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

This series contains letters, reports, memoranda, enrolled bills, mail summaries, and testimony. Letters from the general public, members of Congress, business leaders, and special interest groups generally concern particular issues pending before Congress and often recommend a Presidential veto if legislation reaches the President. Routine responses from White House or cabinet staff generally accompany these letters. Perhaps the most important items in the entire series are the Weekly Legislative Reports filed by Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs Frederick McClure and later by his successor Nicholas Calio. These reports contain detailed information about Congressional activity, including the dates when legislation will be brought to the floor; cabinet members who will be testifying before Congress; and topics which will be discussed at meeting between the President and members of Congress. These reports trace the course of both administration supported bills and opposition legislation through Congress and were read weekly by the President as evidenced by his signature and comments on each draft. Often attached to the reports are summaries of mail received from members of Congress. Closely related to the Weekly Legislative Report sent to the President are the legislative reports sent to the Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs by each cabinet department legislative affairs office. These reports from such departments as Housing, Defense, Interior, State, and Commerce were used to compile the general weekly report to the President, and they provide detailed information about the legislative activities in each department. General reports within the series document the number of bills received by the White House annually with a description of each bill and a list of bills vetoes by the President. Other reports document key votes taken by members of Congress, as well as an analysis of each members support for the President’s positions. A particularly important report is the Legislative Issues Update which outlines each major issue of concern to the administration; provides the current status of legislation regarding each issue; and offers an outlook for future legislation relating to each issue. Memoranda in the series from White House staff members’ documents White House response to proposed legislation and bills received by the President for signature or veto. Memoranda from Richard Darman are often in the form of an outline of a particular bill and a notation of whether the President should sign it or not. Additional memoranda such as Statements of Administration Policy include Senior Advisors Veto Threats and contain detailed information about the administration’s views on particular legislation. Copies of enrolled bills often with minor editorial annotations are also included.