description: Correspondence, memos, lists, schedules, press releases, card files, clippings, and calendars regarding scheduling of activities for Mrs. Nixon and the First Family. Included are card files and chronological lists of all activities, during both terms, delineated by family member and then further broken down according to events: in-house, in the D.C. area, domestic trips, and foreign trips. Also included for the entire administration are lists of honorary affiliations and official calendars and scenarios for each member of the First Family. A separate card file lists activities accepted and regretted. Arrangement is chronological by family member.
Boxes: 28-38
Series: Invitations | Folder Title List
Spans: 1969-1974
Description: Correspondence, lists, etc. regarding responses to invitations sent to the First Family. Broken down according to acceptances and regrets. Included are statistical logs for 1972-1974. First term correspondence is arranged chronologically while the second term is further delineated alphabetically.
Boxes: 39-47
Series: Briefing Books | Folder Title List
Spans: 1969-1974
Description: Reports, schedules, biographic material, fact books, lists, publications, memos, programs, and memorabilia. Arrangement is chronological under the following sub-series: Head of State visits to the U.S.; Foreign visits of the President and Mrs. Nixon; Foreign visits of Mrs. Nixon alone; Miscellaneous events.
Boxes: 48
Series: Photographs | Folder Title List
Spans: 1969-1973
Description: Comprised primarily of photo albums, containing enlarged photographs of various events, including trips and events participated in by Mrs. Nixon; the Western White House at San Clemente, California; photos from Apollos IX and XVII; the President's birthday celebration in 1973; portraits of the President's daughters; and pre-Presidential photos. Arrangement is chronological by the date of the photos. The originals of most of these photographs have been transferred to the Audio-Visual and Museum collections.
Boxes: 49-50
Series: Printed Materials | Folder Title List
Spans: [1921-1973]
Description: Books, booklets, articles, and reports on various topics, including China, Moscow and domestic social concerns.
Boxes: 51
Series: Miscellany | Folder Title List
Spans: 1971-1974
Description: Comprised of news summaries, clippings, memos, memorabilia, medals, a typescript journal and notes on various topics, programs and organizations, including the China trip in 1972.
Top of Page
Folder Title List
Available as a searchable  pdf file.
Top of Page
|
