Part 1 (Mss 738, Audio 609A, Audio 1195A, Audio 1419A, PH 2334 (5), PH 3777, PH 3823): Original Collection, 1938-2004
Physical Description: 194.8 cubic feet (176 records center cartons, 27 archives boxes, 8 card boxes, 10 flat boxes, and 2 oversize folders), 54 tape recordings, 162 disc recordings, 1.4 cubic feet of photographs (approximately 650 photographs in 2 archives boxes and 1 flat box), 0.6 cubic feet of negatives (117 negatives in 1 card box and 1 negative box), 8 drawings, 10 videorecordings, and 13 films 
Scope and Content Note

The papers primarily document Senator Proxmire's career from 1945 through 1995 and they divide into two series: PRE-SENATORIAL PAPERS, 1945-1957, and SENATORIAL PAPERS, 1957-1995. The second series includes several videotapes dating from after Proxmire left the Senate, but they have been arranged with the political papers because they primarily concern his career and reputation as a legislator. There are virtually no true private papers in the collection.

History of the Collection

The Proxmire Papers are an incomplete and, consequently, disappointing political collection. Researchers seeking to understand the content of the collection will be aided by a brief history. The Historical Society contacted the senator soon after his election victory in 1957, and, at that time, Senator Proxmire agreed to donate his papers, although he specified that the collection be closed during his active career. During the early 1960s, the Historical Society received a few boxes from Washington which consisted primarily of his early writings; pre-1958 campaign files; papers as a one-term Wisconsin assemblyman; recordings of his radio program, Union Labor News; and other pre-Senatorial papers. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, no papers were accessioned, and the Archives had little contact with Proxmire's office. Internal evidence suggests that office practices changed dramatically during this period. Stressed by the growing pressure of daily business and a relatively small staff with which to meet the challenge, the first file system collapsed. Perhaps as a consequence, case files and constituent correspondence which had previously been saved and transferred to the Federal Record Center, were then determined to be confidential and discarded after closure. At the same time, responsibility for file management shifted to individual staff members, each of whom maintained a separate system with little oversight.

During the late 1970s, some staff began transferring portions of their files to the Historical Society. These accessions were numerous, but the size of individual accessions was generally small, and the contents often routine and without identifying context. At the same time, Proxmire's access restriction and the total number of accessions persuaded the archival staff that detailed rearrangement and analysis of the papers should wait until the collection was complete. Individual accessions were simply logged into the Archives' bibliographic system as received. Nevertheless, the archives staff was conscious that much of the material being received was of limited historical value. To improve the quality of the historical documentation being accessioned several archivists visited Proxmire's office during the early 1980s. John Fleckner's report on his visit in 1982 (now in the Proxmire Case File) contains important and useful insights into the operation of the senator's office at that time. He learned that legislative aides weeded their inactive files when space became an issue, retaining only what they regarded as core documentation. Fleckner also identified some types of historical documentation that should be saved and suggested changes in office practices to accomplish that goal. Unfortunately, this assessment coincided with budget cuts at the Historical Society, and during the following years the Archives was unable to offer ongoing guidance to the senator's staff. Historical concerns apparently continued as a low priority, and record-keeping practices appear to have changed little as a result of the archivists' suggestions. After 1982, the Archives received no additional accessions until the senator announced that he would not seek reelection in 1987. During the months following the announcement, the Historical Society was unable to send an archivist to Washington, D.C. to facilitate the transfer of historical papers. At the same time, some members of Proxmire's staff moved on to other employment, some probably discarding their files; others may have taken their files with them. In 1988, the Archives began to receive the material that remained, approximately 400 cubic feet. Included among the new material were newsletters and press releases, speeches and broadcast spots, the early case files and correspondence from the Federal Record Center, electronic correspondence, and files from staffers Mort Schwartz, Ron Tammen, Tom Vandervort, and Richard Wegman, and from Milwaukee aide Fred Dupperault.

Taken together, however, the collection is disappointing, and many aspects of Proxmire's career are under-represented. For example, there is no group of files specifically relating to Proxmire's important committee work. For his early years in the Senate, there are no working issue or legislative files, although there are extensive files of constituent correspondence and case work. For the 1980s, there are few papers of any kind. The exception is six reels of computer tape from the Senate Computer Center that contain outgoing correspondence and other papers for the years 1987-1988. Because no equipment available to the Historical Society could open the computer files, the tapes have been stored as an unprocessed accession. An inventory to the tape contents provided by the senator's office is filed in Box 211.

Arrangement

To the degree possible, the collection has been arranged to reflect its original order. The PRE-SENATORIAL PAPERS are arranged chronologically by year. They comprise about 5 percent of the collection. The SENATORIAL PAPERS divide into eight categories: Personal and Biographical Papers, Correspondence, Staff Papers, Speeches and Writings, Press and Public Relations, Photographs, Case Files, and Subject Files. A narrative description of the collection follows.

The PRE-SENATORIAL PAPERS span the period 1945-1957 and consist of correspondence, notes, writings, campaign materials, photographs, and sound recordings. They comprise Box 1-7 of the materials with call number Mss 738 as well as call numbers PH 2334 (5) and Audio 1159A. The files are arranged by year or by general chronological period. Except for scattered items, 1945-1949, this section entirely concerns Proxmire's political life in Wisconsin. However, even for this aspect of his career, the documentation is far from complete. The earliest papers consist of a World War II CIC training manual with notes in Proxmire's hand, and notes and teaching material for his political science instructorship at Harvard. Also of special note are responses to his 1946 inquiry regarding Presidential clearance of Cabinet officers' statements. Included are letters from Elmer Davis, William Fulbright, Herbert Hoover, Harold Ickes, Joseph P. Kennedy, Walter Lippman, Robert McCormick, Drew Pearson, Henry Wallace, and Sumner Welles. Also of importance for this period are the wire recordings and annotated radio scripts for his commentary for Union Labor News. On this 15-minute program Proxmire and his wife candidly discussed state, local, and national politics and labor issues.

Proxmire's 1950 Wisconsin Assembly campaign is documented by handwritten notes and statistics, although there are more extensive notes on proposed legislation, correspondence, and background materials pertaining to his single term in the legislature. Information on the 1952 gubernatorial campaign seems to confirm Proxmire's reputation as a Democratic Organizing Committee outsider, as there are few letters from the party leadership. Notable correspondents include Gerald T. Flynn, Lester Johnson, Frank Nikolay, Henry Reuss, Adlai Stevenson, and Carl Thompson. Also part of the documentation about this campaign are examples of literature, press releases, and speeches. Some of the publicity is annotated in Proxmire's own hand. The 1954 correspondence is a well-organized alphabetical file suggesting the better-organized nature of the 1954 campaign. This file, however, contains little information on policy and planning, although there are some letters to and from the party leadership. Also present are advertising and publicity files and congressional responses to a letter (which is not in the papers), in which Proxmire analyzed the meaning of the 1954 Wisconsin farm vote.

The 1955 file is fragmentary, but it confirms the fact that Proxmire never ceased campaigning between elections. Included are off-year press releases, information on an effort perceived by Proxmire as an attempt to keep him off the air, and correspondence concerning his work against party endorsement and a state sales tax. Opposition to McCarthy is represented by his article, “The Fight to be McCarthy's Executioner.”

The 1956 campaign correspondence is largely that of campaign chair William Foster, and it chiefly concerns finances and day-to-day details rather than policy and planning. Once again there are files of campaign literature, press releases, advertising, and financial statements. The 1957 Senatorial campaign is primarily documented by reports from various supporters around the state. For the most part these correspondents were not in leadership positions, although there are letters from Phileo Nash and Horace Wilkie (in which he cautioned Proxmire against running again). Documentation about campaign planning and strategy is largely missing, although there is an extensive file of statistics and vote analyses and some correspondence (including letters from Hubert Humphrey and Mike Mansfield) and research materials.

Within the SENATORIAL PAPERS series, biographical information about Proxmire has been drawn together for researcher convenience into an initial section entitled Personal and Biographical Papers (Box 206-207). The file contains brief biographical resources including several about which Proxmire commented or to which he added information. Additional biographical information may be found scrapbooks and in an extensive clipping file maintained by his staff. They provide perhaps the most complete documentation of Proxmire's career in the collection. The personal files in this section concern personal financial matters that were handled in Proxmire's office rather than at home and also include some estate files of his father, Dr. Theodore Proxmire. Also present are files of Ellen Proxmire, who was an active partner in her husband's career.

The Correspondence section contains remnants of various office filing systems: early constituent correspondence arranged alphabetically by subject, 1957-1959 (Box 8-12); general correspondence consisting primarily of outgoing letters arranged alphabetically by name and then into chronological time periods, 1957 through 1967 (Box 12-75); early form letters arranged by subject, 1959-1960 (Box 81-83); and “robo” constituent correspondence dating from the late 1970s (Box 83-94). Of special note in the early subject files is the public response to Proxmire's challenge to the leadership style of Lyndon B. Johnson. The general correspondence section consists of outgoing carbons. These files appear comprehensive from 1958 through 1962, but gradually less so until 1967 when the office began routinely discarding correspondence of this type. For the period of its existence, the general correspondence file serves as a comprehensive name index.

Despite the overall lack of documentation in the collection, the robo files, as received in the Archives, actually contained excessive documentation: extensive and sometimes orchestrated constituent letters concerning legislation such as abortion, taxes, and energy and the environment. This section has been weeded based on content, and redundant correspondence and form letters removed. In 1979 Proxmire's office began discarding all of the incoming legislative letters, although a regular report of the number of letters received on each subject was compiled. Examples of the senator's outgoing robo letters consist of overlapping chronological, staff author, and subject files. Together, the three file categories present good documentation of this expression of Proxmire's views. The correspondence section also includes a file entitled "final" correspondence (letters apparently saved because they were never incorporated into files that were ultimately destroyed) (Box 76-80) and yellow carbon letters designated as personal acknowledgements of letters from prominent individuals (Box 80-81).

The Staff Files are arranged alphabetically by staff name and comprise Box 93B, 95-146, and 207. Although some individuals are represented by only a few folders, others such as senior staff members Howard Shuman, Ron Tammen, Tom Vandervort, and Richard Wegman are extensive, and they suggest the degree of responsibility Proxmire placed on his staff. The staff files also reflect the range of Proxmire's interests, and they are the real strength of the collection. The memoranda prepared for the senator's information and review are the best documentation about the senator's decision making in the collection.

The files of the staff with subject or functional responsibilities provide documentation on such Proxmire interests as the fairness doctrine (in the files of press aide Carl Eifert), ratification of the Genocide Treaty (Larry Patton), the oil depletion allowance (Martin Lobel), files on the Glen Elder dam (Frank Siverts), extensive information on military appropriations such as the B-1 bomber, NASA, SALT II, and the SST (Ron Tammen), and housing and Great Lakes shipping (Tom Vandervort). The files of Richard Wegman contain further information on Great Lakes shipping and on the defeat of the SST. Additionally, the files of senior administrative assistant Howard Shuman contain drafts of statements, speeches, and books; many analytical memoranda; and subject files on the regulation of vitamins and other topics. As received, some staff files contained abundant quantities of background information that is readily available elsewhere such as newspaper clippings; this material has been weeded based on availability and evidence of staff use. Robert G. Lewis, who served as Proxmire's administrative assistant during his first years in office, is represented in this collection by a few folders, although further information about his association with the senator, as well as his subsequent governmental career, can be found in Lewis' own papers in the Archives. Tom Pattison, who served as a home secretary, is represented in a separate collection of transcribed oral history interviews that include information on his Proxmire years. (See Audio 572A and M76-303 for Tom Pattison interviews).

The Speeches and Writings in the papers are also disappointing. For non-legislative public appearances, which were numerous, Proxmire generally spoke from an outline rather than a prepared text. These outlines, many written in the senator's own hand, are included in the collection, however. There are also no floor files in the collection, although researchers can find the complete printed record of Proxmire's statements in the Congressional Record, which is available in the Historical Society library. The collection also includes published and/or transcribed interviews and a few recorded speeches, but only one of these (his 1970 appearance on Face the Nation) date from his years in the Senate. Of Proxmire's published books, the collection includes printed volumes and clipped reviews for Can Small Business Survive(1964), Uncle Sam, Last of the Big Time Spenders (1972), and You Can Do It. Howard Shuman's files contain drafts for Uncle Sam and Report from the Wasteland (1970). Published copies of Report from the Wasteland and The Fleecing of America (1980) are available in the Historical Society library, as is Ellen Proxmire's One Foot in Washington, the Perilous Life of a Senator's Wife. This section of the collection includes a file of printed articles and shorter writings written by the senator, but as there is no bibliography, no statement can be made about its completeness. Speeches and Writings comprise Box 146-153 as well as call number Audio 609A.

Proxmire's public relations activities, however, are well represented in the Press and Public Relations section. These materials range from the previously mentioned newspaper clippings to complete files of newsletters and press releases. The press releases, which are unusually extensive when compared to other legislators, are a fundamental source for studying Proxmire's views and accomplishments. From the very beginning of his tenure in the Senate Proxmire also made exceptional use of the broadcast media, a lesson perhaps learned during his Union Labor News years. The evidence of the use of the media is present in the form of Edison Voicewriter dictation discs that were distributed to Wisconsin radio and television stations for broadcast, and in film dating from 1957-1958. Proxmire's radio programs included many prominent political leaders as guests during the 1960s. Because of their unusual format, prior arrangements must be made to hear the Edison dictation discs and the Union Labor News wire recordings. The films, originally 72 individual reels spliced together as compilation reels, include several types of broadcasts for home consumption: brief spots of Proxmire alone primarily commenting on legislation he introduced and longer “Report from Washington” programs that were broadcast by WKOW radio and television. The broadcast venue for the spots is unknown. The format for the report program generally included Proxmire, aides Roland Day and Robert G. Lewis, University of Wisconsin Professor Ralph Hewitt, and on one occasion, Ellen Proxmire. The staff members generally read letters from constituents or asked questions on topics generally concerning legislation that Proxmire introduced: dairy price supports, federal aid to education, unemployment, and Social Security. Senator Estes Kefauver appears on one program. These films cover only 1957 and 1958 and although undated their compiled order probably approximates chronological order. The Press and Public Relations section also includes spot ads from the 1958, 1964, and 1970 campaigns; the textual material for all of the campaigns is filed with the Subject Files.

The Photographs in the collection (call numbers PH 3777, PH 2334 (5), and PH 3823) also derive primarily from Proxmire's focus on public relations, and many appear to have been taken for use in newsletters or campaign literature or as presentation souvenirs to office visitors. Included are formal portraits and informal photographs of Proxmire posed with constituents visiting the Capitol and prominent political leaders, as well as participating in photo opportunities such as parades, work days in Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin State Fair. Much like the absence of paper documentation about the 1960s, the only photographs from the 1980s in the collection were donated by the Senate Photography Studio in 1995. They document office visitors and the senator and his staff at committee hearings.

From the early Case Files , 1957-1969, that were stored in the Federal Record Center, the Archives has retained a sample as evidence of the great attention Proxmire placed on that kind of constituent service. In addition to their evidential importance, many case files also contain valuable information about Wisconsin communities, businesses, and public works projects. The files on government procurement in Wisconsin, a subject about which Proxmire was sometimes criticized, are of considerable interest for they provide information on federal contracting in Wisconsin that is difficult to find elsewhere. The case files concerning the Post Office Department are interesting for their documentation of the manner in which post office appointments were made in Wisconsin after the Democratic Party regained this authority in the 1960 election.

The majority of the case files are arranged alphabetically by agency name (Box 168-187), as they were in Proxmire's office, but there is a separate file, 1957-1958, for senior legislative aide Roland Day (later chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court) (Box 187-188), and an integrated file (Box 188-189), created in the Archives, concerning Wisconsin businesses, individuals, and topics (such as Truax Air Force Base) that were represented in the files of multiple agencies.

There are two Subject Files in the SENATORIAL PAPERS. The first is a remnant of a classified file that was not used after the early 1960s (Box 189-191). The second is an artificial file created in the Archives for folders - and even some individual items - received without file context (Box 192-206 and 208-211). The early classified file is arranged by file number and it contains important documentation on Proxmire's participation in industrial development in Wisconsin and on the Badger Ordnance plant.

The artificial subject files document a variety of topics ranging from abortion, which Proxmire strongly opposed, to his work days in Wisconsin. This section includes personal items such as awards and letters received when he announced his retirement, as well as housekeeping records such as bills pertaining to office operations, invitations and schedules, and master lists of bills and votes. There is further information here about the Golden Fleece awards.

Series: Pre-Senatorial Papers

1945

CIC training manual, with annotations and notes

1946

“The Role of the Press in American Politics”

Economic Theory teaching notes

1947

“Clearance of Cabinet Officers' Public Statements,” and correspondence

Lecture notes

Research and teaching fragments

1948

“Corporation Income Tax and Private Investment”

Miscellaneous correspondence

Harvard era writings

1949

Correspondence, “Tax Program of the Democratic Party for Wisconsin,” and interview notes on Wisconsin lobbyists

Union Labor News

Transcripts

Recordings

1949 November 10

1949 November 17

1949 November 24

1949 or 1950 December 1

1949 December 8

1949 December 15

1949 December 22

1949 December 29

1950

Union Labor News

Transcripts

Recordings

1950 January 5

1950 January 12

1950 January 19

1950 January 26

1950 February 2

1950 February 9

1950 February 16

1950 February 23

1950 March 2

1950 March 9

1950 March 16

1950 March 30

1950 April 6

1950 April 13

1950 April 20

1950 April 27

1950 May 4

1950 May 11

1950 May 18

1950 May 25

1950 June 1

1950 June 8

1950 June 15

1950 June 29

1950 June 22

1950 July 6

1950 July 13

1950 July 20

1950 July 27

1950 August 3

1950 August 10

1950 August 17

1950 August 24

1950 August 31

1950 September 13

1950 September 17

1950 September 21

1950 September 28

1950 October 5

1950 October 19

1950 November 2

Gubernatorial campaign notes?

1951

Assembly constituent correspondence

Schedule notebook

Speeches

, 1951 June 22 Speech by Proxmire replying to speech by Joseph R. McCarthy on Truman administration foreign policy

circa 1951, Speech by Robert Kazmeyer?, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, regarding Truman's foreign policy, mismanagement, and waste

circa 1951, Speech by Proxmire and Gaylord Nelson in rebuttal to Kazmeyer

1952

Correspondence

Press releases, speeches, and draft fragments
Alternate Format: Press releases in Box 4, Folder 8, have been digitized and are available online.

Campaign literature

Democratic National Convention

1953

Correspondence

1954

Alphabetical correspondence

Congratulatory correspondence

Advertising

Public relations

1955

Correspondence

Farm vote letters

Correspondence

1956

Correspondence

Financial statement

McCarthy article

Advertising

Miscellany

Press releases
Alternate Format: Press releases in Box 6, Folder 6, have been digitized and are available online.

Political cartoons attacking Wisconsin Republicans
Note: Proxmire is not depicted.

Poster

1957

Correspondence

Dayton-Johnson issue

Campaign literature

Press releases
Alternate Format: Press releases in Box 7, Folder 2, have been digitized and are available online.

Public relations

Speeches

Notes

Statistical analyses

Miscellany

Pre-Senatorial miscellany and campaign statistics, undated

Series: Senatorial Papers

Subseries: Personal and Biographical Files

Biographical miscellany
Alternate Format: Biographical miscellany found in Box 206, Folders 15-16, have been digitized and are available online.

Brief biographies

“Proxmire Record”

Huitt biography, 1958-1961

Sykes biography, 1971

Personal files

Letters to Ellen during German trip

Anniversary congratulations, 1977

Artcraft, 1958-1961

Autographed books

Childrens' affairs, 1961-1974

Financial matters, 1958-1961

Fort Broadcasting, 1958-1961

Hill School yearbook, 1934

Insurance and retirement

Madison Bank and Trust, 1960-1961

Medical file, 1957

Miscellany

Proxmire, Ellen

Correspondence, 1957-1961, 1964-1965

Campaign files
Alternate Format: Campaign files found in Box 206, Folders 34-36, have been digitized and are available online.

1957

General papers

1958

Miscellaneous papers

Personal appearances

1964

General papers

Local planning

“Operation Town Hall”

Tea Tours scrapbook

Testimonial dinner, 1963

Miscellany

“Capitol Casserole,” 1959-1962

Proxmire, Elsie (Committee to Build Wisconsin Schools, visitation), 1959, undated

Proxmire, Theodore S. I, Estate papers, 1960-1962

Proxmire, Theodore S. II

Draft status, 1968-1971

Accident, 1972

Subseries: Correspondence

Subject correspondence files, 1957-1959

Agricultural appropriations

Alaska/Hawaii statehood

Alperovitz, Gar

American Heritage

Aviation

Banking tax issues

Beck, Melvin

Cabaret taxes

Boating (Bonner Bill), 1958

Cheese

Civil Defense bill, 1958

Communications

Communications excise tax

Community health and sanitation

Complaints

Congratulatory letters from EWP

Conservation bills

Constituent correspondence

Curtis Bill (Small business reinvestment), 1959

Dairy

General

Price supports

Day, Roland

Defense reorganization, 1958

Disability tax

Disease research

Drug legislation

Education

General

Tax exemption

Electric companies and political ads

Employment discrimination

Endorsements

Excise taxes

Expense report

Export-import issues

Farm bill

Farm commodities

Farm/soil concerns

Federal gasoline tax

Federal grants

Fiellin, Alan, 1958

Florida swamp issue, 1959

Food programs

Foreign affairs

Foreign aid

Form replies

Gift correspondence

Good Faith bill, 1958

Glenn, Elizabeth, 1957

Halvorsen, Arlene, 1958

Health and Welfare

Hell's Canyon Dam, 1958

Highways

Housing

Oneida Tribe, 1958

Huitt, Ralph

Indian affairs

Insurance

International Typographical Union, 1958

Inventions

Jenkins-Keogh Bill, 1958

Job applications

John Rauschenberger Company, 1958

Johnson (Lyndon) controversy, 1959

Con-General

Pro

Miscellaneous states

California

Illinois

New York

Pennsylvania

Texas

Wisconsin

Kennedy Bill, 1958

Klamath Indian Bill, 1958

Kurz and Root Company, 1961-1962

Labor

Labor unions

Labor unions (continued)

Legislative committees

Letters of appreciation

Lewis, Robert

Life insurance taxes

Liquor

Livestock and meat packers

Loyalty Day, 1958

Mandate ballot, 1958

McCarthy steamship, 1959

Milk

Miller, Edwina

Metalfab Inc.

Meetings and invitations

Murray, Nancy, 1957

N, general

National Canners Association, 1958

National Defense Education Act

National Guard, 1958

Naturalization and immigration

Nestingen, Ivan, 1957

Newsletter correspondence

Nike site, 1958

Nordberg Manufacturing Company, 1958

O cases, 1958

Oil depletion

Old age housing assistance, 1958

Oppenheimer, Robert, 1957

Oshkosh Candle and Novelty Company

Overbeck, Henry

Passport legislation, 1958

Payroll controversy (regarding Congress), 1959

Pay-TV

Pension and retirement taxes

Peterson, Brian J., 1958

Pilot plant paper mill, 1958

Plant Patent Act, 1959

Pleuss, J.H., 1958

Plywood quota, 1958

Pollution control, 1958

Postal bill (S 27), 1958

Postal workers pay correspondence

Postal workers retirement

Pratt, Albert, 1958

Poultry, 1958

Pound, Ezra, 1958

Public service correspondence, 1958

Questionnaire letters, 1958

R cases

Rabinowitz, David, 1958

Racine harbor, 1958

Racine industrial exodus, 1958

Racine Screw Machine Products Company, 1958

Rahn, Walter, 1958

Recreation, 1957-1958

Reimholz Company

Replies to radio census robo, 1958

Replies to radio form letters, 1957

Requests for donations

Requests for information (sampled)

Rice, Andrew, 1957

Rice Petroleum, 1957

Riemann, Dorothy

Riley, Rufus

River Falls, 1958

Robinson-Patman Act, 1958

Roth, John L., 1958

Ruch, William, 1958

Rural development, 1958

Rural mail carrier bill, 1958

Rural Electrification Administration, 1958

School lunch program

Seaton Bill, 1958

Secrest, David, 1957

Small Business Committee, 1957

Small business concerns

Social Security

Soil conservation

Sports bill, 1958

Staff salaries, 1958

States Rights bill, 1958

State tax issues

Strikes, 1957

Surplus property, 1957

Tariff issues

Tarkow, Liesl

Taxes

Taxation of cooperatives

Tax burden comparison, 1958

Teacher's tax deduction

Thank you correspondence

Trade, 1958

Transportation, 1958

Television correspondence

Un-American Activities Committee, 1958

Unemployment

Unfair pricing bill, 1958

Utilities

Veterans Affairs

Veterans disability benefits

Veterans educational benefits

Veterans loans

Veterans pension-Social Security issue

Veterans, Spanish-American War

Veterans, World War I

Wasteful government spending

Water pollution, 1957, 1962

Wood and fur legislation

Yankus, Stanley, 1959

Young, Beverly, 1958

General

A

1957-1958

1959-1960

Aa-Ag

Ad-Al

Ag-Ay

1961-1962

Aa-Ap

Ar-Az

1963-1964

1965

1967

B

1957-1958

Ba-Bi

Bl-By

1959-1960

Ba-Benz

Benson, Ezra Taft

Benton, William

Be-Bo

Bowles, Chester and family

Bra-Bry

Brown-By

1959?, 1961-1962

Ba-Bl

Bo-By

1962-1963

Ba-Bir

Birn-By

1964

Ba-Bol

Bon-By

1965, 1967

C

1957-1958

Ca-Co

Cr

1959-1961

Ca-Cr

Cre-Cy

1961-1962

1962-1963

Ca-Coh

Col-Cy

1964-1965, 1967

D

1957-1958

Da

De-Dy

1959-1961

Da-Dry

Du-Dy

1961-1962

1962-1963

Da-Do

Dor-Dy

1964, 1965

E

1958

1959-1961

Ea-El

Eli-Ex

F

1957-1958

1959-1961 (includes Orville Freeman, federal agencies)

1961-1962

Fa

Fa (continued)-Fy

1963, Fr only

1964, Fa-Fu

1965, 1967

G

1957-1958

1959-1961

Ga-Go

Gold-Gy

1961-1962

Ga-Go

Gr

1963

1964

Ga-Gre

Gri-Gu

1965, 1967

H

1957-1958

1959-1961

Ha-Hoe

Hof-Hy

1961-1962

Ha-Hey

Hey (continued)-Hy

1963

Ha-Hey

Hi-Hy

1964, 1965

1967

Ha-Hi

Ho-Hy

I

J

1958

1959-1961

Ja-Johnson

Jo-Ju

1961-1962

1962-1963

1964, 1965

1967

K

1957-1958

1959-1961

Ka-Kl

Kl (continued)-Ku

1961-1962

Ka-Kl

Kn-Ku

1963

1964

Ka

Ke-Ky

1965, 1967

L

1957-1958

1959-1961

La-Lar

Las-Ly

1961-1962

La-Len

Leo-Ly

1963

1964

La

Le-Ly

1965, 1967

M

1957-1958

Mc

Ma-Mo

Mu-My

1959-1961

McCa-Means, Gardiner C.

Men-My

1961-1962

McA-McC

McD-Mu

1962-1963

1964

McA-McG

Ma-Mo

1965

1967

N

1958

, 1959-1961 (includes Gaylord Nelson and Ivan Nestingen)

1962

Na

Ne-Ny

1963-1966

O

1958

1959-1961

Oa-Op

Or-Oz

1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967

P

1957-1958

Pa-Pf

Pi-Pu

1959-1961

Pa-Prim

Prin-Py

1962, 1963

1964

Pa-Pe

Pf-Py

1965, 1967

Q

R

1958

1959-1961

Ra

Rea-Ry (includes Abraham Ribicoff, William P. Rogers, and Dean Rusk)

1962, 1963

1964

Ra-Re

Rh-Ry

1965, 1967

S

1957-1958

Sa-Si

Sk-Sy

1959-1961

Sa-Sch

Sch (continued)-So

Sp-Sy

1962

Sa-Scha

Schm-Sz

1963

Sa-Sta

Ste-Sz

1964

Sa-Sh

Si-Sy

1965, 1967

T

1957-1958

Ta-Th

Ti-Ty

1959-1961

1962

1963, 1964, 1965, 1967

U

V

1957-1958

1959-1961

Va

Va (continued)- Vu

1962-1965, 1967

W

1957

1958

Wa-Wh

Wi-Wy

1959-1961

Wa-Whi

Wi-Wy

1962

Wa-We

We (continued)- Wy

1963

1964

Wa-Wi

Wi (continued)- Wy

1965, 1967

Y

Z

1957-1958, 1959-1961

1962, 1964, 1965

Unfiled, "final" correspondence

1965-1967 May

1967 June-1968 June

1969-1972

1973

A-S

T-Z

, 1974 (includes letters to and from senators)

1975 (Alphabetical, includes letters to and from senators and White House)

1975 November-1979 September

1979 October-December

Personal acknowledgements (Yellow carbons)

1957-1961

1976 June-1978 May

1978 June-1980 October, undated

Early form letters, 1958-1960

Agriculture

Farm program

Lamb grading

Mexican farm labor extension

Milwaukee high school class

Special milk program

Wheat legislation, 1960

Business

Amendment to SBA, 1960

Douglas truth in credit bill, 1960

Fair trade (Douglas)

Cranberry growers

Economics

Tight money

Budget #1

Inflation

Interest repeal

Education

Education bill

Forand Bill

Loyalty oath

Morse amendment, 1960

Murray-Metcalf bill, 1960

Private school scholarships and aid

Foreign relations

Foreign aid

Panamanian flag

Summit issues

General

Humane treatment of animals, 1960

General

Academics and researchers

Ice Age national park

Interstate issues/Standard time

Labor

Dirksen Bill, 1960

Continuation of rackets committee

Medical aid to the aged

Military transfer of belongings

Minimum wage

A&W root beer

Automobiles

Canning business

General

Hardware

Hotels

Pro

Restaurants

Retail

Service stations

Theatres

Trucking industry

Anti minimum wage

Multiple subjects

Obscene materials

Keating amendment

Smut

Petition on world refugees

Picketing

Exempt job site picketing

Opposed

Post Office

Employee pay raise

Foley bill to lower rates for free newspapers

Follow up

Radio removal of religious broadcasting

Social Security

Improvements

Medical care

Retirement at age 60

Student exchange

Taxes

Cabaret tax

Deferment for self employed

Dividend exclusion

Fair and equitable income taxes

Frear amendment

Higher taxes for co-ops

Transportation

Airline employee privileges

Airline liquor

Railroad passenger promotion

Veterans

American Legion-Multiple subjects

GI Bill

Optometric outpatient care

World War I pensions

Wisconsin Odanah floor control measures

World Court

Robo Correspondence

Robos filed by aide

1973, 1978-1979, Shirley Snyder

Miscellaneous aides

1986 (Daisy, Mort, Ken, Ruth, Larry)

1987 (Sandy, Marion, RF, KD)

1988

Davis, Bobbie

Davis, Bobbie (continued)

Robos filed chronologically

1961

1964 July-December

1965-1966

1973

, 1974 (very incomplete)

1975

1976

Index

Draft letters

, 1977-1978 (very incomplete)

1979

, 1982 (incomplete)

1986

1987-1988

Robos filed by subject and annual lists

1973

A-O

P-Z

, 1974 (no subject annual list)

, 1975 (no subject annual list)

1976

, 1977 (A-L only)

, 1979 (no annual subject list)

, 1982-1983 (700 series only)

1984-1985

1986

A-E

F-Z

1987

Original robo letter drafts

1987-1988

“Permanent robos”

Statistical reports on letters received

1959

1970-1975

1977-1979

1984-1988

Robo correspondence, Incoming (Extensively sampled)

Abortion

1975

Anti, 1976-1977 (#5)

Anti, 1979 (#10)

Amendment to HEW bill, 1976

Hyde Human Life amendment, 1976-1978

Anti-Hyde Amendment, 1976 (#179)

Pro, 1976 (#4)

Pro, 1979 (#33)

Versus Proxmire, 1976 (#59)

Agriculture yearbooks, 1976/79 (#736)

Aid to Vietnam [anti], 1976 (#87)

Airline deregulation, 1977 (#74)

Algoma plywood plant, 1976 (#193)

Aliens, 1977 (#103)

Alton, Illinois lock and dam, 1976 (#174)

America Awakes, 1976 (#922)

Amtrak

Cuts [anti], 1979 (#53)

Fox River Valley, 1979 (#37)

Milwaukee-Chicago cut, 1976 (#84)

Angola, 1976 (#12/13)

Animal research [anti], 1979 (#57)

Animal welfare [anti], 1976 (#79/116)

Animals, 1976 (#78)

Anti-boycott legislation, 1977 (#809)

Anti-trust improvement act, 1976 (#128)

Arctic gas pipeline, 1976 (#96)

Art funding, 1976 (#129)

Astronauts, 1976 (#56)

Atlantic Union, 1976 (#13)

B-1 bomber, 1976-1977 (#138)

Balanced budget [pro], 1979 (#56)

Baltic states, 1976 (#52)

Banking letters, 1976-1977 (#802-3/808-9/814)

Beaver Creek water shed project, 1976 (#923)

Beta Sigma Phi Week, 1976 (#72)

Brazil, 1976 (#74)

Budget cap on reimbursement, 1976 (#157)

Busing, 1976 (#45)

Campaign finance, 1979 (#55)

Cancer, (#152)

Carry-over basis, 1979 (#64)

CETA [pro] , 1976 (#101)

Chemical waste dumps, 1979 (#79)

Child and Family Services Act

Anti, 1976 (#22)

, 1976 (#94)

Pro, 1976 (#23)

Anti, 1979 (#42)

Child pornography, 1977 (#56)

China, 1979 (#2)

Chiropractors, 1979 (#26)

Church of God, 1979 (#39)

Civil Service

Pay increase [pro], 1979 (#85)

Pension, 1977 (#173)

Retirees, 1976 (#1/715)

Retirement [anti], 1979 (#34)

Civilian marksmanship-[pro]-director, 1979 (#68)

Clean Air Act

, 1976 (#108)

Anti S. 3219, 1976 (#50/139)

Emissions, 1976 (#58)

Pro relaxing standards, 1977 (#72)

Davis-Bacon Act, 1979 (#80/81)

Electoral College, 1976-1977 (#32)

Commissary closings, 1976 (#39)

Congratulations re-election, 1976 (#199)

Congressional pay raise, 1977 (#4)

Consumers

Cooperative Bank Act, 1978 (#800)

Product Safety Commission Act, 1976 (#117)

Corps of Engineers jurisdiction, 1976 (#181)

Crash party, 1976 (#83)

Credit unions

Regulations [anti], 1979 (#845)

, 1976 (#807)

Crime, 1975 (#204)

Criticism of Senator Proxmire, 1975-1977 (#720)

Cullen, Michael [anti], 1979 (#23)

Cults [anti], 1979 (#43)

Dairy herd, 1976 (#60)

Day care standards, 1976 (#170)

Dead bills, 1976 (#195)

Declaration of interdependence, 1976 (#67)

Defense legislation proposal, 1976 (#90/912)

Denver mint, 1976 (#806)

Diabetes, 1976 (#137)

Direct student loans, 1977 (#81)

Distribution of automobile crash parts, 1976 (#83)

Dolphins, 1976 (#127)

Donahue, Phil, 1979 (#32)

Draft [anti], 1977 (#52/71)

Education

[Anti] department of, 1979 (#74)

[Pro] department of, 1979 (#75)

Egypt, Sale of planes, 1976 (#103)

Energy

[and] Carter, 1977 (#90/99)

[anti] Mandatory controls, 1979 (#28)

[anti] Part E, 1977 (#156)

Conservation, 1977 (#38)

Independence authority, 1976 (#815)

Legislation, 1975

Suggestions, 1977 (#98)

Suggestions, 1979 (#27)

EPA

Abolish [pro], 1976 (#26)

Beverage containers [anti], 1976 (#35)

ERA extension, 1978 (#9)

Equality for women athletics - Title IX [pro], 1979 (#76)

Ethics bill v. Baker amendment, 1977 (#80)

Ex parte, 1979 (#13)

FAA

Flight rules [revised], 1979 (#17)

Letter, 1979

FBI training costs, 1976 (#102)

FEC [anti], 1979 (#61)

FTC ruling, 1976 (#123)

Face the Nation, 1976 (#62)

Family planning, 1976 (#151)

Farmers, 1979 (#40)

Federal reserve system membership, 1979 (#842)

Federal retirement, 1976 (#145)

FIA - financial reform act, 1976 (#805/808)

Fishing rights bill, 1975-76

Flu, 1976 (#197)

Food stamps

[Anti] for strikers, 1976 (#136)

[Pro] program, 1976 (#124)

[Pro] reform, 1976 (#125)

Foreign assistance, 1976 (#86)

Franchise changes, 1979 (#18)

G.I. Bill, 1978 (#14)

Gas de-regulation, 1977 (#174)

Gas rationing, 1979 (#90)

General, 1975-1979 (#700-60)

Genocide Treaty, 1976 (#135)

God removed from pledge, et cetera, 1977-1978 (#8)

Gold reserves audit, 1979 (#837)

Golden Fleece nominations, 1976, 1979 (#38/6)

Government spending, 1978-1979 (#81/60)

Grand Old Opry [pro], 1979 (#75)

Green Thumb, 1976 (#106)

Gun control

[Anti], 1977, 1979 (#16/18/50)

, 1976 (#10)

, 1976 (continued)

[Pro], 1976 (#33)

Gun positions, 1976,1977 (#99/10)

HUD Section 701, 1976 (#89)

H.R.

House campaigns [anti], (#55)

HR 9803 [anti], 1976 (#920)

Hair standards, National Guard, 1976 (#915)

Hatch Act

[Against Proxmire vote], 1976 (#7/8)

Override veto, 1976 (#114/115)

Harp seals, 1976 (#927)

Hays, 1976 (#148)

Hayward FHA office, 1976 (#926)

Health manpower bill (dentists), 1976 (#153)

Health planning guidelines, 1977 (#16)

Helms amendment [anti], 1979 (#59)

Highway 45, 1977 (#54)

Highway safety, 1976 (#918)

Holder-in-due-course, 1976 (#817)

Horicon Marsh, 1976 (#941)

Hospital bill, 1977 (#120/143)

Hospital cost containment, 1979 (#86/15)

Hospital reimbursement, 1976 (#122)

House bills, 1975-1978 (#715)

House ethics, 1976 (#928)

Housing amendments, 1976 (#816)

Hudson nursing, 1979 (#46)

Humphrey-Hawkins full employment, 1976 (#813)

Hymn in book of worship, 1976 (#186)

In vitro fertilization, 1979 (#45)

Indian education, 1976 (#171)

Indian jurisdiction, 1976 (#140)

Inflation, 1975, 1979 (#5)

Insurance for pregnant girls, 1976 (#203)

Internal Security Subcommittee, 1976 (#51)

International Women's Year Conference, 1976, 1977 (#64/164)

Iola Hospital, 1976 (#131)

IRS tax private schools [anti] (#1)

Israel, 1976-1977 (#44/177)

Israel and Egypt, 1979 (#54)

Janesville elderly housing, 1979 (#902)

Jobs creation act, 1976 (#824)

Kennedy assassination, 1976 (#149)

Kennedy truck bill, 1979 (#38)

Kilpatrick article, 1976 (#156)

La Courte Oreilles conservation ordinance, 1976 (#143)

Labor

HEW bill [pro: veto over-ride], 1976 (#29)

HEW bill, 1977, 1979 (#63/24)

Law reform, 1977 (#166-67)

[Anti], 1978 (#2)

[Anti], 1978 (#2)

[Pro], 1978 (#1)

Proxmire vote, 1976

Labor unions in military, [anti], 1977 (#129 & #12)

Laetrile, 1977 (#17/116)

Lake Pewaukee sanitary district, 1976 (#908)

Large space telescope, 1976 (#63)

Limited income, 1979 (#70)

Limousine abuse, 1979 (#51)

Lobbying disclosure, 1976 (#154)

Locks and Dam #26

[Anti], 1976-1977 (#20/57/194)

[Pro], 1976-1977 (#78/174)

Long-Mondale day care, 1976 (#90/132)

Low-income housing, 1976 (#916)

M-1 rifle sale, 1978 (#20)

Magna Carta trip, 1976 (#113)

March newsletter [pro], 1979 (#49)

Marijuana, 1976, l1977 (#906)

Monagola forest ban, 1976 (#109)

Mental health, 1976 (#150)

Metric system [pro], 1976 (#917)

Middle River health facility, 1977 (#84)

Milwaukee

Boat launch ramp, 1979 (#58)

CB abuses, 1977 (#918)

Neighborhood security aides, 1976 (#111)

Mineral Point FBI speech, 1971 (#901)

Minimum wage

[Anti], 1975 (#18)

1977, (#48)

Motorcycle helmets, 1975 (#900)

Motorcycles on federal land, 1977 (#79)

NASA: lunar curatorial facility, 1976 (#93)

NSF

Funding, 1976 (#98/165)

Instructional implement, 1976 (#68)

Nambia, 1976 (#198)

National compensation standards [anti], 1977 (#77)

National consumer co-op bank, 1978 (#800)

National Eye Institute, 1976 (#155)

National Federation of Independent Business, 1975 (#914)

National Forests [save], 1976 (#133)

National health insurance [anti], 1979 (#4)

National Institute of Building Sciences, 1977 (#89)

Natural gas

Deregulation[anti], 1976 (#71)

Rate increase, 1976 (#182)

Needs of senior citizens, 1976 (#192)

New River, 1976 (#188)

New York City

, 1977-1979 (#802/878)

Loan, 1976 (#812)

Rent control, 1976 (#819-20)

[Anti], 1977 (#801)

Phase out, 1976 (#810-11)

Visit, 1978 (#806)

Nixon trip to China [anti], 1976 (#73)

No fault insurance [pro], 1976 (#66/100)

Nuclear power

[Anti], 1979 (#62)

[Pro] state veto, 1979 (#29)

Plant: Tyrone [anti], 1976 (#36)

Nurses, 1979 (#41/89)

Nursing homes, 1977 (#83)

Nutrition program 1976, 1979 (#118/36)

Oil company divestiture, 1976 (#97)