WH (White House Administration) (White House Central Files: Subject Files)

Materials filed under the general subject file category WH (White House Administration) pertain to the operation and administration of the White House, the Old Executive Office Building (EOB), and other temporary offices of the President including the Presidential retreat at Camp David in Maryland and summer and winter White Houses at San Clemente, California and Key Biscayne, Florida. The items in this subject file category relate to such topics as fiscal, personnel, office space, buildings management, procurement, services to White House Staff, and Presidential support facilities.

The types of items found in this subject category include original incoming correspondence and staff memoranda, drafts, cross-reference sheets, Action Memoranda, handwritten notes, file memos and aide memories, routing slips, transmittal memoranda, transcripts, newspaper clippings (including cartoons), receipts (including loan receipts), vouchers (including copies of Standard Form 1012 Travel Voucher), cancelled checks, telegrams, lists, maps, reports, photographs, graphs, printed materials, schedules, agenda,s postcards, business cards, pre-printed acknowledgment cards, form letters, press releases, menus, talking points, resumes, college transcripts, letters of recommendation, Standard Form 171 Personal Qualifications Statement, and various White House specialty forms. Principal White House Staff correspondents include Dwight Chapin, Larry Higby, John Ehrlichman, William Timmons, Steven Bull, Bruce Whelihan, John R. Brown, Herb Klein, Ronald Ziegler, Noble Melencamp, David Parker, Bruce Kehrli, Jon Huntsman, Ken Cole, William Hopkins, Jon Rose, John Campbell, H.R. Haldeman, Tod Hullin, James Keogh, Ray Price, David Gergen, Roland Elliott, James D. Hughes, Henry Kissinger, Bryce Harlow, Richard Moore, and Bud Wilkinson. Because of the nature of this subject category, there is also frequent correspondence with the chief representative of the General Services Administration within the White House Complex, Charles F. Rotchford, who served as the White House buildings manager. Other White House Staff frequently referred to in this subject category include Rose Mary Woods, Alexander Butterfield, Mark Goode, Richard K. Cook, Stephen Hess, Gerald L. Warren, Mike Farrell, Hugh Sloan, Mike Smith, Bud Krogh, Peter Flanigan, W. Richard Howard, Ollie Atkins, Tom Korologos, Frederick Malek, Daniel P. Moynihan, Harry Dent, Robert Finch, Margita White, Al Haig, Wanda Phelan, Warren L. Gulley, Max Friedersdorf, Brent Scowcroft, Jack V. Brennan, Rex Scouten, and Richard L. Lawson.

Some related materials are in the following subject categories: FG 3 Transitions to Incoming Administration, FG 6-11-1 White House Staff, and FG 12-11 White House Police. The Name File and the Staff Member and Office Files also contain materials related to the WH subject category.

The terms "Executive" and "General," which precede the subject file codes, indicate the level of importance due to the item's source of content. Items designated as "Executive" include letters, memoranda, and other "important" or "official" documents received from or sent to senior level White House Staff or major White House organizational components, Federal agencies, Members of Congress, state and local officials, foreign heads of state, and prominent persons. Such communications were acted upon by the President or one of his staff assistants. Items designated "General" consist of materials received from the general public and considered not as important from the standpoint of level of handling or subject matter.

All correspondence from Congressmen and similar important sources were not necessarily designated as "Executive" material. A congressional letter merely conveying a request or inquiry on behalf of a constituent was filed under the "General" designation. When there was doubt about the correct designation for an item, White House Central Files instructions stated the item was to be marked "Executive."

Corss-references were prepared by the Central Files Unit when an item pertaining to more than a single subject and when names of individuals or organizations needed to be covered. Such cross-references are merely an electrostatic copy of the first page of the item or case file. Documents were never, however, cross-referenced between "Executive" and "General" designations.

WH WHITE HOUSE ADMINISTRATION

Topics covered include the Administration's efforts to introduce modern business into the operations of the White House; requests from national magazines seeking to do articles on the operation of the White House under the Nixon administration; consideration of proposals to undertake special publication projects for public distribution; requests for photographs of the President within areas of the White House proper for inclusion in Government or commercial publications; inquiries seeking permission to use the term "White House" for non-government purposes or to set up special exhibits or to install plaques within the White House; temporary closings of public areas of the White House for seasonal redecoration work; special services, such as flower arrangements for White House offices and functions.

WH 1 BUDGET

Materials relate to the appropriation and expenditure of funds for the Executive Office of the President; recommendations for reimbursement from the White House funds for goods or services rendered; detailed analysis of the appropriation request for the White House Office for FY 1974; justifications for regular and supplemental appropriations; unpaid billing charges for consultant fees and other White House incurred expenses; congressional inquiries about expenditure of funds from the White House Office appropriations for public relations purposes; entertainment expenses for White House and Blair House affairs; Representation & Reception Fund; congressional action to eliminate Special Projects appropriation in FY 1974 budget; congressional and public inquiries concerning operating costs of the three Presidential residences and President Nixon's personal staff, travel expenses of the President, and costs of First Family members living in the White House.

WH 2 BUILDINGS-GROUNDS

Topics include the availability and use of White House facilities, including Camp David and San Clemente; acquisition and development of the San Clemente property as summer White House; use of Camp David for Government and private purposes; energy conservation efforts; renovation projects for West Wing and Old Executive Office Building offices; beautification project for West Executive Avenue; tree planting ceremonies; congressional inquiries about the costs of operating the Presidential residences, and of renovation of the Old Executive Office Building; public inquiries about the new Press Room in the West Wing; local complaints regarding the restricted use of waterfront adjacent to San Clemente property.

WH 2-1 FURNISHINGS

Topics include loans of historic furniture including artworks and paintings for Oval Office, Cabinet Room, Theodore Roosevelt Room (Fish Room), Western White House, and other areas of the White House; President Nixon's gift of White House Steinway piano to former president Harry S. Truman; replacement of LBJ china; presentation of Cabinet chairs to former Cabinet members; redecoration of specific areas of the White House and EOB offices; new Presidential podium; office furniture requests from staff, including repair and replacement; refurbishing of White House offices.

WH 2-2 BUILDINGS MANAGEMENT

Topics include energy saving measures; office space requirements at White House, including both Old and New Executive Office Buildings, and at San Clemente; office improvements; renovation projects; such as the main Residence kitchen and West Wing areas; routine requests from staff for equipment, services (lighting, painting, telephones, and cleaning); relocations of staff offices; congressional inquiries regarding the conversion of the White House swimming pool for a new Press Room.

WH 2-2-1 ROOMS

Topics include availability and use of certain areas and rooms within the White House Complex, including portions of the Residence, by White House Staff for special events or meetings; opening of the new press facility in the West Wing and of the redecorated Blue Room; lighting concerns in the Oval Office and new Press Room; establishment of a general reference library in the Old Executive Office Building; White House Theater; White House Record Library; proposed cataloguing of the White House collection of vermeil; congressional inquiries expressing concerns of constituents about use of imported fabrics in White House redecoration projects and requests for special White House tours, information about specific White House rooms and contents, slides of various rooms within the White House.

WH 2-2-2 OFFICE SPACE

Topics include requests for office space for new personnel in White House and Old Executive Office Building; reassignment of office space; space requests from television companies in new press facility.

WH 2-2-3 PARKING SPACE

Topics include requests from White House Staff for parking space on East and West Executive Avenues, State Place, and Ellipse; parking permit applications; parking regulations and directives; parking conditions for staff assigned to New Executive Office Building.

WH 2-3 ARCHITECTURE

Topics include proposals and cost estimates for modifications of West Wing and EOB offices; remodeling projects for White House and EOB; prefab modular units at Western White House for staff and support offices; construction of executive gym; requests for office sound proofing; operational problems in West Terrace press facility.

WH 3 CONTRACTS

Topics include arrangements for rental equipment, such as wire service and reproduction machines; procurement of stationery supplies and Presidential memorabilia; negotiation of Anderson REporting Co. contract; agreement between U.S. Coast Guard and General Services Administration regarding facilities at San Clemente; congressional inquiries on behalf of constituents to secure White House contracts for food and liquor services, audiovisual equipment, landscaping work, carpeting, firework display, and alike.

WH 4 OFFICE MANAGEMENT

Topics include setting up Correspondence Section to handle White House mail; paper flow procedures for Presidential and non-presidential correspondence; development of White House correspondence and style manuals; 1970 Volunteer Project; GSA/NARS Study Team report to improve the efficiency of the administrative offices of the White House; use of pre-printed cards as substitutes for form letters; development of standard White House replies to public inquiries; proper handling of White House referral letters; use of MTST machines for larger mailings; mail handling procedures for Western White House; use of official White House stationary.

WH 4-1 MAIL

Topics include guidelines for the Correspondence Section of the White House regarding the processing of White House mail, including members of the First Family; processing Presidential correspondence and VIP mail; mail samplings; White House Mailroom surveys of mail trends on selected foreign and domestic issues; mail and telegram handling at San Clemente; special arrangements with the U.S. Post Office in providing postal inspector courier service for President's mail; summaries of correspondence from Congress to the President; statistical reports of public responses regarding Administration's policies on such issues as family assistance program, Vietnam, economy, and alike; directives to White House and EOB personnel concerning personal mailings; use of White House courier and messenger service; POW/MIA mail to the President; joint White House-Republican National Committee effort to develop system for responding to Presidential mail that is not answered by the White House; Presidential papers project. There is also under the "General" designation a considerable amount of mail from the public regarding a "Dear Abby" letter alleging that the President has repeatedly failed to answer citizen letters; and congressional inquiries on behalf of constituents expressing concern about mailing by "Tell-It-To-Hanoi Committee" or complaints about the use of form letters and pre-printed acknowledgment cards.

WH 4-1-1 MAIL REPORTS

This series consists primarily of weekly summaries of mail, including telegrams, trends to the White House. These summaries include a narrative and statistical analysis of incoming mail as well as samples of the letters and telegrams. Roland Elliott prepared the narrative summaries of the weekly mail volume for Ray Price. Other topics include reports by Anne Higgins on the number of hours spent on the Volunteer Project for selected months; detailed analysis of incoming and outgoing mail for the President for the period January 20, 1969 to December 2, 1970; mail samples following the President's televised press conferences and interviews to determine public reaction.

WH 4-2 RECORDS

Topics include White House Central Files procedures for records retrieval and disposition; control and preservation of White House files for inclusion in a future Nixon Library; establishment of a Special Files Unit for handling sensitive White House materials; courtesy storage arrangements with the National Archives.

WH 5 PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

Topics include the preparation for transition of the White House Staff; problems with detailing White House Staff to Departments and agencies; general and useful background information for new White House personnel; White House summer intern program; White House photographic operations; handling the recruitment, training, and termination of staff members; Advance Office operations; review of White House and OMB messenger operations; reductions in White House Staff; congressional letters of endorsement for individuals seeking White House employment.

WH 5-1 APPLICANTS

This series consists principally of inquiries from individuals in search of temporary or permanent employment in the White House or Nixon administration in a variety of positions. Each inquiry is frequently accompanied with supporting material, such as letters of recommendation, completed SF 171 forms, and personal resumes.

WH 6 PROTECTION

Topics include description of the duties and responsibilities of the White House Police in protecting the President, First Family, and White House Staff; proposed legislation regarding Executive Mansion security (S 420); White House Police security violation reports; guidelines for dealing with invited guests at White House functions; 1973 bill to establish procedures and regulations about protective facilities provided by the Secret Service (HR 11499 and S 3515). Under the "General" designation, there is a considerable number of public inquiries expressing concern about the President's safety and health.

WH 6-1 ACCIDENT-FIRE

This series relates primarily to concerns about the availability of ambulance and emergency medical services in support of White House helicopter missions. Other topics in the series pertain to minor incidents within the White House Complex, such as accidental injuries to White House visitors and minor office fires due to overheated reproduction machines.

WH 6-2 CIVIL DEFENSE

Most of the folders in this series are empty. There are, however, some items relating to the appointment of the Emergency Actions Board to review and make recommendations about the White House Emergency Plan.

WH 6-3 PHYSICAL

Topics include issuance of White House passes to staff, visitors, and the press; policy for clearing tradesmen for work at Camp David and the White House; identification lapel pins for the staff; access policy to Oval Office, West Wing, and EOB for White House press corps; revised visitor clearance procedures; storage of Presidential papers and sensitive White House files; General Accounting Office report on the protection of the President at Key Biscayne and San Clemente. Under the "General" designation there are numerous complaints from local residents of San Clemente area about Secret Service restrictions of the water and beachfront areas of Cotton's Point (western White House).

WH 7 STAFF MEETINGS

This series consists of announcements or reminders to various White House Staff about upcoming meetings, agendas, or schedule changes. Other topics include summaries or staff meetings; Five O'Clock Group; Domestic Hour; weekly meetings of the Domestic Plans Group; Saturday Plans Committee; Weekly News Calendar.

WH 8 SUPPLIES-MATERIALS-SERVICES

This series consists of staff member or office requests for official photographs, stationery, calling cards, office equipment, audiovisual items, duplicating machines, air and telephone credit cards, reproduction paper; subscriptions for newspapers, magazines, and books; typewriter repair, messenger service, and alike. Other topics include procurement of special Presidential pens, search for special writing inks for official documents, Presidential gifts and memorabilia, Air Force One jackets, and autopens; household operations of the Residence; new Presidential podium; monthly comparisons of White House telephone charges; transcript of Metromedia radio interview on "Profile Plus" with Robert Finch and Herb Klein on July 27, 1970.

WH 9 TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Topics include telephone service for White House and EOB staff members and offices; use of White House Switchboard; communication between the White House and the President's temporary offices; measures to improve White House Communications Agency (WHCA) telephone techniques and switchboard efficiency; telephone operations at San Clemente; concern with the high cost of commercial long-distance telephone calls versus FTS calls; establishment of the Office of Telecommunications Policy; plans for the construction of a new White House computers and communications center; telephone call screening; Presidential "hot line"; AT&T picture phone demonstration offer; after hours White House telephone service; delineation between WHite House and military (Signal) switchboards; use of White House versus WHCA telephone operators at Western White House; congressional letters on behalf of constituents complaining of poor treatment by White House telephone operators.

WH 9-1 WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY

Materials in this series relate to the duties and responsibilities of WHCA in providing audiovisual equipment and special telecommunications services to the President and his staff.

WH 10 TRAVEL-TRANSPORTATION

Materials in this series relate to individual White House staff member's personal expenses for domestic and foreign trips, including thank-you letters for accommodations and hospitality extended to the staff member. Under the "General" designation, there are numerous inquiries from Congressmen, Senators, and the general public seeking to accompany the White House staff member on his or her trips.

WH 11 VEHICLES

This series consists of White House staff members requesting surface transportation. Other topics include an article on the predecessor to Air Force One - U.S. Presidential Pullman Car No. 1 ("Ferdinand Magellan"); private offer of a bus for Presidential use.

WH 11-1 AIRPLANE-HELICOPTER

Topics include policy with regard to Air Force One tours and seating assignments; use of Air Force One for non-Presidential purposes; support facilities for helicopter operations at White House; Air Force One lunch and dinner menus, including staff recommendations; passenger manifests for Air Force One and helicopter missions; renaming Air Force One to "Spirit of '76"; replacement aircraft for Air Force One; helicopter pads at Key Biscayne and San Clemente residences. Under the "General" designation there are numerous requests from members of Congress and the general public for rides aboard Air Force One, and photographs of or general background information about the aircraft. Other topics include public inquiries about fuel consumption and maintenance costs of Air Force One; complaints from individual over noise and property damage caused by Presidential helicopters; 1973 Department of Defense appropriation for a new helicopter fleet for Presidential use.

WH 11-1-1 FLIGHT CERTIFICATES

This series consists almost exclusively of electrostatic copies of the flight certificates given to White House staff and their wives, Congressmen and their wives, congressional aides, and others as souvenirs of their flight aboard Air Force One or the Presidential helicopter, Marine One. Also included are some letters of appreciation from recipients of these certificates.

WH 11-2 AUTOMOBILE

Topics include car service for the White House Staff; criteria for use of White House cars; staff members' requests for automobile transportation from White House garage and installation of reading lamps in White House cars; procedures for Presidential motorcades; new Presidential limousine; lease agreement with Chrysler Corporation for White House automobiles; public inquiries about President Nixon's Inaugural license plate and cost of new Ford Limousine for the President.

WH 11-3 YACHT

Topics include availability and procedures for reserving the Presidential yacht Sequoia by White House staff members; non-Presidential use of the Sequoia by non-government organizations, such as t he Red Cross; Mrs. Nixon's summer cruise program; decommission and sale of the Julie and Patricia.

WH 11-3-1 CRUISE CERTIFICATES

This series contains few items except electrostatic copies of cruise certificates given to those Administration officials who were aboard the Sequoia during August and September 1970, and some appreciation letters from recipients of these certificates.