Senate Papers of Lyndon B. Johnson, 1949-1961

The collection includes papers accumulated by Lyndon B. Johnson while he served in the United States Senate from 1949 to 1961. It also includes documents that were brought forward from earlier years when he served in the U. S. House of Representatives. Most of the papers originated from Johnson's "Texas Office" on Capitol Hill, and reflect Johnson's role as a Senator from Texas. Some of the files also originated from the offices Johnson maintained in Austin, Texas, during his political campaigns, the period following his heart attack in 1955, and when the Congress was not in session. These files include extensive correspondence with his Texas constituents about legislation, appointments and nominations, public works, foreign affairs, domestic policy, and constituent's problems with the federal bureaucracy.

Lyndon Johnson as Senator

Lyndon B. Johnson was elected to the Senate on November 2, 1948, for the term beginning January 3, 1949. He was reelected in 1954 and again in 1960. He served as majority whip, 1951-1953; minority leader, 1953-1955; and majority leader, 1955-1961. He was nominated for the office of Vice President of the United States by the Democratic Party at the convention in Los Angeles in 1960, and was elected Vice President on November 8, 1960. He resigned from the Senate on January 3, 1961.

While in the Senate, Johnson served as the chairman of the Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, 1958-1960, and chairman of the Preparedness Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee, 1950-1960. He served as a member of the Armed Services Committee, 1949-1960; the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee, 1949-1954; the Finance Committee, 1955; the Appropriations Committee, 1956-1958; the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, 1952-1953; and the Board of Visitors to the Coast Guard Academy, 1952.

For complete collection and series descriptions, visit the National Archives Catalog. [NAID: 17408917]

1. Card Indexes of Correspondence, 1948-1953

This series consists of 3x5 index cards. Each card includes the name and address of a correspondent, his or her county, the date of his or her incoming letter, and the file classification of the correspondence.

2. Case and Project Files, 1953-1957

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This series includes correspondence from individual Texas constituents, organizations, businesses, and local governmental units about national issues, local federal projects, events, and constituent's problems or interactions with federal agencies.

3. Case Files, 1958-1961

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This series includes correspondence from individual Texas constituents, organizations, businesses, and local governments about their problems or interactions with federal agencies.

4. Christmas Cards, 1958-1960

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This series contains Christmas greeting cards. The greeting cards are usually attached to the envelope in which they were mailed. Some cards include letters or notes.

5. Chronological Files, 9/1958-1/1961

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This series consists of carbon copies of outgoing correspondence, including letters, some outgoing telegrams, and a few interoffice memorandums from Senator Lyndon B. Johnson's office.

6. Correspondence Files, 1949-3/1953

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This series contains correspondence, including letters, telegrams, postcards, and memorandums from constituents, officials of the Executive Branch, military personnel, other federal employees, lobbyists, newspaper editors, businesses, civic groups, personal friends, members of Congress, and others.

7. Departmental Files, 1949-1953

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This series consists primarily of correspondence between Senator Lyndon B. Johnson and his constituents in Texas who were seeking information or assistance from federal government departments and agencies.

8. Files Relating to Lyndon Johnson's Senate Committee Assignments

Senator Johnson was a member of the following standing committees:

81st Congress, 1949-50:
-Committee on Armed Services
-Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce

82nd Congress, 1951-52:
-Committee on Armed Services
-Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce

 83rd Congress, 1953-54:
-Committee on Armed Services
-Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce

 84th Congress, 1955-56:
-Committee on Armed Services
-Committee on Finance (1st Session, 1955)
-Committee on Appropriations (2nd Session, 1956)

 85th Congress, 1957-58:
-Committee on Armed Services
-Committee on Appropriations
-Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Chairman

86th Congress, 1959-60:
-Committee on Armed Services
-Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Chairman

9. Files Relating to Scott and White Memorial Hospital and Scott, Sherwood and Brindley Foundation, 1950-1956

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This series pertains to Scott and White Memorial Hospital from when the hospital and clinic reorganized from a private corporation to a public service institution and foundation. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson became a member of the Board of Trustees representing the public interest.

10. Files Relating to the Senate Democratic Leadership and the Democratic Policy Committee

The files pertain to Lyndon B. Johnson’s Senate leadership role as the Democratic Majority Whip in 1951 and 1952, Democratic Minority Leader in 1953 and 1954, and Democratic Majority Leader from 1955 to 1961.

11. General Files, 1958-1/1961

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This series consists primarily of correspondence with Lyndon B. Johnson's Texas constituents.

12. General Subject Files

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13. Legislative Files, 1949-1960

The series consists mostly of correspondence with Lyndon B. Johnson’s Texas constituents and

covers a wide range of public relations, legislative, political and administrative topics.

14. Master File Indexes, 3/1953-1/1961

This series consists primarily of peach or salmon colored carbon copies of outgoing letters and interoffice memorandums annotated with the file classification of the incoming constituent correspondence and other correspondence

15. Materials to be Filed

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16. Military Case Files, 1949-1953

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This series includes correspondence, primarily with Lyndon Johnson's Texas constituents, relating to matters affecting military service personnel; operating, closing or re-activating Texas military installations; establishing reserve officers’ training at Texas schools; civilian defense; and other matters within the purview of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Selective Service, the Corps of Engineers, the National Guard, and the Coast Guard.

17. Newspaper Clipping Files, 1949-1961

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This series consists of clippings pertaining to the Senate career of Lyndon B. Johnson.

18. Nominations and Appointments Files

19. Office Files

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20. Office Files of George E. Reedy

21. Office Files of Gerald Siegel

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22. Office Files of Mrs. Willie Day Taylor

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23. Office Files of Solis Horwitz

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24. Position Files

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25. Public Works Files

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26. Publicity Files

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27. Sam Houston Johnson Memorandum Files

28. Service Academy Appointment Files, 1948-1961

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This series contains letters, telegrams, memorandums, printed forms, lists, semiannual grade reports for cadets appointed by Senator Lyndon B. Johnson, card files, and other material related to appointments made by Senator Johnson to the service academies, including the Military Academy at West Point, New York; the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado; the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York; and the Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut.

29. Speech Files

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30. Subject Files, 1958-1/1961

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This series consists mostly of correspondence with Lyndon B. Johnson's Texas constituents and covers a wide range of public relations, legislative, political and administrative topics, including office administration; agriculture; armed services, including military installations in Texas; civil rights; commerce, including trade, exports, imports, and transportation; presidential nominations, including those to the judiciary in Texas; education; elections and campaigns; foreign relations; labor; the national budget; natural resources, especially water, gas, and oil; Texas post offices and postmasters; press relations; public works, including dams, reservoirs, parks, and public power; taxes; and, welfare.

31. Texas Congressional Delegation Files

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32. Veterans Case Files, 1949-1953

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This series includes correspondence and memorandums relating to veterans, veterans’ benefits, and the Veterans Administration.

33. Working Files of Mrs. Christine Stugard

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