SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

SERIES 1:  PERSONAL/POLITICAL                                            Boxes 1 - 169

Series 1, Sub-series 8:  Presidential Campaign Files                      Boxes 83 - 129.3

Browse the Presidential Campaign Sub-series collection

The presidential campaign files sub-series contains forty-nine cubic feet of records documenting John Glenn's unsuccessful bid for the Democratic Party nomination in the 1984 presidential election.  Compiled by the various offices within the John Glenn Presidential Committee (JGPC), the records date from 1979 to 1988, though the bulk of the materials date from 1982 through 1984.  Glenn seriously began contemplating a presidential campaign shortly after his landslide re-election victory in 1980.  In 1981 he started to build a national presence within the Democratic Party by campaigning for local Democratic candidates around the country.  By 1982 he was traveling extensively to party events in various states.  Glenn and his staff made a major effort to win support within the party at the Democratic National Party Mid-Term Conference held in Philadelphia during June 1982.  Early polls placed Glenn ahead of other potential party candidates in an election against the incumbent Republican president, Ronald Reagan.  Boosted by these favorable poll results and the decision by Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts not to enter the race, and supported by his close friends and political advisors, Glenn opened his formal campaign with an announcement speech given on April 21, 1983 at his alma mater, Muskingum College located in his hometown of New Concord, Ohio.

Glenn's campaign initially met with some success and he continued to place well in the polls during the summer of 1983.  By late fall, however, his campaign began to suffer the effects of poor organization, bickering over strategy within the ranks of his advisors, unchecked spending by members of his campaign staff, and the better run campaigns of candidates Walter Mondale and Gary Hart.  In early 1984 his campaign committee was forced to obtain substantial loans from various banks in Ohio in order to continue the campaign.  Glenn placed poorly, however, in both the Iowa caucuses and in the New Hampshire primary.  He continued in the race with the hope that wins in the important southern states of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, all participants in the March "Super Tuesday" primary elections, would help his campaign regain some positive momentum.  Results from the "Super Tuesday" primary effectively ended Glenn's campaign as he placed behind both Mondale and Hart.  He withdrew from the campaign on March 16, 1984.

Senator Glenn's presidential campaign is well documented by the records found within the sub-series.  Also documented are the various domestic and foreign policy issues prevalent during this time in American politics.  Records in the sub-series are arranged by type into the following eighteen categories.

The two and one-quarter cubic feet of briefing books date from 1981 through 1984 and contain materials compiled on various campaign topics into three ring binders for use by both Senator Glenn and campaign staff members.  Included are books on general campaign strategies, progress reports, labor unions, women voters, and campaign policy issues.  The policy issue books consist of staff memoranda, talking points, speeches, background materials, correspondence, and newspaper clippings separated by topic into books on foreign policy and defense issues, books on economic issues, and books on other domestic issues.  Other briefing books pertain to Glenn's campaign efforts and organization within individual states.  Most of these state books are on Iowa, New Hampshire, and the various southern states voting in the March "Super Tuesday" primary.  State books contain information on the state's Democratic Party organization, Glenn's campaign strategy for the state, campaign workers within the state, important dates and events leading up to the state's primary election, and clippings of articles on the campaign published by the state's newspapers.  Also included are books on the campaign efforts and appearances by Glenn's wife, Annie, and his children, David Glenn and Lyn Glenn-Freedman.  Briefing books within the sub-series are arranged alphabetically by title.  Additional campaign briefing books are located in Senator Glenn's personal files described below.

The budget and finance files consist of two and three-quarters cubic feet of materials, dated 1983 through 1987, pertaining to the revenue and expenses of Senator Glenn's official campaign committee, the John Glenn Presidential Committee (JGPC).  The committee manager was William R. White, who in 1983 left his position as the administrative assistant in Glenn's senate office to run the presidential campaign.  The sub-series consists of subject files arranged alphabetically by folder heading and includes general correspondence and memoranda files for 1984 and 1985, files on the bank loans given to the committee in January 1984, and records of committee audits done by the Federal Election Commission.  Also included are general files containing spreadsheets and memoranda on the various JGPC budgets projected for the years 1983 and 1984, along with files containing summaries of actual payroll costs.  Other files were kept on the various consultants used by the committee, the committee's legal firm, and the committee's accounting firm.  From the accounting firm are extensive manuals on policy and procedures for the committee's basic bookkeeping and for the tracking of campaign contributions.  Additional files contain the JGPC's articles of incorporation, its organizational structure, and listings of the committee's advisory board, advisory committee, and national advisory council.  The budget and finance files, coupled with the reports listed in the Federal Election Commission files described below, offer detailed documentation on the monetary costs involved in Glenn's presidential bid.

Senator Glenn's long-time political advisor, Mary Jane Veno, and her staff compiled the four cubic feet of event files in the sub-series.  The records date from 1982 through 1984 and pertain to Glenn's travel to the multitude of fund-raisers, rallies, and other political events he participated in prior to and during his presidential campaign.  Individual files may include notes, memoranda, correspondence, and other materials relating to travel arrangements, the event or events attended on a particular trip, and some follow-up work by staff members.  The majority of the files are arranged in chronological order by the trip dates.  The 1982 files list the trip location, name of the event, and date.  Files for 1983 and 1984 trips list only the travel locales by state and date.  Following the 1982 event files are a set of folders containing received invitations filed by state.  Arranged after 1983-1984 trip files are numerous folders on staff follow-up efforts.  These follow-up records include three sets of files.  The first set contains notes on and correspondence with the contacts established during trips made by Glenn from April 1983 through February 1984.  The second set has listings of, along with talking points for, the follow-up telephone calls Senator Glenn placed to potential supporters and contributors from March 1983 through March 1984.  The third set of files consists of standard follow-up worksheets filled out by campaign staff members from April 1983 to February 1984.  Also included in the event files are a small number of general correspondence and subject files.

The Exploratory Committee files consist of only one-half cubic foot of materials dated 1981 to 1983.  The majority of this material pertains to an extensive listing containing the names and addresses of Democratic Party office holders and officials and various Glenn supporters.  The committee compiled the listing for a mailing sent out about the formal announcement of Glenn's presidential campaign.  Also included are a number of files on the Commission on Presidential Nominations (Hunt Commission) formed by the Democratic National Committee to study the nominating process.  Other files contain copies of three significant speeches Glenn delivered early in his campaign- his June 25, 1982 speech to the Democratic National Party Mid-Term Conference, his speech to the Gridiron Club in Washington, D.C. given on March 12, 1983, and his announcement speech of April 21, 1983.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) files contain five cubic feet of correspondence and reports dating from 1979 to 1987, though the bulk of the materials date from 1982 to 1985.  The records consist of the official reports filed with the FEC by the John Glenn Presidential Committee (JGPC) and various letters about the filings written between the commission and the JGPC.  Included in the FEC files are correspondence and documents pertaining to complaints against the JGPC submitted to the FEC by various third parties.  These files date from 1984 to 1987 and are arranged by the commission's MUR (Matter Under Review) number.  Other files contain the reports and submissions for federal campaign matching funds made to the commission by the JGPC during 1983 and 1984.  The matching funds files also include documents on an audit conducted by the FEC in 1986 of the matching funds received by the JGPC.  Additional files contain information on the JGPC's net outstanding campaign obligations during 1984 and 1985.  The bulk of the FEC files are taken up by the official "Reports on Receipts and Disbursements" sent to the commission by Glenn's campaign committee.  These chronologically arranged reports were filed with the FEC on a quarterly basis from 1982 through 1985.  Contained within the reports are listings of contributions arranged by type of contributor and information on the committee's campaign spending.  Along with the reports are letters and documents having to do with various questions about the filings raised by the FEC and the subsequent replies sent in by the campaign committee.

The four and one half cubic feet of fund raising files date from 1979 to 1985, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1983 to 1984.  The records are arranged into three categories- events, matching funds, and subject files.  The one cubic foot of events files include correspondence, memoranda, contributor listings, follow-up documents, and financial summary sheets on the major fund-raising events organized by the John Glenn Presidential Committee (JGPC) during and immediately after Glenn's presidential campaign.  The materials are filed by event and arranged chronologically by event date.  The matching funds records comprise one-half cubic foot of materials arranged alphabetically by state.  These records document the JGPC's efforts during 1983 to raise the minimum amount of money from various states across the country as required by law to secure federal campaign matching funds.  A variety of listings compiled by the JGPC's fund-raising staff comprise most of the three cubic feet of materials located within the subject files.  The listings include campaign contributors arranged by state, listings of high dollar donors, and multiple listings of potential donors filed by type or source.  The subject files also include a few folders of chronologically arranged correspondence and memoranda.  Other subject files pertain to fund-raising projects and ideas developed by both JGPC staff members and outside consultants.

The issue and policy files consist of two and one-half cubic feet of materials, dated 1982 to 1984, documenting Senator Glenn's position on the issues prevalent during the 1984 presidential campaign.  A major part of the records consists of a series of folders containing short, one to two page statements on the Glenn campaign's policy towards a wide range of domestic and foreign policy issues.  These statements are arranged alphabetically by topic, from abortion to youth.  Another set of files contains the major policy speeches made by Senator Glenn during the campaign.  The issue and policy files also include background materials compiled by the John Glenn Presidential Committee (JGPC) staff and used to formulate Glenn's policy statements.  Originally housed in three ring binders, this background material is arranged alphabetically by subject from agriculture to youth.  Other background files hold materials on the economy, Glenn's legislative record, and minority affairs.  Also originally housed in three ring binders is the "Campaign Policy Statements Book."  This book provides a series of statements on various domestic and foreign policy issues alphabetically arranged by subject.  Other folders contain background materials, issue briefs, talking points, and articles written by Senator Glenn on foreign policy and arms control.  In addition, the policy and issues files contain copies of numerous questionnaires sent to the JGPC by special interest groups.

The two and one-half cubic feet of materials in the Annie Glenn files date from 1982 to 1984 and consist of a series of subject files arranged alphabetically by folder heading.  The records document the participation of John Glenn's wife, Annie, in her husband's presidential campaign.  A large percentage of the files consist of travel records, arranged by state, for the campaign trips Mrs. Glenn took and the events she participated in either alone or with Senator Glenn.  The travel files may include schedules, briefing books, correspondence, and follow-up materials.  Also included in Mrs. Glenn's files are her campaign speeches and a substantial series of correspondence arranged alphabetically by author name.  The correspondence includes both letters sent to Mrs. Glenn and copies of her replies.  Another series of folders contains materials on the work Mrs. Glenn undertook by mail and telephone to follow-up on contacts made during her campaign travels.

The presidential campaign sub-series includes two and one-half cubic feet of records originally housed in boxes marked JHG's files.  It is unclear from the records themselves who, if anyone other than Senator Glenn, compiled these files, though Mary Jane Veno's name is found on many of the materials.  Ms. Veno was the Senator's personal assistant who traveled with him throughout the campaign.  The records date from 1981 to 1984 and consist of a series of subject files arranged alphabetically by folder heading.  Included are some general correspondence and memoranda files.  Other memoranda are filed under the names of campaign advisors and staff members, most notably that of William R. White, Glenn's campaign manager.  Senator Glenn's files include briefing books on campaign staff, campaign issues, and campaign strategy.  Other briefing books relate to labor strategy and the National Women's Political Caucus.  Additional files pertain to the consultants hired by the John Glenn Presidential Committee, policy topics, Glenn's voting record, interviews, and campaign appearances.  Of particular note are files containing Glenn's background materials and notes used in preparation for campaign debates and files kept on various campaign strategy meetings.

The two cubic feet of Lyn Glenn Freedman files consist of a series of subject files dating from 1983 to 1984.  Alphabetically arranged by folder heading, these files document the campaign work performed by Senator Glenn's daughter, Lyn Glenn Freedman.  Most of her files pertain to the travel and appearances Ms. Freedman made during the campaign.  Her campaign trips centered on Iowa, New Hampshire, and the southern states that participated in the March "Super Tuesday" primary election, with the majority of her campaign appearances separate from those of Senator Glenn.  The trip files are arranged by state and may include schedules, correspondence, briefing books, newspaper clippings, and follow-up documents.  Ms. Freedman's files also include her campaign speeches and a series of issues and policy files.

The one cubic foot of miscellaneous files contains materials not readily appropriate to arrange within the other sixteen categories of the presidential campaign records.  The files include information on the standing committees of the 1984 Democratic Party National Convention, along with a listing by state of the convention delegates and alternatives.  Other files contain materials on the volunteers and interns used by the John Glenn Presidential Committee.  Of note within the miscellaneous files are the records of Senator Glenn's political action committee, the National Council on Public Policy.  Files on this organization include memoranda from 1984 to 1988 and copies of reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission from 1982 through 1988.

The Ohio Office files consist of four and one-quarter cubic feet of records compiled by the office maintained in Ohio by the John Glenn Presidential Committee (JGPC).  The records are divided into the two categories of fund-raising files and subject files.  The one cubic foot of fund-raising files provides information on the efforts by the Ohio office to raise money for the campaign within Ohio and other areas of the Mid-West.  The records date from 1983 to 1985 and are arranged alphabetically by event location or event name.  Items within the event files may include correspondence, memoranda, schedules, listings of invitations sent and donations received, and follow-up documents.  The files also include some general information on fund-raising planning and goals.  The three and one-quarter cubic feet of subject files date from 1981 to 1984 and are arranged alphabetically by folder heading.  This set of files includes some general correspondence and information on the JGPC's organization and strategy in Ohio.  Also included is a series of files on the selection of Glenn delegates in the Ohio caucus of the Democratic Party, along with extensive documentation on the formation and functioning of the Ohio Steering Committee, the JGPC's grass roots organization in Ohio.  In addition, the subject files document the "Buckeye Brigade," an organization of Ohio volunteers involved in telephone and mailing projects to solicit support for Senator Glenn's candidacy.  Members of the organization also traveled to Iowa and New Hampshire to canvas votes door to door and acted as surrogate speakers at campaign events.

The records in the one cubic foot of Pennsylvania Office files are rather limited in scope.  The files date from 1983 to 1984 and, in general, pertain to the selection of Pennsylvania delegates to the 1984 Democratic Party National Convention.  These delegate files are arranged numerically by congressional district.  Also included are a limited number of correspondence and memoranda files, along with some press releases and information on fund-raising and labor unions.

The Press Office files consist of three and one-half cubic feet of newspaper and magazine clippings, dated 1981 to 1985, and two and one-quarter cubic feet of subject files, dated 1981 to 1984.  The magazine and newspaper clippings were compiled by members of Glenn's campaign staff and are arranged into five sets of files - magazine, general, publication, state, and candidate.  The magazine files contain copies of feature articles about Senator Glenn published in national magazines from 1981 to 1984.  The articles are arranged alphabetically by magazine title.  Located within the general clippings files are daily news summaries consisting of photocopies of the newspaper and magazine articles written that day on both the Glenn campaign and the Democratic primary campaign in general.  The general files are in chronological order from April 1983 through February 1984.  Articles on the campaign written by a particular newspaper or magazine are filed by publication in the publication files.  These files contain clippings from the larger daily newspapers published in Ohio, from prominent newspapers published in major American cities, and from weekly news magazines.  The state files are arranged alphabetically by state and contain clippings of articles on the campaign from newspapers published within a particular state.  The amount of clippings per state and the date span within the files is inconsistent.  Most state files date from April through August 1983, though some have coverage from January 1983 through January 1984.  Candidate files contain newspaper and magazine articles written about Glenn's opponents in the 1984 Democratic presidential primary campaign.

The press office subject files are arranged alphabetically by folder heading and cover a wide range of campaign topics.  Prominent within the files are Senator Glenn's campaign speeches, press releases, interviews, and press conferences.  Other files pertain to various campaign events in which Senator Glenn participated that attracted general media attention, such as forums, conferences, conventions, and debates.  Also included are files on the campaign advertisements and media consultants used by the John Glenn Presidential Committee.  In addition, the subject files contain some staff memoranda, filed both by author name and within general folders.

The one cubic foot of research and polling files date from 1982 to 1984 and contain the printed results from a variety of national and local polls taken during the 1984 presidential election.  The polls cover national issues, the Democratic primary elections, and the performance of the incumbent president, Ronald Reagan.  Files include such nationally recognized polls at Harris, Gallup, and ABC News/Washington Post, along with other newspaper polls and private polling companies.  Other files contain poll results and analysis conducted by the National Democratic Party.  Also included are research and polling information tabulated by various consulting firms hired by the John Glenn Presidential Committee.  Notable among these records are three June 1983 surveys on the Glenn campaign done in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Alabama by the Hamilton and Staff Company.  Also of note are staff memoranda on the question of participation by the Glenn campaign in various straw polls during 1983.

The files of schedules/briefing books consist of four cubic feet of travel files dating from April 1981 to June 1984.  The files document the campaign trips and appearances made by Senator Glenn prior to, during, and immediately after his bid for the 1984 Democratic presidential nomination.  Arranged in chronological order by trip date, the travel files include a detailed daily schedule and a briefing book on the people Glenn is scheduled to meet, the places he is to visit, the events he is to participate in, and the issues he can expect to discuss during that particular trip.  Individual trip files also may include correspondence and memoranda, guest lists, speeches, and newspaper clippings.  In conjunction with the travel files are daily telephone logs listing the calls received by the campaign scheduling office, with brief notes about the subject discussed or action taken.  Also supplementing the travel files are a series of files containing log sheets recording, by county, the trips Senator Glenn made to Ohio and the trips he made to out-of-state locales from 1980 to 1983.

The one-half cubic foot of Western Office files date from 1982 to 1984 and contain some documentation on the efforts by the John Glenn Presidential Committee to organize support in the western part of the country.  Most files are headed by the name of an individual western state and contain correspondence and memoranda on the contacts made, the invitations received, the trips scheduled, and the follow-up work performed in that particular state.

The William R. White files consist of two and one-half cubic feet of records compiled by the manager of John Glenn's 1984 presidential campaign.  Dating from 1981 to 1988, the files contain briefing books, correspondence and memorandum, financial records, and some subject file materials.  The briefing books cover a range of topics, including the reasons why John Glenn entered the campaign, fund raising, debates, strategy, and legislative issues and policy.  The files of  memorandum include an assort of significant documents about the campaign arranged by author as compiled by Mr. White.  The financial documents pertain mostly to the loans made to the JGPC by various banks in February 1984 and the efforts made to pay off the loans between 1984 and 1988.  Noteworthy topics within the subject files include campaign advisory groups, the JGPC headquarters policy and procedure manual, and the Hunt Commission on Presidential Nominations.