Hechler, Kenneth Papers

Dates: 1948-2001

See also Ken Hechler oral history and files.

Special Assistant in the White House Office, 1950-1953.

The Kenneth Hechler Papers contain book drafts, letters, handwritten notes, memorabilia, memoranda, newspaper clippings, notes, pamphlets, press releases, reports, speech drafts, and telegrams related to Hechler’s service at the White House during the Truman Administration.

[Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List]

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Size: 3 linear feet, 1 linear inches.
Access: Open.
Copyright: The donor gave to the U.S. government their copyrights in this material and in any other material received by the U.S. government and maintained in a depository administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. Documents created by U.S. government officials in the course of their official duties are in the public domain. Copyright interest in other documents presumably belongs to the creators of those documents, or their heirs.
Processed by: C.W. Ohrvall and Harold F. Smith (1986); Tammy K. Williams (2023).


[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

1914 (September 20)

  

Born, Roslyn, Long Island, New York

1935

  

A.B., Swarthmore (Pa.) College

1936

  

A.M., Columbia University

1939-1940

  

Teacher, Barnard College

1939-1950

  

Research Assistant for Judge Samuel I. Rosenman

1939-1950

  

Research Assistant on President Roosevelt’s Public Papers

1940

  

Ph.D., Columbia University

1940

  

Section Chief, Bureau of the Census

1941

  

Personnel Officer, Office for Emergency Management

1941-1942

  

Administrative Analyst, Bureau of the Budget

1942-1946

  

U.S. Army, discharged as Major

1946-1947

  

Administrative Analyst, Bureau of the Budget

1947-1949

  

Instructor, Princeton University

1949-1950

  

Consultant in the White House Office

1950-1953

  

Special Assistant in the White House Office

1953-1956

  

Associate Director, American Political Science Association, Washington, D. C.

1956

  

Research Director, Adlai Stevenson’s presidential campaign

1957

  

Professor, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia

1957

  

Administrative Aide to Senator John A. Carroll of Colorado

1957-1958

  

Television Commentator, Huntington, West Virginia

1959-1977

  

U.S. Congressman from West Virginia

1964, 1968, 1972, 1980, 1984

  

Delegate, Democratic National Convention

1982-1984

  

Professor, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia

1985-2001

  

Secretary of State, West Virginia

2016 (December 10)

  

Died, Romney, West Virginia
[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The Kenneth Hechler Papers contain book drafts, letters, handwritten notes, memorabilia, memoranda, newspaper clippings, notes, pamphlets, press releases, reports, speech drafts, and telegrams related to Hechler’s service at the White House during the Truman Administration.

The first series is the Correspondence File. It contains copies of outgoing correspondence from Kenneth Hechler. This correspondence includes material related to Truman Administration policies with White House staff and associates, and with Congressmen and Senators and their staffs. This series also contains correspondence with Democratic Party leadership and party operatives regarding party platform issues, planning, and elections at the state and federal level.

The second series is the Political File. This series contains letters, handwritten notes, memoranda, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, press releases, reports, speech drafts, and telegrams. About half of this series consists of research and drafts that Hechler worked on for various specific speeches of President Harry S. Truman and larger topics that might have been addressed in speeches by President Truman. The other half of this series consists of research and reports on issues related to the 1952 presidential campaign.

The third series is the White House File. This series contains letters, memoranda, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, notes, reports, and telegrams. Items in this series are largely related to policy issues that Kenneth Hechler and others on the White House staff worked on during the Truman Administration. Also included are materials related to events that occurred during the Truman Administration and the daily workings of the White House staff. Attached to some of these materials are reminiscences by Hechler written after the fact and used for his book “Working with Truman.”

The fourth series is the Personal File. This series contains letters, handwritten notes, memoranda, and newspaper clippings. Items in this series relate to policy issues that Mr. Hechler worked on with others on the White House staff, as well as personal notes between these correspondents. Also included are reminiscences by Hechler written after the fact and used for his book “Working with Truman.”

The fifth series is the “Working With Truman” File. This series contains correspondence (both incoming and outgoing), press releases, handwritten notes, and a draft of Mr. Hechler’s book “Working With Truman.” Correspondents of note not specifically mentioned within this series include Milton Kayle, David Stowe, John J. McCloy, and Leo Roberts. Much of this correspondence regards requests to view materials at the Truman Library and elsewhere, remarks regarding drafts of the manuscript, requests for autographed copies of the book, and acknowledgements regarding received copies of the book.

Related collections include the Harry S. Truman Papers: Kenneth Hechler Files and the Kenneth Hechler oral history interview. Additional related collections include the Harry S. Truman Papers (George Elsey Files, David Lloyd Files, Charles Murphy Files, Richard Neustadt Files, David Stowe Files); the papers of India Edwards, George Elsey, David Lloyd, Stephen Mitchell, and Charles Murphy; and the Records of the Democratic National Committee.

[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Container Nos.

  

Series

1

   CORRESPONDENCE FILE, 1950-1970 (Bulk Date Span 1950-1953)
Copies of outgoing correspondence. Arranged chronologically.
2-3   POLITICAL FILE, 1949-1981
Correspondence, handwritten notes, memoranda, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, press releases, reports, speech drafts, and telegrams relating to work done on presidential speeches and the 1952 presidential campaign. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
4   WHITE HOUSE FILE, 1950-1980
Correspondence, memoranda, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, notes, reports, and telegrams relating to policy issues that Kenneth Hechler and others on the White House staff worked on during the Truman Administration. Also included are materials related to events that occurred during the Truman Administration and the daily workings of the White House staff. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
5   PERSONAL FILE, 1948-2001
Correspondence, handwritten notes, memoranda, and newspaper clippings related to policy issues and personal matters. Arranged alphabetically by last name of correspondent.
6-7   "WORKING WITH TRUMAN" FILE, 1950-1983
Correspondence (both incoming and outgoing), press releases, handwritten notes, and a draft of Mr. Hechler’s book “Working With Truman.” Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]

FOLDER TITLE LIST

CORRESPONDENCE FILE, 1950-1970

Box 1

  • 1950, June-September
  • 1950, October-December
  • 1951, January-March
  • 1951, April-June
  • 1951, July-September
  • 1951, October-December
  • 1952, January-March
  • 1952, April-June
  • 1952, July-September
  • 1952, October-December
  • 1953, January

POLITICAL FILE, 1949-1981

Box 2

  • Democratic National Committee – General
  • Democratic National Committee – Establishment of Research Committee
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: Background Materials - 1952 Whistle-Stop Trips
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: Campaign - General
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: Congressional Voting Records
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: "Dirty Tricks" by Republican Press, 1952
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: Friendly Republican Statements about Russia - "Lest They Forget"
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: General Eisenhower and 1952 Campaign
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: Hechler Memos on 1952 Campaign Materials
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: "Ikelopedia" (1952 Campaign)
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: Issues Background Materials
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: National Presidential Primary - Memorandum
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: Nixon Statement that Truman was a Traitor
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: Reconstruction Finance Corporation Letters
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: Servicemen Voting
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: Taft, Senator Robert A. - Analysis of His Votes
  • Presidential Campaign, 1952: Voting
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: Boy Scouts Address by President Truman - July 1950
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: Coast Guard Cutter "Courier" Dedication Address by President Truman
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: Dutch Aid to U.S.

Box 3

  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: French Aid to U.S. During Revolutionary War
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: “Jefferson Pier” Washington Monument
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: Letters and Memoranda on Speech-Writing for Truman
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: Memoranda on "Our Foreign Policy"
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: Northwest Trip of President Truman, May 7-19, 1950
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: Preparation of Speeches for Vice-President Alben Barkley for Use in 1950 Campaign
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: Religion and Peace Memoranda
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: "Scare Words"
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: Speech Drafts - 1952 Whistle-Stops
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: Veto of McCarran Act
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: West Virginia Whistle-Stop Speeches of President Truman
  • Speech Drafts and Background Material: Witch-Hunting and Hysteria

WHITE HOUSE FILE, 1950-1980

Box 4

  • Adverse Publicity on Hechler's White House Appointment
  • Assassination Attempt Upon Harry S. Truman
  • Bipartisan Foreign Policy - Study by Hechler
  • Budget and Fiscal Policy
  • "Corruption" File
  • Demobilization Study by Hechler
  • Eisenhower White House Termination of Hechler
  • Farewell Dinner for White House Staff - State Dining Room, December 18, 1952
  • Foot-and-Mouth Disease
  • General Research - Truman White House
  • Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb
  • How I Came to Work for Harry S. Truman, December 1949
  • Key West
  • Korea
  • Last Assignment from President Truman
  • Letters and Memoranda to and with Senate and House members and Their Staffs
  • National Security Council
  • Payroll Status and Job Description - Truman White House
  • Personal
  • Personal Communications from President Truman, 1951-1962
  • Presidential Letters of Greeting Drafted by Hechler
  • Some Personal Notes on What Happened at the Truman White House, April 1-4, 1952
  • State Department
  • Truman Letter Honoring Minnesota Farmer-Labor Delegation in Congress
  • Twenty Years of Teamwork - Booklet
  • United Nations
  • "Welfare State" - Origin of the Term
  • White House Administrative Procedures

PERSONAL FILE, 1948-2001

Box 5

  • Carroll, John A.
  • Elsey, George
  • Enarson, Harold L.
  • Harriman, Averell
  • Lloyd, David D.
  • Murphy, Charles S.
  • Rosenman, Samuel I.
  • Sundquist, James L.
  • Vaughan, Harry H.

"WORKING WITH TRUMAN" FILE, 1950-1983

Box 6

  • Clifford, Clark
  • Correspondence, General
  • Donovan, Robert
  • Elsey, George
  • Ferrell, Robert
  • Hopkins, Willaim J.
  • Hull, Cordell - Regarding
  • MacArthur, Douglas - Regarding
  • McCarthy, Joseph - Regarding
  • Murphy, Charles S.
  • Neustadt, Richard E.
  • Roosevelt, James
  • Rosenman, [Mrs.] Samuel I.
  • Rowe, James
  • Truman, Margaret
  • Tubby, Roger
  • Willkie, Wendell L. - Regarding
  • West Virginia Library Association Award
  • "Working With Truman" Second Draft - Start to page 100
  • "Working With Truman" Second Draft - Pages 101-200
  • "Working With Truman" Second Draft - Pages 201-300

Box 7

  • "Working With Truman" Second Draft - Pages 301-400
  • "Working With Truman" Second Draft - Pages 401-500
  • "Working With Truman" Second Draft - Pages 501-600
  • "Working With Truman" Second Draft - Pages 601-700
  • "Working With Truman" Second Draft - Pages 701-End
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