Bernard L(ouis) Boutin (#33)

An Inventory of His Personal Papers
1955-1966
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
Papers 1955-1966
Businessman, New Hampshire political figure, government official. Mayor of Laconia, NH (1955-59); Kennedy campaign worker (1960); Deputy Administrator, Administrator, General Services Administration (1961-64); Deputy Director, Office of Economic Opportunity (1965-68). Correspondence, memorandums, appointment books, schedules and speech files relating to New Hampshire politics, the 1960 Presidential campaign, the General Services Administration and the Office of Economic Opportunity.

Access
Open.

Usage Restrictions
According to the deed of gift signed May 1964, copyright of these materials has been retained by the donor for a period of thirty-five (35) years from the date of deed. After expiration of this period (1999), the literary property right in such writings shall pass to the United States.

Copyright
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excesses of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law. The copyright law extends its protection to unpublished works from the moment of creation in a tangible form. Direct your questions concerning copyright to the reference staff.

Provenance
Received from Bernard Boutin, (Acc. NK-37), (Acc. PX65-125), and (Acc. PX66-54).

Extent
About 16,000 pages (8 linear feet, 9 linear inches ; 10 cubic feet); 38 rolls of microfilm

Classified Items Withdrawn
Selected folders may contain withdrawal sheets where documents containing national security classified information were removed from this collection.

Withdrawn Items
Selected folders may contain withdrawal sheets where documents, in accordance with the donor's deed of gift, were removed from the collection. These include documents which may be used to injure or harass any living person.  All withdrawn documents have been placed under seal and 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
January 1980

Processed by
Jane Mertz and Bengt Nilsson

Encoded by
James M. Roth

Related Collections
Microfilm also on deposit in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library

The Personal Papers of Bernard L. Boutin (1923-   )

Biographical Note
Bernard L. Boutin was born in Belmont, N.H., on July 3, 1923, and graduated from St. Michael's College in Winooski, Vermont, in 1945. After graduating, Boutin returned to New Hampshire to work in his father's business. In 1955, he was elected mayor of Laconia, an office he held until 1959. During this time, he was a Democratic National Committeeman from New Hampshire until 1960. In 1958 and 1960, he made unsuccessful bids for the governorship of New Hampshire. Boutin also took part in John F. Kennedy's primary campaign in New Hampshire and was later coordinator of his presidential campaign in New Hampshire. In 1961, he was appointed deputy administrator of general services and served as acting administrator until he was appointed administrator in November, when John L. Moore resigned, serving until 1964. After a brief period as vice president of the National Association of Home Builders, Boutin was appointed deputy director of the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) in 1965. Boutin became director of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in 1966. He returned to New Hampshire in 1967 to serve as a consultant to an electronics firm. In 1968, he managed President Lyndon B. Johnson's write-in campaign in the New Hampshire primary. He was chosen to be president of St. Michael's College in 1969. In 1975, he was appointed executive vice president of Burlington Savings Bank, Burlington, Vermont. In 1976, he became president and treasurer of the bank. He retired in 1980.

Collection Overview
The collection is comprised of two mediums, microfilm and papers, which have been integrated physically in the boxes and intellectually in the finding aid. The General Services Administration (GSA) material, 1961- 1964, which comprises the bulk of this collection, consists largely of correspondence with the general public and members of Congress on legislation; on behalf of former or present GSA employees appealing personnel actions or constituents seeking jobs, contracts, excess property or materials; or on other matters concerning their states or districts. The papers relating to the GSA are divided into six sub- series. The Subject File is on microfilm and can serve as a subject index to the fifteen boxes of paper records in the Chronological File. The sub-series Reports to the White House contains GSA reports which were sent to the White House at three week intervals. They report on recent developments as well as future plans. These, too, could be helpful as a guide to the Chronological File. The other sub-series are Appointments, Correspondence and Deputy Administrator's File. The materials from the GSA period reflect government policies in the area of civil rights, including implementation' of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discrimination cases filed by government employees, desegregation of existing and proposed federal buildings and the policy of minority hiring in the case of firms which are working on government contracts. The collection also includes items relating to the newly formed Commission on the Status of Women; atomic power and emergency preparednes' including fallout shelters, civil defense, nuclear re9ctor facilities, electric rates; Cuba, specifically' nickel mining, highlighting the Nicaro plant, and claims against Cuba for property damages due to the revolution; construction or restoration of the World's Fair Pavilion in New York, the Museum of History and Technology at the Smithsonian, Lafayette Square, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Manned Space Craft Center in Houston, Blair House, urban renewal, post offices and other federal buildings. The papers also include documents relating to historic sites, such as the Dolley Madison House; disposition of surplus federal real estate, including Mitchell Field, Ellis Island and Alcatraz; sale of surplus government equipment; stockpiling of strategic materials; labor issues such as manpower utilization, unions for government employees, and dockstrikes in the east, the west, and Chicago; presidential libraries, especially plans for the construction of the Eleanor Roosevelt wing at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and of the John F. Kennedy Library; the National Archives; and funding of the offices of former presidents. Also included are items on the government's policies for providing disaster aid to Alaska after the 1963 earthquake; government policies toward the handicapped; the Peace Corps and VISTA programs; Appalachian area improvements; and the Agency for International Development, especially in Afghanistan, Laos and Thailand. Other subjects of interest are popular elections in the Virgin Islands, the modernization of the Voice of America, water pollution, and the Hughes wooden flying boat. The files contain letters and reports addressing issues related to the death of President Kennedy, subsequent memorials honoring him and provision of office space and staff for Mrs. Kennedy. Researchers will also want to consult the transcript of a 1964 oral history interview with Mr. Boutin, which is I available at the Library for research use. The Library/also has available 18 rolls of microfilm and one linear foot of official GSA records from this same period. The Deputy Director's File, Office of Economic Opportunity, documents Mr. Boutin's tenure with the OEO, 1965- 1966. These materials are divided into a Personal Correspondence sub-series and an Official Subject File sub- series. The Official Subject File is especially rich and contains material on many important subjects of the time, such as federal assistance to states and cities (including Tucson, Watts, Miami, Memphis, and Chicago) and Community Action Programs.

List of Series

Series Description

Series 1. Mayor of Laconia, 1955-1959.
Arrangement: alphabetical by type, thereunder chronological by year.

This series contains correspondence and other papers relating to tenure as mayor of Laconia, N.H., 1955-1959. It also contains scrapbooks with articles from The Laconia Evening Citizen relating to Mr. Boutin's public life prior to 1958.

Series 2. Boutin Campaign For Governor of N.H., 1957- 1959.
Arrangement: alphabetical by type, thereunder chronological by year.

Correspondence and other papers relating to Mr. Boutin's campaign for governor of New Hampshire. It also contains scrapbooks of articles relating to Mr. Boutin's campaign for governor of New Hampshire, 1958-1959.

Series 3. Kennedy 1960 Presidential Campaign, 1959-1961.
Arrangement: by subject.

Papers relating to John Kennedy's presidential campaign in New Hampshire, the 1960 Democratic National Convention and President Kennedy's inauguration. It also scrapbooks of articles relating to John Kennedy's campaign for president in New Hampshire.

Series 4. Honors and Social Correspondence.
Arrangement: by type.

This series contains a miscellaneous assortment of Mr. Boutin's awards, social correspondence and memberships.

Series 5. General Services Administration.

Subseries 5.1. Subject File, 1961-1964.
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.

This series contains correspondence relating to the General Services Administration. Researchers should note that this series could be used as a subject index to the Chronological File in boxes 5-16.

Subseries 5.2. Political Affairs.
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.

This series contains materials related to conventions, elections, campaigns, fund-raising, publicity, publications and speakers.

Subseries 5.3. Appointments, 1961-1964.
Arrangement: chronological by year.

This series contains Mr. Boutin's appointment books.

Subseries 5.4. Correspondence, 1961-1964.
Arrangement: chronologically by year.

This series contains correspondence and related papers.

Subseries 5.5. Reports to the White House, 1961-1963.
Arrangement: chronologically by year.

This series contains reports made to the White House every three weeks on the future plans and recent developments of GSA. Researchers should note that they could serve as a guide to the Chronological File.

Subseries 5.6. Deputy Administrator’s File, 1961.
Arragement: chronologically by year.

This series contains correspondence of the Deputy Administrator.

Subseries 5.7. Chronological File, 1961-1964.
Arrangement: chronologically by year.

This series contains letters, reports and memorandum, consisting largely of correspondence with the general public or members of Congress about legislation, personnel actions, and other GSA business.

Series 6. Deputy Director’s File, Office of Economic Opportunity, 1965-1966.

Subseries 6.1. Personal Correspondence, 1965-1966.
Arrangement: chronologically and by category.

This series contains personal letters of Mr. Boutin arranged chronologically on roll 1 and by category (congratulations, greetings, memberships, biographies, awards, and health) on roll 2.

Subseries 6.2. Official Subject File, 1965-1966.
Arrangement: alphabetical.

This series contains subject files with an additional internal alpha-numeric classification system. Consists largely of reports, letters and memorandum on the many subjects handled by OEO.