The material described here is Patrick Lucey's non-gubernatorial papers; by statute they were not public records, and they were consequently deeded to the Historical Society by Lucey as a private donation. The large quantity of public records documenting Lucey's tenure as governor which were transferred to the Society after he left office in 1977 are separately cataloged as Series 2419. The disposition of Lucey's administrative papers as lieutenant governor is unknown.
Documentation about Lucey's career can also be found in the records of the Wisconsin Democratic Party held by the Historical Society and in a lengthy interview with him conducted as part of the Wisconsin Democratic Party Oral History Project.
The manuscript collection consists of correspondence, memoranda, minutes, press releases, speeches, financial records, campaign materials, and photographs. The bulk of the collection focuses on Lucey's political career in Wisconsin beginning in 1948. The strength of the collection is the organizational records about these campaigns, although it is likely that except for the very early campaigns these represent only a small portion of the campaign records once in existence. Although none of the campaigns are completely documented here, the collection contains some interesting information not only concerning the candidates involved but also the strategies and techniques utilized by supporters. The most complete files cover the 1970 gubernatorial race and include extensive information about media coverage as well as correspondence between local supporters and the Lucey staff. The largest gap in the documentation of Lucey's state political life is the absence of correspondence concerning the reorganization of the party during the late 1940s and his relationship with party leaders. This weakness is covered in part by party records held by the Historical Society.
Lucey's role in national politics is documented with materials on his relationship with the Kennedy family, his tenure as ambassador to Mexico, and his vice-presidential campaign in 1980, although again none of these periods are fully represented. Of his associations with the Kennedys, coverage of Edward Kennedy's challenge of Carter in 1980 is most extensive, but there are two oral history transcripts (of originals at the Kennedy Library) concerning his role in both the 1960 and 1968 presidential campaigns. About Lucey's 1980 vice-presidential candidacy there are speeches, correspondence, and microfilmed clippings, although little concerning his break with Carter or his relationship with Anderson.
The PERSONAL PAPERS series, which documents Lucey's non-political life, is a small part of the collection, and it does not provide much insight into Lucey as a person. There is some correspondence here between Lucey and his father and brothers, as well as 1946 college papers on philosophy and political science. Also filed in this section because of their biographical content are copies of the two oral history interviews conducted by the Kennedy Library. Documentation in the papers concerning Lucey's long career in real estate is particularly fragmentary. The files on his work as an economic and policy consultant first for Madison Consulting Group and for National Economic Research Associates after it acquired MCG primarily consist of Lucey's outgoing correspondence and memoranda. Both files provide some tantalizing, but incomplete information about his ongoing interest in Mexican-American affairs and his work in other international trade matters.
The POLITICAL PAPERS are divided into eleven subgroups, each based around a topic or period of Lucey's political career. Within each of these groups, materials are arranged alphabetically by type, although the type and extent of material present for each topic varies considerably.
The files on his term in the Assembly consist of campaign correspondence (primarily letters of congratulation, rather than information about issues or campaign strategy), alphabetically-arranged constituent correspondence, and subject files. The subject files contain information on legislative issues such as civil rights, tobacco, and lobbying, as well as “With Your Assemblyman,” Lucey's district letter, which was prepared for publication in local newspapers. Although the Assembly file is modest, it is one of few collections of legislative papers from this period, and it provides some insights into the activities at that time of the small Democratic presence in the legislature.
The congressional campaign files contain campaign literature, press releases and speeches (many written in Lucey's own hand) documenting the major issues of the campaign. Correspondence here is limited, although there is a letter from Robert G. Lewis on agricultural matters and one from Gaylord Nelson concerning state party opposition to Joseph R. McCarthy. The file on Lucey's tenure as state chairman n Lucey's own hand) documenting the major issues of the campaign. Correspondence here is limited, although there is a letter from Robert G. Lewis on agricultural matters and one from Gaylord Nelson concerning state party opposition to Joseph R. McCarthy. The file on Lucey's tenure as state chairman is represented primarily by microfilmed clippings, miscellaneous correspondence, and a 1958 speech which strongly criticized the administration of Governor Vernon Thomson. Stronger files on this period in Lucey's career are included, however, in the records of the Wisconsin Democratic Party held by the Historical Society.
The 1964 lieutenant governor's campaign file consists of press releases, correspondence, a planning document, schedules, incomplete financial records, and a scrapbook (available only on microfilm) about the tea tours undertaken by the Democratic candidates' wives. Missing from the files are any speeches and position papers.
The 1966 files suggest the increasing sophistication of Lucey and his political supporters. Included here are opinion surveys and more formal planning documents (including several memoranda from David Adamany). There are also samples of advertising material and press releases. The file of speeches here is very incomplete, and there is no correspondence.
The 1970 gubernatorial campaign files provide detailed information about day-to-day campaign operations. Included is correspondence with staff, media, and supporters, as well as extensive files concerning activities in individual counties. Organization is further documented in memoranda from campaign director Richard Weening to staff and supporters. The attention to media paid by the Lucey campaign is represented in a large file of press releases (and some draft releases) issued by the campaign as well as in detailed reports concerning the play that these stories received in the media. (Similar releases issued by Lucey's running mate have been separated to Schreiber's papers.) In addition, the collection includes recordings of several radio ads prepared for the campaign by Guggenheim Productions, as well as 15 television spots. Also included here is information about Lucey's opponents and (on microfilm only) an alphabetically-arranged subject file of clippings. The salient issues of the campaign--the environment and reorganization of the Wisconsin higher education system--are thoroughly explored in speeches and position papers. No similar files for the 1974 re-election campaign are included.
The files pertaining to Lucey's tenure as ambassador to Mexico are not his official ambassador's papers and as a consequence they do not document the inner working of the diplomatic post. The correspondence, especially the correspondence concerning Lucey's resignation, does contain some references to tensions between Lucey and the Carter administration, but such references are limited. More personally-based correspondence includes letters from Edward Kennedy, Ann Landers, Gaylord Nelson, John Reynolds, Martin Schreiber, and Cy Mexico are not his official ambassador's papers and as a consequence they do not document the inner working of the diplomatic post. The correspondence, especially the correspondence concerning Lucey's resignation, does contain some references to tensions between Lucey and the Carter administration, but such references are limited. More personally-based correspondence includes letters from Edward Kennedy, Ann Landers, Gaylord Nelson, John Reynolds, Martin Schreiber, and Cyrus Vance. Also in the correspondence is information on a 1980 interview with Lucey concerning Mexican-American affairs and a letter from Lee Dreyfus regarding the redecoration of the Executive Residence in Madison. Lucey's position on immigration, drugs, and trade (particularly natural gas sales) are described in a series of speeches found in this file. The bulk of the ambassador's file consists of newspaper clippings from the Mexican press. Many of the articles, which are only available on microfilm, are accompanied by summaries or translations.
The files on the 1980 Kennedy presidential campaign are fragmentary and fail to give a complete picture of the role played by Lucey in the campaign either in Wisconsin or in the nation as a whole. The absence of outgoing correspondence and memoranda contributes significantly to the weakness of this section although an exchange with Irving Brontslaw of Milwaukee gives some indication of the reasons for Lucey's support, as do the speeches delivered by the candidate. Other items in this section touch on fundraising and campaign organization.
Materials in the collection regarding the National Unity Party Campaign have been weeded to focus on Lucey's role, while material which concentrated on John Anderson have been donated to the Anderson Papers at the Illinois Historical Society. Included here are speeches by Lucey, microfilmed clippings (arranged by state), photographs, press releases, schedules, and a printed transcription of Lucey's appearance on Meet the Press. The correspondence about the 1980 campaign is only a single folder, consisting largely of a form letter to a large number of political leaders asking for support, together with a few of the letters Lucey received in response.
