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

This series contains unclassified White House cover sheets, which route other documents, and correspondence from U.S. and State Senators and Congressmen, governors, mayors, city councils, retired military personnel, attorneys, religious leaders, and private citizens, including elementary school children. The bulk of the correspondence opposes the closure of, or cutbacks at, specific Army, Navy, and Air Force bases, stations, shipyards, R and D labs, and training facilities as determined by the Defense Secretary's Commission on Base Realignment and Closure. In addition to opposing base closures, some of the correspondence suggests possible future uses for closed bases, such as transferring the land to the Department of the Interior for a wildlife preserve or using the land for a public airport. Also included are responses to many of these letters from White House staff and representatives from the Air Force, Navy, and Army. Resolutions from City Councils, Townships, and other local organizations oppose base closure, mostly for economic reasons. Reports and papers include a legal analysis by the Congressional Research Service on the benefits of transferring base land to the Fish and Wildlife Service and a report from the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce opposing the closure of the local Naval Shipyard. Printed Material consists of newspaper clippings regarding the impact of proposed base closure, background information on bases and their relationship to their communities, and proposed future uses for closed bases.