Records of the White House Office of Records Management (George H.W. Bush Administration)

This series contains message requests directly or indirectly related to education. Most of
the requests in this sub-category are for messages acknowledging graduations from secondary schools, colleges, and universities. Other large segments include message requests for elementary, secondary, and college reunions, as well as requests regarding the dedication of new education facilities, the start of education conferences, and the receipt of scholarships, honorary degrees, and other educational awards. With only minor exceptions, these requests resulted in messages from either the White House or the Department of Education. However, it should be noted that graduation and reunion messages were very rarely provided to individuals, but rather to the entire group. This category also contains numerous requests for messages specifically addressed to Barbara Bush. The vast majority of these requests concerned literacy programs or library dedications and were answered by the First Lady. The White House also consistently provided messages for graduates of drug awareness programs and attendees of drug-free graduation parties. The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports provided messages related to physical education and proper nutrition, but congratulatory messages for athletic teams winning championships were provided by the White House. Other messages, which are only indirectly related to education, include correspondence to musical groups, such as marching bands that performed in the inauguration and various parades, father/son meetings, and messages for college newspapers. Many of the messages sent by the White House during the last two years of the administration were used to promote Administration policies such as the America 2000 initiative. It should be noted that unless there was a specific person of importance or with connections to the Administration being honored, personal messages were not sent. Instead, all messages were addressed to the participating group. Also, as is true with all messages categories, the most important messages were sent by the White House, with appropriate departments, most often the Department of Education, sending messages to those groups deemed less important.