Records on Keith Geiger and the National Education Association

The materials in FOIA 2003-0716-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA 2003-0716-F contains materials related to Keith B. Geiger and the National Education Association. President George H.W. Bush appointed Keith Geiger, of Virginia, to his President's Education Policy Advisory Committee on October 24, 1989. Mr. Geiger served as president of the National Education Association (NEA) from 1989 until 1996. Prior to his election as NEA President, he served as vice president of the professional association for 6 years. Over the years of his membership, Geiger worked in numerous professional, political and negotiating capacities at several levels of the NEA including the Presidential Screening and Endorsement Committee, and delegate to two Democratic National Conventions. Additionally, Geiger was involved in a wide variety of community activities and professional organizations related to education. The NEA is a volunteer-based organization comprised of affiliates on the local, state, national, and international levels. Local members determine the variety and types of activities conducted in their communities. State affiliates regularly lobby legislators for the resources schools need, campaign for higher professional standards for the teaching profession, and file legal actions to protect academic freedom and the rights of school employees. At the national level, NEA lobbies Congress and federal agencies on behalf of its members and public schools, supports and coordinates innovative projects, works with other education organizations and friends of public education, and provides training and assistance to its affiliates in addition to other activities consistent with the policies set by its elected governing bodies. On the international front, NEA links educators around the world in an effort to improve schools' effectiveness. The WHORM Subject File categories contain correspondence, press releases, and news clippings from the general public and the Bush administration. Some of the correspondence is from citizens with an affiliation with the National Education Association writing in support of educational funding, civil rights, ending the crisis in the Persian Gulf, and the child care bill before congress. WHORM Subject File FG471 contains material related to the President's Education Policy Advisory Committee. Routine letters to committee members and meeting minutes are present. The Staff and Office Files contain correspondence, recommendations on presidential appointments, news clippings, news releases, and background information regarding a meeting with key national education association leaders. These materials are maintained by individual staff members and offices. The files of Gina Willis, from the White House Office of Policy Development, contain news releases, fact sheets, and correspondence regarding the National Education Association. Jane Leonard's files from the White House Office of Public Liaison include newspaper editorials, correspondence, news releases, American Education Week proclamation signing ceremony arrangements, education sponsors contact information, schedule proposals, appointment requests, draft proclamations, National Education Association publications and advertisements, Keith Geiger's biographical information, and correspondence related to the President's Education Policy Advisory Committee. Bush Vice Presidential WHORM Subject File records consist of invitations to various NEA-related events and correspondence related to comments made by the vice president. Read less