George D. O'Gorman (#8.20)

A Register of His White House Files, 1961-1963
In the John F. Kennedy Library
National Archives and Records Administration

Administrative Information
Biographical Note
Collection Overview
List of Series
Series Description

Administrative Information

Abstract
White House Staff Files 1961-1963
The Presidential Papers of John F. Kennedy.
Staff assistant, White House Office of Personnel. Correspondence and memorandums concerning White House
Regional Conferences (1961, 1963).

Access
Open.

Usage Restrictions
According to the letter of transfer 1965, copyright of these materials has been assigned to the United States.

Provenance
The White House staff files of George D. O'Gorman, coordinator of the White House Regional Conference, were donated to the John F. Kennedy Library in 1965 as part of the papers of John F. Kennedy.

Extent
About 8,500 pages (4 linear feet, 5 linear inches ; 5.0 cubic feet).

Withdrawn Items
Number of items closed: 5
Documents which, if published, would result in unwarranted invasion of personal privacy have been removed and placed under seal. Document withdrawal sheets have been inserted in the file where items have been removed. Upon request the Kennedy Library will review any material which has been closed for a period of not less than 2 years for the purpose of opening items which no longer require restrictions. Researchers should consult the reference staff to obtain the appropriate form(s).

Date Opened
1981

Processed by
Martin F. McGann

Encoded by
James M. Roth

Related Collections
Robert F. Kennedy Attorney General Papers, General Correspondence
Richardson White Personal Papers
David Hackett Oral History Interview

The White House Files of George D. O'Gorman (1916- )

Biographical Note
As staff assistant to President Kennedy, George O'Gorman coordinated the White House Regional Conferences held in 1961 and did some of the early planning work for the 1963 Conferences. Originally selected for a position in the Post Office Department, O'Gorman was shifted to the personnel section of the White House in 1961.

Collection Overview
The Presidential papers of John F. Kennedy consist of several major bodies of research material. The White House Central Subject File is the principal White House file. The White House Name File contains copies of most incoming correspondence arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent and is cross-referenced to the Subject File. The Chronological File contains copies of documents prepared for the President's signature and is also cross-referenced to the Subject File. The Social File contains the records of the White House Social Office and includes the correspondence of the First Lady. The President's Office File contains the papers maintained by the President's personal secretary for his use. The National Security File contains the records of the staff of the special assistant to the President for national security affairs.

In addition, in what were called in the White House "storage" or "overflow" files are found various miscellaneous materials and the records of the offices of most members of the President's staff. The files described in this finding aid constitute one of the series of White House staff files included in the Presidential papers of John F. Kennedy.

The White House staff files of George D. O'Gorman generally cover the period of August 1961 to August 1963. The bulk of the material is from 1961. The files document all planning and reporting aspects of the White House Regional Conferences held in major cities throughout the country during November 1961. In addition, a small amount of material on the 1963 Conferences details initial planning for those Conferences. The files are arranged alphabetically by subject as originally filed in the White House.

The collection included twenty boxes of preregistration and registration cards for the panel sessions conducted at each of the 1961 Conferences. These cards were originally arranged by the particular state and city in which the Conference was held; and sometimes further arranged by panel session or, in a few instances, arranged alphabetically for a particular panel session. Because of their limited historical and long-term research value and because of their bulk, the decision was made to retain only a sample of these cards. There was a list of preregistrants for one session of the 1961 San Francisco Conference rather than a set of cards; that list has been retained. The sample cards and the list of preregistrants have been incorporated into the collection, and researchers should consult the series and folder title listing of this register for the exact locations.

Researchers interested in further study of the topics discussed at the White House Regional Conferences should consult the David Hackett oral history interview and the personal papers of Richardson White. A small amount of material on the White House Regional Conference of 1963 may be found in the Robert F. Kennedy Attorney General Papers, General Correspondence. The David Hackett interview and the Richardson White and Robert Kennedy papers are all at the Kennedy Library.

List of Series
Series 1. White House Regional Conference, 1961.
Series 2. White House Regional Conference, 1963.

Series Description

Series 1. White House Regional Conference, 1961.
About 8,300 items (9.5 boxes)
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject

Files document all planning and reporting aspects of the White House Regional Conferences held in major cities throughout the country during November 1961. Correspondence, program and background information, schedules for panelists, press releases, reports and speeches.

Box 1	Overall
		Advancemen [see also Publicity and Travel] Correspondence
			Outgoing (Origins of the White House Regional Conference)
				8/61 9/1/61 - 9/12/61 9/13/61 - 9/24/61 9/25/61 - 3/9/62
			Incoming (Origins of the White House Regional Conference)
				7/18/61 - 8/20/61 8/21/61 - 9/7/61 9/8/61 - 9/30/61 10/61 - 3/62 Proposed Sites for White House Regional Conference
			Congressional [2 folders, see also Correspondence: Outgoing. This file is not complete] Democratic National Committee
				8/22/61 - 8/28/61 8/29/61 Undated
			Thank-You Letters
				Lists Washington, D.C. Area
					From the President From White House Staff
		Evaluations of the Conference Expenses and General Accounting Office Investigation
			8/61 - 1/62 2/62 - 4/62
Box 2			5/62 - 6/62 7/62 - 9/62 10/62 - 3/63
		Panelists Press Kit
			Introduction and List of Speakers and Panelists Agency Publications [3 folders] Programs
				Chicago, Illinois, 11/7/61 - 11/8/61 Cleveland, Ohio, 11/l4/61 - 11/15/61 Detroit, Michigan, 11/14/61 - 11/15/61 Los Angeles, California, 11/20/61 - 11/21/61 Nashville, Tennessee, 11/9/61 - 11/10/61 New York, New York, 11/16/61 - 11/17/61 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 11/16/61 - 11/17/61 San Francisco, California, 11/20/61 - 11/21/61 St. Louis, Missouri, 11/7/61 - 11/8/61
Box 3		Publicity
			General Clippings White House Press Releases
		Report to the President
			Preparation of Published Report Requests for and Correspondence Regarding
				1/62 2/62 - 5/62
		Speakers Travel
	Subjects
		Conservation and Recreation Development
			Background, Reports, Speech Panel Transcripts
		Farm and Rural Progress
			Panel Transcripts
				11/13/61 [2 folders] 11/14/61 - 11/20/61 and undated
			Report and Speech
		Full Employment and Economic Growth
			Background and Planning
Box 4			Reports Speeches
				10/26/61 - 11/15/61 11/16/61 11/17/61 - 11/27/61
			Economic Recovery and Growth
				Panel Transcripts Question and Answer Transcripts Reports and Comments
			Manpower and Automation
				Panel Transcripts Question and Answer Transcripts Reports and Comments
			Mobilizing Local Initiative
				Panel Transcripts Question and Answer Transcripts Reports and Comments
			Safeguards Against Human Distress
				Panel Transcripts Question and Answer Transcripts
		Opportunities for Our Cities
			Background and Planning Urban Renewal Proposal
		Opportunities for Senior Citizens
			Background and Planning Reports Speeches Better Living for Later Years Better Opportunities for Health and Welfare
		Opportunities for Youth
			Background and Planning
Box 5			Reports Speeches Questions and Answers (Written and Oral) Expanded Opportunities for Youth Youth Problems and Problem Youth [includes material on Expanded Opportunities for Youth]
				11/7/61 - 11/21/61 11/21/61
	Cities
		California, Los Angeles, 11/20/61 - 11/21/61
			Correspondence
				9/23/61 - 10/23/61 10/24/61 - 2/20/62
			Panelists Press, Radio, TV Program and Background Information Registration Cards Reports Thank-You Letters Sent [Including Arizona]
		California, San Francisco, 11/20/61 - 11/21/61
			Correspondence
				9/61 - 10/61 11/61 - 7/62
			Panelists Pre-registration List for Panel Session on Opportunities for Youth Press, Radio, TV Program and Background Information Reports
Box 6			Thank-You Letters Sent
				Lists and A – B C – J K - Z and Nevada Letters
		Colorado, Denver, 11/13/61
			Correspondence Governor's Conference, 10/7/61 Panelists Press, Radio, TV Program and Background Information Reports Speeches Thank-You Letters Sent
		Illinois, Chicago, 11/7/61 - 11/8/61
			Correspondence
				7/28/61 - 10/18/61 10/19/61 - 2/9/61
			Panelists Pre-registration Cards Press, Radio, TV Program and Background Information Reports Speeches Thank-You Letters Sent [Including Indiana]
		Michigan, Detroit, 11/14/61 - 11/15/61
			Correspondence
				8/16/61 - 11/9/61 11/10/61 - 2/9/62 and undated
Box 7			Panelists Pre-registration Cards Press, Radio, TV Program and Background Information Reports, Speeches Thank-You Letters Sent
				Lists A – G H – Z
		Missouri, St. Louis, 11/7/61 - 11/8/61
			Correspondence
				9/13/61 - 10/31/61 11/1/61 - 2/13/62 and undated
			Panelists Pre-registration Cards
				Full Employment and Economic Growth Opportunities for Our Cities Opportunities for Our Youth Opportunities for Senior Citizens
			Press, Radio, TV Program and Background Information Reports Speeches Thank-You Letters Sent
				Lists and A – G G –L M – Z
		New York, New York, 11/16/61 - 11/17/61
			Correspondence
				9/23/61 - 10/22/61 10/23/61 - 2/12/62
			Panelists Pre-registration and Registration Cards Press, Radio, TV Program and Background Information Reports, Speeches Thank-You Letters Sent Summary Report
Box 8				Tabs A – C Tabs D – E Tabs F – I Tabs J – L Tab M Tab N
		Ohio, Cleveland, 11/14/61 - 11/15/61
			Correspondence Field Trip – Forbes Panelists Press, Radio, TV, Speeches Program and Background Information Registration Cards Reports Thank-You Letters Sent
		Oregon, Portland, 11/21/61
			Correspondence Panelists, Press, Radio, TV Program and Background Information Reports, Speeches
		Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 11/16/61 - 11/17/61
			Correspondence Panelists
Box 9			Press, Radio, TV Program and Background Information Registration Cards Reports Thank-You Letters Sent
				Lists and A - F G - L M - Z New Jersey Delaware
		Tennessee, Nashville, 11/9/61 - 11/10/61
			Correspondence
				9/18/61 - 12/1/61 12/2/61 - 3/5/62
			Lists of People Who Attended the White House Conference Panelists, Speeches Pre-registration Press, Radio, TV Program and Background Information Reports Thank-You Letters Sent
				Lists and A – G H - Z and Alabama Letters
		Texas, Houston, 11/9/61 - 11/10/61 [Not Held]
			Correspondence Press, Radio, TV
Box 10		Washington, Seattle, 11/20/61
			Correspondence Panelists, Speeches Program and Background Information Radio, Press, TV Reports Thank-You Letters Sent
		Wisconsin, Madison, 11/13/61
			Correspondence Panelists, Reports, Speeches Press, Radio, TV Program and Background Information Thank-You Letters Sent
				Lists and A - H J – Z

Series 2. White House Regional Conference, 1963.
About 200 pages (0.5 box)
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.

Initial planning material for program and background information for Conferences that were never held in 1963.

Box 10	Overall
		Program and Background Information [8 folders]

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