Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
702500
label
Presidential Library 1991 [1]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
702500
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Presidential Library 1991 [1]
citationUrl
identifierLocal
29169-006
collections
Records of the White House Office of the Chief of Staff to the President (George H. W. Bush Administration)
John Sununu Issues Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
702500
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
274ca089020c7200
ocrText
Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
foia Number:
1998-0004-F[2]
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin: Chief of Staff, White House Office of
Series:
Sununu, John, Files
Subseries:
Issues Files
OA/ID Number:
29169
Folder ID Number:
29169-006
Folder Title:
Presidential Library 1991 [1]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
15
25
3
7
Akin, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
2100 franklin PLAZA
4100 FIRST CITY CENTER
A PARTNERSHIP INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL CORPORATIONS
III CONGRESS AVENUE
1700 PACIFIC AVENUE
AUSTIN. TEXAS 78701
1333 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE. N.W.
DALLAS. TEXAS 75201-4618
(512) 499-6200
(214) 969-2800
SUITE 400
1500 NCNB PLAZA
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036
65 AVENUE LOUISE. P.B. NO. 7
300 CONVENT STREET
1050 BRUSSELS. BELGIUM
(202) 887-4000
SAN ANTONIO. TEXAS 78205
(OII) 32-2-535.29.11
FAX (202) 887-4288
(512) 270-0800
1900 PENNZOIL PLACE-SOUTH TOWER
WRITER'S DIRECT DIAL NUMBER (202) 887
4004
711 LOUISIANA STREET
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
(713) 220-5800
June 6, 1991
The Honorable George Bush
President of the United States
The White House
THE CHIEF of STAFF
Washington, DC 20500
has seen
Dear Mr. President:
Given that a few weeks have passed since your announcement
of Texas A&M as the site for your Presidential Library, I thought
it appropriate to update you on where we stand in several areas:
Creation of a Bush Library Foundation: Terri Lacy is
preparing the appropriate legal documents and will forward drafts
to me shortly. Our plan is to charter the foundation under Texas
law and to file for tax exempt status with the IRS, all within
the next several weeks. The charter should be approved quickly;
the IRS approval will take several months. Per previous
conversations, it will be termed the George Bush Presidential
Library Foundation and will be filed with George W. Bush as
president-treasurer, me as vice president, and Terri as secretary
(three initial directors are required for filing, and I am told
that these are the names you gave to Terri). We expect to have a
functioning foundation with tax exempt status by the end of the
summer.
The Foundation's Board of Directors: Eventually, you will
want to have a foundation board consisting of 30-40 prominent
people, with a nationally-recognized Democrat and Republican as
co-chairs (this is the usual model, at least). I would recommend
that we seek a broad-based, bipartisan group from around the
nation, and would suggest not just politicians and fund-raisers
but also academics, architects and others whose expertise might
be useful in this project. I am hoping to compile a
comprehensive list of possible names from all sources --
including any initial thoughts you and Mrs. Bush may have --
break it into rough categories, and than forward it for your
review. If you wish, I could also solicit ideas from people like
Secretaries Baker, Mosbacher, and Brady, or anyone else you would
AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD
The Honorable George Bush
June 6, 1991
Page 2
suggest. The goal here is to save your time by gathering all the
suggestions into one organized list. I would not anticipate
needing decisions from you on a board of directors before August
(in fact, that may turn out to be a good time from your
standpoint -- barring another August invasion). Also, please
keep in mind that there will be no real impediments to adding
board members at any time thereafter.
Initial Contributions: At this point, I have discouraged
Halbouty, McKenzie, et al. from collecting money, and instead
have asked that they simply accept pledges until the foundation
is set up and has tax-exempt status. My feeling is that it would
be unfair to ask for, or accept, major donations until we can
assure the donors about the tax status of their contributions.
Also, we will at least want to consider guidelines to cover our
fundraising activities before going too far down the road. In
the meantime, if unsolicited checks arrive, I have arranged with
Ross Margraves to set up a special "Bush Library Account" within
A&M's tax-exempt Development Foundation. We are confident such
funds can be transferred once the library foundation is set up.
Fundraising: As you know, our goal is to raise $35-40
million. While this may seem daunting, I am confident it can be
done. My main concern is to go about our task in a way that will
not cause you embarrassment or create any appearance problems.
Toward that end, I have met with Boyden Gray and Phil Brady to
discuss some means of "insulating" you, insofar as possible, from
direct knowledge of who is contributing what to the Library.
This is needed, I feel, not because there is any inherent
conflict, but to avoid possible "appearance" problems since
virtually any contributor could have a concern before the federal
government, ranging from the obvious to the arcane.
Though most such issues -- contracts, regulatory rulings,
etc. -- never reach your desk, we would recommend as an added
precaution that information identifying individual or corporate
contributors not be provided to you while you are President.
While this may be awkward for you at times, and also imperfect
(since we can control paper flow but not the conversation of
others), it would demonstrate your desire to protect yourself and
your office from any misperceptions. This precaution is further
strengthened by the fact that you will not be involved personally
in fundraising for the Library.
As letters come in from friends which mention or offer
money, Phil and I can work together to see that they receive a
AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD
The Honorable George Bush
June 6, 1991
Page 3
prompt, personal reply which also explains the policy of
insulating you from such specific knowledge.
Possible Fundraising Restrictions: At some point in the
near future, we should discuss with you certain questions related
to fundraising for the Library while you are in office. They
include the following:
a.
Do we accept contributions from foreign governments?
Though previous Presidents have done so, my
overwhelming inclination is to advise against this.
b.
Do we accept contributions from foreign corporations?
This is a more difficult question, in part because it
has become increasingly difficult to determine whether
a corporation is "foreign" due to cross-ownership,
manufacturing in the U.S., etc. (Shell oil being one
type of example; Michelin Tire, which has large
manufacturing facilities in South Carolina, is
another). My inclination here is to leave the question
to the case-by-case judgment of the foundation's board,
though it is certainly worthy of further discussion.
C.
Do we impose a limit on the size of contributions?
This is a tough call. The "appearances" argument would
favor a limit somewhere under $1 million so that no one
contributor is perceived as dominant. Though I was
initially attracted to the notion, upon reflection I
have developed strong reservations. I feel that
shielding you from information about contributors,
coupled with sensitivity on the part of the board,
would probably be sufficient. The history of
Presidential Libraries is that financing comes in large
chunks, much of it from corporate foundations. A
strict limit could inhibit our ability to raise the
necessary funds and would give the board no flexibility
to exercise its (hopefully) good judgment.
As an example, I would argue that there should be no
problem with accepting $2 million from the Ford
Foundation, but I'd see plenty of problems with
accepting the same from McDonnell Douglas in the midst
of debates on ATF and Space Station. There are, of
AKIN, GUMP. STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD
The Honorable George Bush
June 6, 1991
Page 4
course, many considerations that make this worth
further thought, and I am sure others, including Boyden
and Phil, will have important views to offer.
Foundation Management: Regarding the administration of the
foundation, it would probably be best to manage it from College
Station, and I am hopeful we can minimize costs by "piggybacking"
some of its functions with the A&M Development Foundation. At
very least we would hope to handle the minimal staffing we will
need by tapping some of A&M's expertise in construction,
contracting, accounting, and professional fundraising. As soon
as the foundation's legal documents are filed, I will begin
focusing much more on this question in hopes of having options we
can present to the board, and to you, for approval.
As always, Mr. President, I am at your disposal to discuss
any aspects of where we stand and to follow up on any
instructions.
In closing, and totally unrelated, let me add that I read
your speech at Yale on China policy and thought it superb. It's
wonderful to have you back in good health and in fighting trim.
With best wishes and highest personal regards,
Sincerely,
James W. Cicconi
/jh
PERSONAL
April 30, 1991
Governor:
With regard to the Presidential Library decision, the President called Jim
Cicconi today and asked him to go to Texas A&M to have one last decision
meeting on the Libaray with key Aggies.
The President is concerned about the new Board of Directors appointed by Ann
Richards and wants to be sure that the enthusiasm level is still high.
While in Texas a few weeks ago, the President told Ken Lay of his decision to
go w/ A&M. Lay asked for 1 week to talk to A&M (Musgrave-board chair) -- but
A&M was unwilling to work out a Houston-based A&M library with Lay.
Jim will go to Texas with Don Wilson in the next few days and call us upon
his return. The President just wants to make sure that all board members
are still on board enthusiastically and fundraising representations still in
tact. The President, as you know, does not want to raise the money for this.
If everything checks out, the President will make his announcemnt.
A'
Patty Presock
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 3, 1991
TO:
CHIEF OF STAFF
FROM:
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President and
Staff Secretary
I
The attached has been forwarded
to the President
Texas A&M University
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
Prairie View A&M University
Texas Agricultural Extension Service
Tarleton State University
Texas Animal Damage Control Service
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Texas Engineering Experiment Station
Corpus Christi State University
Texas Engineering Extension Service
Laredo State University
Texas Forest Service
Texas A&I University
Texas Transportation Institute
West Texas State University
Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
91 MAY -3 AM 05
BOARD OF REGENTS
THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
College Station, Texas 77843-1123
409/845-9600 409/845-0835 (fax)
Ross D. Margraves, Jr.
Chairman
2200 M. W. Kellogg Tower
May 2, 1991
Houston, TX 77002
713/951-5727
Douglas R. DeCluitt
The President
Vice Chairman
The White House
3135 Franklin Avenue
Waco, TX 76710
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
817/753-0103
Washington, D.C. 20500
Bill Clayton
Westgate Building
Dear Mr. President,
Suite 307
1122 Colorado
Austin, TX 78701
512/474-1181
Heretofore, individually and as Chairman of the Board of Regents of The
Texas A&M University System, I made certain commitments to you in the event
Raul B. Fernandez
that Texas A&M University was selected as the site for the Bush Presidential
P. O. Box 29389
San Antonio, TX 78229
Library and Museum. Those commitments were agreed to by
512/349-0829
Chancellor Perry L. Adkisson, President William H. Mobley of Texas A&M
Alison Leland
University, and by Mr. Michel T. Halbouty as Chairman of the Bush Library
Texas Commerce Tower
Committee at Texas A&M University. These commitments were endorsed
Suite 7330
600 Travis
enthusiastically by the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System.
Houston, TX 77002
713/236-2462
Among these commitments, and without limitation, it was agreed that:
William A. McKenzie
1525 Elm Street, 2nd Floor
1.
Dallas, TX 75201
You, in your capacity as President, or later, after your second term,
214/954-1113
as a former President, would never be called upon to raise one dime
for building or maintaining the Bush Presidential Library and
Wayne A. Showers
P. O. Box 1840
Museum.
McAllen, TX 78502
512/682-6181
2.
Your longtime assistant and devoted friend, Don Rhodes, would have
Mary Nan West
a lifetime position at the Library, subject to his wishes.
P.O. Box 38
Batesville, TX 78829
512/378-5335
3.
Texas A&M University would dedicate in perpetuity ninety (90) acres
on its campus, or such acreage as needed and required for the site of
Royce E. Wisenbaker
400 NCNB Ctr Building
the Bush Presidential Library and Museum and additional academic
Tyler, TX 75702
facilities. Further, that this acreage would be maintained by Texas
903/593-2588
A&M University in a pristine park-like manner as fully described in
the Texas A&M proposals presented to you and Mrs. Bush.
4.
The proposals presented to you by Mr. Halbouty, Chancellor
Adkisson and me (as Chairman of the Board) would be strictly
adhered to so that the Bush Presidential Library and Museum would
be the best and most prestigious library and museum and academic
facility in the United States.
The President
May 2, 1991
Page 2
Texas A&M University, its System, administration, staff, faculty and student
body continue their enthusiastic desire and hope that Texas A&M University will
be selected as the site of your library and museum. We pledge to you our
continued absolute support and acknowledge the high honor of having the
opportunity to make your library and museum and academic programs the
greatest in our land. For decades to come the Bush Library and Museum will set
the highest standard for such facilities. As a Board of Regents, we reaffirm our
enthusiastic wishes that Texas A&M will be your selection.
Please be assured that the new leadership of the Board of Regents (who
join President Mobley and me in signing this letter), the two newly appointed
Regents, and the larger Texas A&M family are fully and completely committed
to the proposal. We are united in our hope that you and Mrs. Bush will select
Texas A&M University.
As always, my colleagues and I send our most sincere best wishes, our
appreciation for your leadership as President of our country, our prayers for you
and your family's well being and our love to Bar.
Sincerely and with respect,
William A. McKenzie
Chairman, Board of Regents
Bush Library Committee
William H. Mobley
William H. Mobley
President, Texas A&M University
Ross Ross D. Margraves, Jr.
Chairman, Board of Regents of
The Texas A&M University System
Douglas R. DeCluitt
Vice Chairman, Board of Regents of
The Texas A&M University System
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
4/10/91
TO: CHIEF OF STAFF
FROM:
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President and
Staff Secretary
The attached has been forwarded
to the President.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 10, 1991
MR. PRESIDENT:
The attached from Don Wilson is FYI
-- it describes at what point in their
terms of office recent Presidents have
publicly announced their decisions
about the locations of their Presiden-
tial Libraries. (The arrangements
described here for the Kennedy and
Reagan Libraries later changed.)
Thank you.
Phillip D. Brady
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND FOR ANNOUNCEMENT
OF A BUSH LIBRARY SITE
The following provides a brief history of the decision and
public announcement by the recent Presidents to establish a
Presidential Library.
I. President Eisenhower decided to locate his Presidential
Library in Abilene, Kansas, on March 8, 1954, 13 months
after his inauguration. This decision was announced one
year later in a press release issued by the Eisenhower
Foundation on March 8, 1955. It is important to note that
this announcement was made several months before the passage
of the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955 providing the
legal basis for establishing all future Presidential
Libraries.
II. After nine months in office, President Kennedy wrote to
the Archivist of the United States on September 20, 1961,
asking him to consult with the White House staff and
representatives of Harvard University concerning the
establishment of a Presidential Library in Cambridge. On
November 10, 1961, the White House announced in a press
release that President Kennedy was making his plans for the
establishment of a library and museum in Cambridge.
III. One month after President Johnson's inauguration to
office, on February 12, 1965, he had made his decision on
the location of his Presidential Library. His decision was
publicly released on August 9, 1965, in a letter to William
Heath, Chairman of the University of Texas Board of Regents,
accepting the proposal for the establishment of a Lyndon
Baines Johnson Library in Austin.
IV. President Nixon did not publicly announce a location
for his Library while President. However, there was
extensive early planning for a Library. In December of
1968, the Nixon transition staff informed the National
Archives that President Nixon would like to establish a
Nixon library planning staff in the Old Executive Office
Building. The National Archives responded to this request
by assigning several people to the EOB staff to begin
planning for his library.
V. President Ford had deposited his Congressional papers at
the Michigan Historical collection at the University of
Michigan before he became President. By 1975 he had made a
commitment to have his museum in Grand Rapids.
He formally announced his decision to have his Library at in
Ann Arbor and his museum in Grand Rapids in a letter to the
Archivist and the President of the University of Michigan on
December 13, 1976.
-2-
VI. President Carter started planning for a Presidential
Library early in his administration, although he did not
publicly announce in a press conference that it would be in
Georgia until November 12, 1980. In a press conference held
on May 26, 1977, President Carter stated that any receipts
from his book Why Not the Best? would be put in a special
fund to finance his future Library. In November at the
President's request, the National Archives had established a
liaison office in the White House with the overall mission
to serve as a liaison between the National Archives and the
White House in providing information for the President and
his staff in establishing the future Carter Library.
VII. President Reagan's planning for his library was well
advanced even before taking office. This was publicly
indicated by the donation of his gubernatorial, campaign and
transition papers to the Hoover Institution at Stanford
University prior to becoming President. In December of
1983, the Stanford trustees voted to welcome a Reagan
Presidential Library. Representatives of President Reagan
and Stanford University had concluded an agreement on
February 15, 1984, for location of the Library at Stanford.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Library
March 19, 1991
TO:
CHIEF OF STAFF
FROM:
PHILLIP D. BRADY
Assistant to the President and
Staff Secretary
The attached has been forwarded
to the President
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 19, 1991
MR. PRESIDENT:
Please find attached a package of materials
which Jim Cicconi has prepared in
coordination with the Archivist, Don Wilson.
Specifically, included in addition to Jim's
cover letter are the draft press statement, a
draft letter to Bill McKenzie, and proposed
talking points for phone calls to Bill
McKenzie, Ken Lay, and Charles Duncan. With
respect to the talking points for Ken Lay,
they have been modified to reflect the
recent letter from Ken which the Governor
previously brought to your attention. (Also
attached.) (TAB 5)
Boyden has reviewed the proposed letter to
Bill McKenzie, and Marlin would recommend
Thursday as an appropriate time to make the
announcement given the fact Friday is Bill
McKenzie's last day as Chairman of the Board
of Regents. (His membership on the Board
will continue.)
Hope this is helpful.
Phil
Phillip D. Brady
AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
2100 FRANKLIN PLAZA
4100 FIRST CITY CENTER
A PARTNERSHIP INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL CORPORATIONS
III CONGRESS AVENUE
1700 PACIFIC AVENUE
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701
DALLAS, TEXAS 75201-4618
1333 NEW HÄMPSHIRE AVENUEON.WAR
15
PM
34
(512) 499-6200
SUITE 400
(214) 969-2800
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20036
1500 NCNB PLAZA
65 AVENUE LOUISE. P.B. NO. 7
300 CONVENT STREET
1050 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
(202) 887-4000
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78205
(OII) 32-2-535.29.11
FAX (202) 887-4288
(512) 270-0800
1900 PENNZOIL PLACE-SOUTH TOWER
WRITER'S DIRECT DIAL NUMBER (202) 887-
4004
711 LOUISIANA STREET
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
(713) 220-5800
March 14, 1991
The Honorable George Bush
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Enclosed for your review are the following materials
relating to your decision on the location of your Presidential
Library:
1.
Draft Statement by the Press Secretary announcing your
decision;
2.
Draft letter to Bill McKenzie accepting Texas A&M's
library proposal;
3.
Talking Points for phone calls to Bill McKenzie (Texas
A&M), Ken Lay (University of Houston) and Charles
Duncan (Rice University) ; and
4.
Copies of the original A&M proposal, along with their
answers to detailed follow-up questions we submitted.
I have also sent to Phil Brady some background information
to assist Marlin in answering any press questions.
As we discussed, I would suggest this announcement be low-
key. I also feel that there may be some sensitivity to this
decision on the part of your friends in Houston. Thus, I
included a provision in the letter that compliments Rice and UH,
and hints strongly that you expect them to be involved in library
programs and activities to some extent.
AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD
The Honorable George Bush
March 14, 1991
Page 2
In your calls to Lay and Duncan, you might wish to indicate
a desire that they serve on the library committee which will be
formed to handle planning of the facility and its programs. You
might also be prepared in case they suggest some personal
involvement on your part in their schools' programs once you
leave office. (They have indicated this previously, and while
you would not -- and probably should not -- commit to anything
definite, an expression of interest in further conversation "down
the road" might be well-received.)
Finally, the letter to McKenzie notes that Don Wilson and
your "personal representative" will meet shortly with A&M
officials to finalize details. I felt that Don and I should go
to College Station soon after your decision is announced in order
to tap the enthusiasm that will follow (especially on the details
of A&M's funding commitments), and also to ensure that any
follow-up steps are fully coordinated and not begun
independently.
As you know, this decision is simply the first stage of a
long process. The next stage will be to set up a foundation and
to name a committee to govern it. The latter could include 30 to
40 prominent names, and should be bipartisan and multi-faceted.
We should probably aim to have these entities set up and
functioning by the end of this summer.
We would expect to allow around three years for the
foundation's detailed planning and fundraising work. This should
be ample and will allow plenty of leeway. Our aim would be to
have a final plan submitted to Congress after the 1994 elections
or early in 1995. Congressional clearance requires 60
legislative days, which can mean four to five months depending on
their schedule. The construction phase will last at least two
years, and could begin any time you choose following review,
though I would suggest aiming to break ground in the latter half
of 1995. This would ensure that at least the records storage
portion of the facility would be complete when you leave office,
saving the government millions in temporary storage costs.
AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD
The Honorable George Bush
March 14, 1991
Page 3
I hope the above explains the rough timetable we would try
to follow. Needless to say, I would be happy to answer any
particular question you have in more detail.
With best wishes and highest regards,
Sincerely,
Am
James W. Cicconi
/jh
Enclosures
cc: The Honorable John H. Sununu
DRAFT
STATEMENT BY PRESS SECRETARY
Pursuant to the provisions of the Presidential Libraries Act
of 1955 as amended, the President has accepted a proposal
that a library to house the official records of his
Administration be constructed at Texas A&M University. This
decision follows an extensive review of the various library
proposals by the Archivist of the United States, Don W.
Wilson.
The library will be constructed on the campus of Texas A&M
University at College Station, Texas. It will be financed
through non-federal funds, and will be administered upon
completion by the National Archives and Records
Administration.
DRAFT
DRAFT
March 19, 1991
Dear Bill:
Pursuant to the provisions of the Presidential Libraries Act of
1955 as amended, I am very pleased to inform you of my decision
to accept your proposal that a library to house the official
records of this administration be constructed at Texas A&M
University.
From the beginning of this process it was clear that selection of
a location for this facility must be based not just on personal
preferences, but also on the assurance that the many specific
requirements of the Presidential Libraries Act could be met.
For this reason, I asked the Archivist of the United States,
Don W. Wilson, to review and evaluate all proposals. As you
know, this process was, of necessity, long and considerably
detailed. It resulted in three library proposals any one of
which a President would be proud to accept. I might also add
that the extensive interest in this facility on the part of the
communities concerned, as well as the many individuals with whom
I had contact, made the choice particularly difficult.
In deciding to accept the Texas A&M proposal, I was particularly
pleased to note the University's commitment to integrate the
library into the academic activities of the University. The
school's planned public service school and Center for
Presidential Studies will foster strong links between the library
and the University, and offer a splendid opportunity for
scholarly involvement by other institutions of higher education,
(including the University in Houston and Rice University, two
excellent schools which submitted similarly attractive
proposals.) (not only in Texas, but elsewhere in the United
States).
Another factor in this decision was the library site proposed by
Texas A&M. Its ample space for future facilities, impressive
setting, and easy access for visitors, will assure that the
University can plan its future growth in concert with the
library.
DRAFT
Finally, the Texas A&M commitment of all funds necessary to
construct the library and related University facilities, and to
establish separately and operational and program endowment, will
ensure not only that the financial requirements of the
Presidential Libraries Act are met fully, but also that the
library's ongoing programs will be vigorous and of high academic
quality.
I know that the construction of a presidential library is not any
easy task. The architectural and design requirements, the
funding, the planning and integration of programs with those of
the University, and the Congressional reviews required for the
successful completion of this project all require substantial
time and energy. These necessities prompted the Archives to
recommend an early decision on site selection. In order to begin
the next state of this undertaking, I have asked the Archivist of
the United States, along with my personal representative, to meet
with Texas A&M University's Presidential Library Committee to
finalize certain details of the proposal and to discuss means of
implementation.
Barbara and I want to thank you and your colleagues at Texas A&M
who worked so diligently on the library proposal. We are both
looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship with our
friends in College Station.
Sincerely,
Mr. William A. McKenzie
Chairman, Board of Regents
The Texas A&M University System
College State, TX 77843-1138
TALKING POINTS FOR CALL TO WILLIAM MCKENZIE,
CHAIRMAN OF THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY BOARD OF REGENTS
1.
Bill, it is a real pleasure to inform you that I've decided
to accept Texas A&M's proposal to locate my presidential
library at your fine university.
2. This has been a tough decision. The three schools involved
all submitted excellent proposals that any President would
be proud to accept.
3. As you know, I have nothing but the highest regard for Texas
A&M University. This respect was a major factor in my
decision. It is very important to me that the library's
programs be integrated academically with the many highly
regarded programs of the University. I'm confident this
will occur at A&M.
4.
Also of major importance was A&M's commitment of all funds
necessary to build and endow the library and it's programs.
You know my feelings on this point.
5.
I was also very impressed with the information on your
proposed site. It seems like a truly beautiful location.
6. Needless to say, I am very sensitive to the feelings of many
Houston friends who may be disappointed with my choice. I
do hope that, at very least, in planning the future programs
- 2 -
of the library, we will involve Rice and the University of
Houston, and perhaps consider allowing some library
activities to take place in Houston.
7.
As you know, there are a number of details that will have to
be discussed (funding details, legal requirements, etc.)
There will also have to be discussions to coordinate plans
for the next stage, which will involve setting up a
foundation. I will have to select a committee of people to
oversee the planning, and I hope you will agree to serve on
that body.
8.
I have asked Don Wilson and Jim Cicconi to meet with you and
the A&M Library Committee to discuss all of these details in
the very near future. I will also be sending you a formal
letter accepting your proposal.
9.
Bill, I want you to know how much Barbara and I appreciate
the hard work you and A&M have put into this project. We're
looking forward to a long and close working relationship
with your great school.
TALKING POINTS
THE PRESIDENT'S DISCUSSION WITH
THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON OFFICIALS
I regret that this call is to inform you that The
University of Houston was not selected as the location for
my Presidential Library.
After reviewing Don Wilson's report on all three
proposals I have decided to select Texas A&M University as
the Library site.
--
I did review your recent letter and very much appreciated
your generous commets about my Presidency and the good faith
which motivated your desire to underscore the location
advantage of your great University.
:
And, frankly the process of developing Library plans
resulted in three proposals any President would be proud to
accept. Don Wilson was very impressed with the quality of
your work, your enthusiasm, and your commitment to quality.
NOTE:
The University of Houston proposed doing two
program items if they were chosen as the
site. They may or may not decide to do so
now.
1. The University of Houston's Center for
Public Policy is a major research, education
and outreach program. The University
proposed changing the name of the Center to
the George Bush Center for Public Policy and
International Relations if they were selected
as the location of the Presidential Library.
President Bush could show his support for the
University of Houston by offering to
participate in the Center's programs after he
returns to Houston.
2
I was particularly impressed with the ongoing work of
your Center for Public Policy. The list of recent
conferences and symposiums was quite impressive. I want
you to know of my willingness to support this fine work.
2. The University of Houston also indicated their
intent to establish the Barbara Bush Center for the
Study of Literacy which would conduct, publish and
disseminate basic and applied research on literacy.
The Center would also sponsor conferences and colloquia
on the subject of literacy. While it is not likely
that the center would be established without the
Library, Mrs Bush could show her support for the
University of Houston by offering to participate in
ongoing literacy studies at the University.
Barbara and I consider Houston our home and we hope to
spend a great deal more time there when the pressures of
public life subside. Please know that our warm feelings and
support for the University of Houston will continue.
--
Barbara was very interested in your ideas for a Literacy
Study Center. I know she would be delighted to participate
in any of these programs should you decide to proceed with
them.
GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
University of Houston Proposal
Responses to the Questionnaire
from the Archivist of the United States
Question 9: Does the university sponsor conferences, lectures and symposia, that would
benefit from cooperation with a Presidential Library?
Various departments and colleges at the University of Houston sponsor numerous
conferences, lectures, and symposiums during any given year many of which would benefit
from cooperation with the Presidential Library. Particularly relevant are various
conferences sponsored by the Center for Public Policy, the College of Business, and the Law
Center.
A.
The Center for Public Policy
The University of Houston Center for Public Policy is one of the strongest programs
of its type in the country. The following is a list of conferences and symposiums held
in 1989 - all of which would benefit from cooperation with the Presidential Library.
[1]
April 19 - Houston, Texas: The Next Chapter Unfolds - a conference.
Dr. Barton Smith presented his economic analysis of the regional economy,
focusing on research on oil dependent economies.
[2]
July 13 - 14 - Natural Gas: Meeting California's Energy Needs and Air
Quality Goals
The Center contributed to the continuance of public discussion of natural gas
regulation, business practice issues, and the environment.
[3]
November 16 - Frank Carlucci: Changes in the Pentagon?
Former Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci gave his audience some straight
talk about the Soviet's military establishment and the unknown outcomes of
the current political turmoil.
[4]
December 1 and 2 - Electing the Senate: National Election Studies
Benchmark Survey on Senate Elections
Sixty congressional scholars assembled for a two-day symposium to discuss
research based on the first national survey of voting behavior in senatorial
elections.
[5]
December 7 - 1987 Economic Census Data Users Conference
A discussion of the federal economic census, a basic source of data on the
economics of the nation.
Question 9: (continued)
[6]
December 10 - 12 - Prospects for a Soviet Economic Reform
A small group of Soviet economic policy researchers and American Soviet
scholars gathered for 3 days of discussion about the process of Soviet
transition toward a market economy.
B.
Following is a list of other national programs presented by various academic units
in the University which also would benefit from cooperation with the Presidential
Library.
[1]
Business, Society, and Environmental Crises: Who and What Will the Public
Believe? Sponsored by the College of Business Administration - March 28,
1990.
[2]
Mental Health in the 1990s - a national conference on law and mental health
policy sponsored by the University of Houston Health Law Institute - March
15, 1990.
[3]
Managing Liability from Hazardous Wastes - sponsored by the Environmental
Liability Law Program in 1989.
[4]
A Commitment to Caring - a lecture series in 1989 by the School of Social
Work.
[5]
We have enclosed folders and attachments involving a variety of other
activities and conferences.
The University of Houston was the principal founder of the Forum Club in the city
of Houston. This has grown into one of the major public affairs speaking lecture
organizations in the country. President Bush was a speaker at the Forum Club last
spring. There would be a mutual advantage to the activities of the Forum Club
and the Bush Library by its presence in the city.
C.
Tenneco Lecture Series - an endowed lecture series which brings distinguished public
figures to the University. This program is part of the Humanities and Professions
Program and is administered within the Public History Program.
GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
University of Houston Proposal
Responses to the Questionnaire
from the Archivist of the United States
Supplemental Question 3:
Do you perceive an opportunity for the Bush Library and the University of Houston's
Center for Public Policy to act in concert in promoting symposia and conferences?
As described in University's response to initial question 9 Houston's Center for
Public Policy is a major research, educational, and outreach program with an existing
budget of approximately one-half million dollars a year. An important part of the
University of Houston's proposal is the plan to move the Center for Public Policy
to the academic facility adjoining the Bush Library and rename it the "George Bush
Center for Public Policy and International Relations". The new Bush Center will
continue the extensive economic, political, and business programs currently in place,
and add domestic and international programs that focus on and extend President
Bush's accomplishments and interests while responding to international events. The
new Bush Center will be able to act "in concert" in promoting symposia and
conferences with the Bush Library. A brief description of the new Bush Center
prepared by James L. Smith, the current director of the Center for Public Policy is
attached. It is the University's intention to fund and endow this new Bush Center
separately and in addition to the intended endowment for programs described in
supplemental question 8.
This new Bush Center for Public Policy and International Affairs is an exciting
concept and one of the key elements to the University of Houston's proposal.
GEORGE W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
University of Houston Proposal
Responses to the Questionnaire
from the Archivist of the United States
Supplemental Question 5:
Has the University of Houston developed a further definition of activities (and buildings)
that will share the presidential library site?
Activities -
[1]
The Bush Center for Public Policy and International Studies.
The Bush Center for Public Policy and International Studies is described in
response to supplementary question 3. This activity is a key part of the
proposal and directly related to the activities of the Bush Library.
[2]
The Barbara Bush Center for the Study of Literacy.
The Center has as its major objectives: to conduct, publish, and disseminate
basic and applied research on literacy; to serve as a clearing house of
information; to serve as a site for conferences and colloquia on the subject
of literacy; and to serve as a resource for policy studies and policy
development. The University is committed to fund this Center including the
establishment of a Barbara Bush Distinguished Professor of Literacy. A more
detailed description of the Barbara Bush Center is attached. The Barbara
Bush Center is a second key part of the University's proposal, and the
University is committed to its existence.
[3]
Strategic Studies Institute.
This exciting and innovative new institute will provide another distinctive
quality to the Bush Library. The concept of the institute is to build on the
wealth of information relating to the military and international relations. The
Defense and State Departments are two of the largest employers of historians.
By expanding the University of Houston's already strong Public History
Program into the areas of international studies the University will be able to
solidify its position as one of the premier graduate programs in public history
in the country. A more complete description of the strategic studies institute
is attached.
Supplemental Question 5: (continued)
[4]
Collaborative Activities. The University of Houston is committed to work
with Rice University, Texas Southern University, and the various academic
institutions located in the Texas Medical Center on collaborative programs
relating to the Bush Library. The presidents of the various higher education
institutions in the city of Houston have agreed to work together to provide
opportunities for faculty and graduate students from all local institutions to
work together on projects, and also to have the opportunity to develop
programs of their own.
Related Buildings -
The University of Houston has current plans for a related academic building of
approximately 50,000 sq. ft. to be designed and planned in collaboration with the
Bush Library. Some of the space in this related structure would be directly
complementary to the activities of the Bush Library. For example, this space might
include an auditorium, visitors lounges, computer labs, and offices for the President
and Mrs. Bush depending upon the design configuration of the Bush Library itself.
It is also the current intention that this space would house the renamed and
expanded Bush Center for Public Policy and International Studies. The Barbara
Bush Center for the Study of Literacy, and the Strategic Studies Institute may also
be in this space.
It is also intended that some of this related space will be available for joint projects
with Rice University and Texas Southern University as well as others who would like
to join in collaborative programs.
The proposed 35-acre site has sufficient space for two or three academic buildings
in addition to the Bush Library. One project under current consideration is a new
communications building complex which would house the University's public
television station, public radio station, as well as the department of communications.
This could be a very positive development, and relate well to the activities of the
Bush Library and Bush Center.
GEORGE BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
University of Houston Proposal
The Barbara Bush Center for the
Study of Literacy
President George Bush has achieved a growing record as a supporter of education
and of educational reform. First Lady Barbara Bush has an equally long record of
dedicated support to the advancement of literacy. We propose that the Bush Presidential
Library have as a major component The Barbara Bush Center for the Study of Literacy.
Its purpose will be to provide a center for literacy research where scholars from across the
country and around the world may gather to generate and share knowledge about this major
national and international problem.
Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of the Barbara Bush Center for the Study of Literacy is to promote
literacy in local, national and international settings. Its major objectives are:
to conduct, publish, and disseminate basic and applied research on childhood,
adolescent, and adult literacy and by so doing promote dialogue among
literacy researchers.
to serve as a library and clearing house of information on the various
components of literacy research and on the current status of on-going literacy
projects around the world.
to serve as a site for conferences and colloquia on the subject of literacy,
bringing together leading scholars from such educational disciplines as
psycholinguistics, psychology, the teaching and learning of reading,
composition and rhetoric, sociology, and anthropology.
to serve as a resource for policy studies and policy development on ways in
which social, economic, and political resources can be brought to bear on the
problem of literacy.
Illiteracy as a National Problem
Though literacy is most often associated in the public mind with underdeveloped,
third-world nations, one of the lessons of the 1980s has been the extent to which illiteracy
is a wide-spread and growing problem in America itself, the richest and most highly
developed nation in the world.
The inability to read and write at the functional level required for active and
effective participation in American social, economic, and political life has serious
implications for virtually every sector of our society. For the schools, illiteracy means
The Barbara Bush Center for
the Study of Literacy
Page Two
increased incidences of failure and dropout. For prospective employers, illiteracy means
applicants whose skill levels bar them from employment or limit them to marginal or entry-
level positions with little or no hope for career advancements. For the nation at large,
illiteracy means individuals who are unable to engage as full-informed citizens in the
institutions of democratic life. The fact that the level of literacy demanded by our
information and knowledge-based society has risen and continues to rise further compounds
the problem. To the extent that literacy is identified disproportionately with certain racial,
ethnic, and socio-economic groups, its very existence tends to exacerbate tensions and
divisions within the fabric of society itself.
The clear implications of continuing illiteracy has given rise in recent years to
numerous efforts at the local, state, national, and international levels to bring about its
eradication. Yet, as Daniel A. Wagner of the University of Pennsylvania has recently
written, "A central paradox in efforts to reduce illiteracy in today's world is that so much
effort has been invested, and so little knowledge gained, about how best to achieve success."
Such, in brief, is the case for the Barbara Bush Center for the Study of Literacy.
Houston as a Laboratory for the Study of Literacy
Houston is an international city in every sense of the word. Houston and Houston-
area school districts report that some one hundred different languages are spoken in the
homes of their students. Houston companies do business quite literally around the world.
Fifty-three foreign consulates have been established in Houston, and the Port of Houston
ranks first in the nation in foreign tonnage. And appropriately enough, given its
commitment as a city whose face is turned toward the world, the 1990 International
Economic Summit will be held in Houston, Texas.
As a multicultural, multilingual living laboratory, Houston offers opportunities to
promote and study early intervention with children to bring childhood literacy, as well as
to learn more about the most effective means of correcting and improving literacy skills
among adults. We do not yet fully understand the complexity of interactions between issues
of basic literacy, multilingualism and cultural differences. Greater knowledge of those
interactions is essential for the growth, prosperity and peace of our nations and of our
world.
We believe that the proposed Center will contribute significantly to our
understanding of the dynamics of becoming literate in a bilingual or multilingual
environment. We need to understand the nature of the interdependence between first and
second languages in the acquisition and development of literacy skills. Implications of such
research are enormous given the high school dropout rates and low levels of academic
achievement among language-minority students. This research will contribute significantly
to our understanding of both the learning and teaching process. There is much also to
learn about the socio-cultural context in which learning takes place and the various factors
and influences that impact upon and shape that learning environment.
The Barbara Bush Center for
the Study of Literacy
Page Three
The Barbara Bush Center for the Study of Literacy will, in short, support research
into fundamental literacy issues and will seek to assume a leadership role in investigating
literacy in dual languages contexts as it so often occurs in urban environments like Houston.
It will also seek to become the focal point of a broad international network of organized
literacy resources, such as the READ Commission, the National Aeronautic and Space
Administration's Johnson Space Center, the United Nations, UNESCO, the National
Advisory Council on Adult Education, university literacy research centers; and specialists
in reading, writing, artificial intelligence, anthropology, linguistics, psychology, economics,
and history in Houston-area universities such as Rice, the Texas Medical Center, and the
University of Houston. Such a broadly based and broadly conceived center for literacy
study will benefit not only the regional and national community, but will also benefit those
many countries around the world whose leaders struggle with the problem of how best to
integrate national languages and indigenous mother tongues within a single social and
political order.
The Museum/Library Setting
Because the various programs of the Barbara Bush Center for the Study of Literacy
will be located in a modern and technologically sophisticated museum/library setting, they
will be able to draw upon various exhibits, artifacts, and collections designed to illustrate
such topics as the development of written language, how schooling promotes childhood
literacy around the world, and the efforts made by different countries to develop and
maintain a literate workforce. Houston's many consulates will be asked to participate in
the development of these exhibits.
The Center will make major use of new and emerging communication technologies
as an integral part of its research and information dissemination programs. University of
Houston faculty, in consultation with scientists from nearby Johnson Space Center, are
already in the process of developing a computerized tutorial to teach reading and problem-
solving strategies to adult illiterates. Headway is also being made with voice recognition
hardware and software that offers the promise of expert feedback on developing reading
abilities. In addition to making use of computer technology as a part of its own research
program, the Center will display and make available to others state-of-the-art literacy
promoting software developed by other educational institutions and corporate sources
throughout the nation and world. It will utilize computer technology as well toward
building sharable data bases of information on the subject of literacy which will, in turn, be
accessible by users everywhere.
The Barbara Bush Center for
the Study of Literacy
Page Four
Staffing and Support
Critical to the Center and its success are adequate staffing and support. To provide
on-going leadership for the Center the University of Houston will establish and endow the
"Barbara Bush Distinguished Professorship in Literacy" together with a series of visiting
professorships for "Resident Fellows" of the Center. The Center will house a small support
staff which will include clerical personnel, technologists, research assistants, and university
faculty specialists attached to the Center on a part-time basis. Support for the Center will
be augmented by external research projects and grants.
The Barbara Bush Center for the Study of Literacy will provide an enduring legacy
to the leadership of President and Mrs. Bush, a legacy which will, in turn, benefit all
humanity.
TALKING POINTS
THE PRESIDENTS DISCUSSION WITH
RICE UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS
-- I regret that this call is to inform you that Rice
University was not selected as the location for my
Presidential Library.
-- After reviewing Don Wilson's report on all three Library
proposals I have decided to select Texas A&M University as
the Library site.
-- The process of developing Library plans resulted in three
proposals any President would be proud to accept. Don
Wilson was very impressed with the quality of your work,
your enthusiasm, and your commitment to quality.
NOTE: Rice University proposed one new program item should
they be selected as the site. They may or may not
decide to do so now. Rice University proposed
establishing the George W. Bush Institute for Research
and Education. This Institute was intended to serve
as the President's and Mrs. Bush's base of operations
for all aspects of their public lives. The programs
of the Institute would be carried out through too
existing bodies -- the Rice Institute for Policy
Analysis (RIPA) and the Center for the Study of
Institutions and Values (CSIV). President Bush could
share his support for Rice by offering to participate
in future programs sponsored by RIPA and CSIV.
-- I was particularly impressed with the ongoing work of the
Rice Institute for Policy Analysis (RIPA) and the Center for
the Study of Institutional Values (CSIV). I want you to
know that Barbara and I would be delighted to support the
work institutes in any way you think appropriate.
--
Barbara and I consider Houston our home and we hope to
spend a great deal more time there when the pressures of
public life subside. Please know that our warm feelings and
support for Rice will continue.
Rice University, Answers to Specific Questions on Bush Library Proposal
April 20, 1990, Page 7
E. The Rice Institute for Policy Analysis (RIPA) appears to be an active, scholarly program that
informs elite audiences on contemporary social science issues. Do you feel there may be
opportunities for linkage between RIPA and the Bush Library?
Among the existing interdisciplinary structures at Rice, the two most closely tied to our
proposed Bush Institute are the Rice Institute for Policy Analysis (RIPA), which deals with
applied research and public outreach, and the Center for the Study of Institutions and Values
(CSIV), which focuses on theoretical and applied research. The opportunities for linkage
with the Bush Library are vast. As we indicated at our November meeting with Don
Wilson, these two structures form an appropriate base from which to develop the proposed
Bush Institute for Research and Education.
Established in 1981, RIPA is a component of the Rice School of Social Sciences. RIPA
provides a forum for nationally distinguished government officials, policy specialists,
faculty and journalists to meet with and speak to leaders from Houston's business,
governmental and educational institutions. RIPA's mission is to promote education and
research on contemporary policy issues. In pursuit of this goal, RIPA disseminates
information and research on critical policy issues, with particular emphasis on outreach to
the Houston community. The many activities of RIPA include luncheon roundtables,
public policy dinners, public lectures and seminars, forums and conferences, publications
including a newsletter, a working paper series, and a reprint series. RIPA also conducts
applied public policy research that includes election surveys at the national and regional
levels and extensive analysis of census data on a contractual basis. This research involves
Rice faculty members, graduate students and undergraduates. The program also provides
financial support for undergraduates in the form of Shell Scholarships in Public Policy.
RIPA is under the Directorship of Joseph Cooper, Herbert S. Autrey Professor of Social
Sciences in Rice's Department of Political Science.
Please see our answer to Question 9 for more detail on the current programs now
underway within RIPA and some lists of community members actively associated with
RIPA activities. Also please see Appendix K for our ideas about how RIPA might relate
to our proposed Bush Institute for Research and Education, which George Rupp and
Charles Duncan discussed with President and Mrs. Bush at the White House on January
17.
Rice University, Answers to Specific Questions on Bush Library Proposal
April 20, 1990, Page 8
F. Several years ago, Rice University created the Center for the Study of Institutions and Values, an
interdisciplinary program in the social sciences. Being a very new program, I assume its direction is
still a matter for review and deliberation. Do you feel the work of the Center might give expression to
President and Mrs. Bush's ideas and ideals? If so, how?
The Center for the Study of Institutions and Values (CSIV) is an interdisciplinary center
that brings together researchers from all departments in Social Sciences and selected other
departments at Rice (drawn widely from the Humanities, Natural Sciences, Engineering,
Architecture, and Business Administration). The objective of CSIV is to examine issues
relevant to society's institutions, the rules by which they operate, and the value questions
they raise.
CSIV is indeed a new program whose direction is still evolving. CSIV has a strategic
planning process for identifying and developing new thrust areas. There is widespread
enthusiasm within CSIV for developing cooperative programs with the Bush Center. In a
planning document contained in Appendix K, we propose developing CSIV in conjunction
with the Bush Institute for Research and Education. Together with the Bush Institute,
CSIV will provide a wide range of opportunities for expressing the ideas and ideals of
President and Mrs. Bush. We plan to encourage President and Mrs. Bush to participate in
these programs in a direct, hands-on fashion.
CSIV is currently sponsoring several research projects. Our expectation is that as these
projects evolve, new projects will be added, either as earlier projects are concluded or as
the Center expands to accommodate new initiatives. Our three major projects underway at
the moment are as follows:
The first project deals with the AIDS epidemic, providing an analysis of the relationship
between the nature and costs of various levels of treatment extended to AIDS
patients and the medical outcomes these patients experience. The goal is to
formulate an economic model to forecast the economic impact of this epidemic.
The second project focuses on the Houston community and is intended to provide an
analysis of Houston's economic, political, educational and cultural institutions. The
goal is to produce a comprehensive history and description of the current state of
these institutions with a specific focus on factors that make Houston unique, including
the nature of the interaction of public and private institutions in the area.
Our third project is an interdisciplinary seminar series that focuses on rational decision
making. The seminar has been in process for over one year. In this seminar,
psychologists, economists, philosophers, political scientists, and others have discussed
recent experiments that question the rationality postulates made in economics and
decision theory. Generalizations of the standard theory of choice under uncertainty
developed in response to experimental evidence have also been discussed. Present
plans are to analyze the validity and limitations of rational, normative decision rules
in the social sciences and to formulate positive theories that better explain observed
human behavior. There will be an emphasis on theory, including philosophical
foundations and interpretations of rationality, and on experiments carried out in
psychology, economics, and political science.
Rice University, Answers to Specific Questions on Bush Library Proposal
April 20, 1990, Page 9
CSIV is under the Directorship of Professor Peter Mieszkowski, the Cline Professor of
Economics and Finance at Rice. Please see our answer to Question 8 for a listing of some
of the many Rice faculty members who are active in CSIV.
Rice University, Answers to General Questions on Bush Library Proposal
April 20, 1990, Page 16
9. Does the university sponsor conferences, lectures and symposia, that would benefit from
cooperation with a Presidential Library?
Rice sponsors a large number of conferences, lectures, and symposia, many of which could
benefit from cooperation with the Bush Library. Rice is eager to enter a partnership that
will allow us to share conference facilities, mailing lists, and other essential elements that
are needed to make these events succeed. Below we list current Rice-sponsored events,
grouped by the Rice division that sponsors each event.
University-wide events
The President's Lecture Series. This is the premier lecture series at Rice. Held about
six times per year, these lectures are open to the general public and are free of
charge; attendance ranges from 500 to 1,500 people. This year's speakers are
representative: Joyce Carol Oates (author); Jonathan Kozol (social activist); Edward
Stone (planetary physicist); David Broder (political reporter); and Edward Fiske
(education writer).
The President's Executive Luncheon. Begun in 1972, this speaker series brings
corporate leaders to campus to acquaint them with Rice faculty and research
programs. These luncheons are held twice per year. The speakers are all members of
the Rice faculty.
The Rice University Associates Dinner. This event brings a major figure to Rice to
address members of the University Associates, who are Rice's chief financial
supporters in the community. Begun 36 years ago, these formal dinners have featured
political, business and scientific leaders as the guest speaker. This year's speaker was
Admiral William Crowe, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under
Presidents Reagan and Bush.
Scientia. The Scientia Institute for the History of Science and Culture was founded by
the mathematician Salomon Bochner to encourage interdisciplinary interactions
among the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and engineering. Scientia
hosts four Rice speakers per year, and also brings an outsider to campus to deliver the
annual Bochner Lecture. A recent Scientia symposium focused upon the
superconducting supercollider to be built in Texas.
DeLange Conference Program. This new series of events will begin in 1991 and
continue in alternate years. The inaugural conference will be a three-day symposium
focusing on "Human Impact on the Environment." The program will include
presentations by anthropologists, historians, biologists, environmental specialists, and
computer scientists. The proceedings will be published.
Rice Design Alliance. The Rice Design Alliance is an outreach activity of Rice's School
of Architecture community targeted at about 800 members of the community with
interests in architecture and design. The RDA presents two series of lectures per
year at Houston's Museum of Fine Arts. It also publishes a review magazine called
Cite and sponsors architectural tours and exhibitions. The RDA will almost certainly
want to host a presentation on the architecture of the Bush Library buildings.
Rice University, Answers to General Questions on Bush Library Proposal
April 20, 1990, Page 17
History
The Harold and Margaret Rorschach Lectures in Legal History. These lectures bring
distinguished speakers in history, politics, and journalism to campus once or twice per
year. The audience includes not only university based scholars but the legal
community, business people, local school teachers and the general public. The most
recent Rorschach Lecture, from April of this year, was given by Stanley Katz,
President of the American Council of Learned Societies and Senior Fellow at the
Woodrow Wilson School.
The Kalb Lectures in History bring to the Rice campus an internationally recognized
speaker on general history, usually once per year. These lectures are open to the
general public, and over 5000 invitations are mailed to Rice's friends in the
community.
Finally, the History Department has a colloquium series that brings visiting historians
from around the country and world to speak to a primarily University audience.
Rice Institute for Policy Analysis
The Rice Institute for Policy Analysis is a primary forum for lectures, symposia and
conferences. RIPA's activities are so extensive that we are attaching a copy of a
recent Program Summary in Appendix A. As this summary reveals, RIPA has
brought to the Rice campus a steady stream of prominent public officials, economists,
political scientists, journalists and others. Among them are a former President of the
United States and the current Secretary of State.
This year's RIPA activities (not included in the RIPA Program Summary) include a
lecture by Richard Fenno (Distinguished University Professor, University of
Rochester), who spoke about his book describing his travels with Vice President Dan
Quayle during Quayle's years as U.S. Senator. This April, Rozeann Ridgeway
(President of the Atlantic Council and former U.S. Ambassador to East Germany)
spoke in an event co-sponsored with the World Affairs Council of Houston. In May,
Richard English (President Bush's Senior Policy Advisor for Europe and 1992) will
speak at an event co-sponsored with the International Section of the Houston Bar
Association. Finally, RIPA is developing a multi-day series of speeches and panels to
be held in the week immediately preceding the Economic Summit on the Rice campus
in July. The speaker list for this event is still in preparation but is likely to include
current and previous high ranking officials from the United States and the other
attending nations.
RIPA serves the dual missions of research and outreach. In its latter role, RIPA
provides an outstanding setting that brings together leading political and economic
figures, Rice faculty and graduate students, and key members of the Houston
community. We see RIPA serving as a model for many of the activities of a Houston-
based Bush Library.
Rice University, Answers to General Questions on Bush Library Proposal
April 20, 1990, Page 18
Political Science
The Political Science Department sponsored a major national conference at Rice last
December that dealt with Senate elections. Appendix B contains further information
on this "Electing the Senate" Conference.
The Political Science Department also has a colloquium series that brings visiting
scholars from around the country and world to speak to a primarily University
audience.
Sociology
Prof. Chandler Davidson is hosting on the Rice campus a major national Voting Rights
Conference, sponsored by a grant from the National Science Foundation. This event,
to be held in May, 1990, will draw together dozens of political scientists, survey
researchers, sociologists, legislators and others to assess the impact of the 1965
Voting Rights Act on its 25th anniversary. A preliminary program for this conference
is attached in Appendix C.
About once per year, the Sociology Department hosts the Walter and Helen Hall
Lecture, which is open to the general public. For this year's Hall Lecture, H. Ross
Perot spoke to an overflow audience on the topic of "Competitiveness."
Jones Graduate School of Administration
The Jones School has recently begun a new Dean's Seminar. This series brings 10 . 12
guest speakers to the campus each year. These speakers are drawn from the business
and the public sector, with one guest each year from the non-Jones School Rice
faculty.
ENRON
CORP
Kenneth L. Lay
P. O. Box 1188
Chairman and
Houston, Texas 77251-1188
Chief Executive Officer
(713) 853-6773
March 14, 1991
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
17th & Pennsylvania Ave., N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20501
Dear Mr. President:
We have received some indication that you may choose the
site for your Presidential Library in the near future. I am
writing to urge you in the strongest way I can to choose a site
in Houston, and preferably the site proposed at the University of
Houston.
The events of the last six months -- and its critical 100
hours -- have taken a very positive Presidency to an even higher
and unprecedented level. Your Presidency, without doubt, will be
one of the most important in the history of our country. Your
Presidential Papers and your Library are even more valuable and
provide even more opportunity to be used to educate greater
numbers of our school children and our citizens.
Whatever your earlier views on the location of your Library,
they should be justifiably changed by these events. Placing your
Presidential Library at the University of Houston will ensure
that an International Civic Lesson will be easily available to
all the American people as well as to our many international
guests. Houston, a multi-racial, multi-ethnic international city
provides easy access for citizens from all over the world as well
as immediate accessibility for the 500,000 primary and secondary
students and the 250,000 college students in the Houston area.
After your second term, we will enthusiastically welcome you
and Barbara back home to Houston. Your Library will be a forum
for the two of you to continue your involvement in public issues.
By locating your and Barbara's offices in your Library in
Houston, you both will be able to observe and participate in the
thrilling experiences as hundreds of thousands of students and
ordinary citizens annually learn about your Presidency and our
form of government.
The Honorable George W. Bush
March 14, 1991
Page Two
Mr. President, I hope you will understand that I am taking
this admittedly strong position not for any personal or self
interest reason, nor because I am Chairman of the University of
Houston System Board of Regents. I am taking this position
because of my deep respect for you and Barbara and because I
believe so fervently that your Presidency should be shared with
the largest possible number of our students and our citizens. If
this occurs, I am convinced that it will have a profoundly
positive impact on the education, leadership and patriotism of
this region and of our entire country. But this dream can only
be realized if you select a location in a major metropolitan area
such as Houston.
As I have offered before, I will personally do anything you
ask of me to make your library the best possible Presidential
Library ever. This includes, if you wish, working with all the
institutions in this area, including Texas A&M, to see that every
institution has a prominent role with your Library and actively
develops programs around this great resource.
I appreciate you considering my views on this most critical
matter for you and for Houston. God Bless.
Warm personal regards,
KeN
CC: Barbara Bush