This collection primarily documents Lawrence's career as a journalist. The materials are divided into five series. Within each series the records are arranged chronologically, whenever possible. The initial series, GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1949-72, contains Lawrence's correspondence with business and political associates, such as Barry Goldwater, Bill Moyers, and Frank Stanton. Some letters were written by his fiduciary, Paul A. Porter. A group of letters pertains to Lawrence's resignation from the Washington D. C., bureau of the Times. Also included are reviews of his book, Six Presidents, Too Many Wars, written to Lawrence and to his publisher. The small amount of personal correspondence includes cards, letters, and telegrams which pertain to his third marriage and to his hospitalization in 1970.
The second series, CLIPPINGS OF NEWSPAPER ARTICLES WRITTEN BY LAWRENCE FOR THE TIMES, 1951-61, is divided into three subseries based on the events he reported. During WWII Lawrence covered the Pacific area; after the war he reported from Moscow, Poland, Algeria, Lebanon, and the Balkan States. He then covered the Korean War. During his last ten years with the Times, Lawrence reported on the political events in Washington, D. C. Included are Senator Joseph McCarthy's fight against communism; the 1952, 1956, and 1960 presidential elections; and White House and Congressional activities such as President Harry S Truman's dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur. Photocopies of the clippings have been retained in the collection for the convenience of the researcher. Many of the clippings are undated.
NEWS BROADCASTS FOR ABC NEWS, 1961-72, cover both ABC radio and television. Special News Programs include “Who in '68?” and year end reviews for 1966, 1967, and 1969. Also included are ABC news interviews with President John F. Kennedy, John W. McCormack, George Meany, and Earl Warren. The series also has some of Lawrence's transcripts from his radio and television news reports.
SPEECHES, INTERVIEWS AND WRITINGS, 1958-72, include the speeches Lawrence made to various groups: lawyers, district attorneys, the 1971 graduates of Lincoln High School, and the University of Nebraska. The speech to this last group was a 1958 James E. Lawrence memorial lecture. James Lawrence was a professor of journalism at the University and a former editor of the Lincoln Star. Also included are the final transcript of his book, undated short stories, an article for TV Guide about President John F. Kennedy's press conferences, an essay on the eighteen-year-old vote, and Columbia University's oral history project -- a 1968 interview of Lawrence on the subject of the Eisenhower administration.
Other journalists wrote about Lawrence, criticizing and defending him. These articles, though few in number, are included in the last series, INFORMATION ABOUT LAWRENCE. Some biographical information, though limited, is provided. Also included are articles which pertain to Lawrence's tenure as president of the National Press Club.
MISCELLANY is a heterogeneous group of materials including a program of the 1967 convocation at Grinnell College where Lawrence received the Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree. Filed here also are a summary of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, a chronological history of the General Motors strike (1936-37) which Lawrence covered, an unidentified index, and an undated itinerary for General Douglas MacArthur.
