RONALD REAGAN 1980 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN PAPERS, 1964-1980: Series III

Folders noted as “Open” may still contain closed material due to Freedom of Information Act restrictions. Most frequent withdrawn material is national security classified material, personal privacy, protection of the President, etc. Folders noted as closed are subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA).

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Series List

SERIES III: Ed Meese Files, 1976-1980

The Ed Meese Files contain Material reflecting his activities as Chief of Staff for Ronald Reagan’s 1980 Presidential campaign. While the Material dates back to Ronald Reagan’s 1976 campaign for the presidency, Meese appears to have incorporated these files into the 1980 records.

At one point Meese used a complex filing system (copies available) of 39 series and sub-series. Unfortunately the folder titles did not usually include any series information, and it was not possible for us to re-create the original file system. For the purpose of this arrangement, series names were created to direct the researcher to the type of Material in the folders.

Subseries A: Finance and Budget: This subseries contains Material reflecting the financing of a presidential campaign. Additional Material reflecting campaign finances are found in other series as well, especially Campaign Operations.

Subseries B: Campaign Planning: This subseries consists of mostly notes, Background Material, agendas, and other Material from meetings that took place during the campaign period. Also included are campaign strategy Memos.

Subseries C: Campaign Operations: This subseries comprises one of the larger portions of the Meese files, and draws together material documenting the important issues and activities of the campaign. These files include most of Meese’s original 39 series and subseries, covering the earliest campaign efforts through to Election Day 1980.

Subseries D: Correspondence: Correspondence was compiled from all material within this collection. It appears the campaign tried to categorize the correspondence, it was not completed. The original file categories were retained, and there under placed in chronological order.

Subseries E: Memos: Material within this subseries was scattered throughout the Meese materials and were gathered as a memorandum collection. Original folder titles were retained, and the entire subseries is arranged chronologically.

Subseries F: Ronald Reagan: This subseries consists of materials about, created by, or annotated by Ronald Reagan. Documents annotated by Ronald Reagan can be found throughout this series.

Subseries G: Subject File: Material within this subseries is related to issues associated with the campaign. It mostly consists of of reports, clippings, publications and other background material about issues.

Subseries H: Convention: This subseries reflects activities and issues associated with the 1980 Republican National Convention in Detroit, MI.

Subseries I: Debate: This subseries reflects issues and activities associated with the Presidential debates between Ronald Reagan and President Jimmy Carter and/or John Anderson.

Subseries J: Meese Personal: This material was specifically marked “Personal” and reflect Meese’s activities or documents that were not widely shared. Given the small number of folders it is possible that other personal items might be found in the Campaign Operations and Correspondence series.

Subseries K: Schedules: This subseries contains material and logistical information about specific events.

Subseries L: Tour Files were grouped together and are very much like the Schedule Files, except that they are mostly from the last three months of the campaign, when Ronald Reagan was doing a tremendous amount of traveling.

Subseries M: Staff / Advisors: This subseries contains material regarding campaign staff, consultants and advisors.

Subseries N: Speeches / Statements: This subseries contains mostly copies of selected speech and statement drafts, which Meese likely received because of his position as a high level advisor to Ronald Reagan.

Subseries O: Briefing Books: The material within this subseries consists of briefing books prepared for various policies, issues and events, and contain memos, background and logistical information likely to be useful to Ronald Reagan and campaign staff.

Subseries P: Background Material: This subseries consists of background information on campaign issues and is mostly from published sources.

Subseries Q: Clipping File: This subseries consists of newspaper clippings drawn from clipping services, such as the Republican National Committee and Deaver and Hannaford. The Reagan campaign itself generated clippings, and Meese’s copies are housed here.

Subseries A: Finance and Budget

Subseries B: Campaign Planning

Subseries C: Campaign Operations

Subseries D: Correspondence File

Subseries E: Memos

Subseries F: Ronald Reagan

Subseries G: Subject File

Subseries H: Convention

SERIES III: Ed Meese Files

SUBSERIES I: Debate Files

SUBSERIES J: Meese Personal

Subseries L: Tour Files

SUBSERIES M: Staff and Advisors

Subseries O: Briefing Books

Record Type

Textual

Last Modified Date

2024-05-16

WHORM Alpha File

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RONALD REAGAN 1980 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN PAPERS, 1964-1980: Series III

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