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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files
Folder Title: Jimmy Swaggart Ministries
Box: 40
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
"I"
Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart and the staff of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries
request the honor of your presence at the official dedicatory services of
the buildings in phase I of the World Ministry Center - new world
headquarters for Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.
DATE:
May 8, 1983
TIME:
10:00 a.m.
PLACE:
World Ministry Center
Bluebonnet Road at World Ministry Avenue
Baton Rouge
Louisiana 70821
Thousands are expected to attend, and services will be videotaped for world-
wide showing at a future date.
Please join Jimmy Swaggart and other dignitaries for a reception at 9:30 a.m. in
the main office building, prior to the start of the service. Refreshments will be
served.
RSVP by April 15, 1983
Please bring this invitation with you, and we will instruct our parking attendants and
ushers to assist you in every way.
WORLD MINISTRY CENTER RSVP REPLY CARD
FROM:
Name
Address
City
State
Zip
Phone
Comments
YES, Brother Swaggart, I would be honored to attend your interna-
tionally televised dedicatory services for the World Ministry Center.
There will be
person(s) in my party.
NO, Brother Swaggart, I regret that I will be unable to attend your
internationally televised dedicatory services for the World Ministry
Center.
From:
Jimmy Swaggart
P.O. Box 2550
Baton Rouge
LA 70821-2550
World Ministry Center Dedication
RSVP Reply Form
PRESERVATION COPY
Jimmy Swaggart
Ministries
P.O. BOX 2550
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA 70821-2550
Mr. Morton Blackwell
from the office of
Jimmy Swaggart
April 19, 1983
Morton Blackwell
Special Assistant to the President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. Blackwell:
We are pleased to enclose your round trip ticket from Washington
to Baton Rouge and return.
The dedication of phase I of the World Ministry Center on Sunday,
May 8, is an event we are all looking forward to, and we will be so
honored to have your presence.
I do hope this will also give you an opportunity to spend some
time with your loved ones here in Baton Rouge. Please feel free to
bring them to our dedication services as you come.
Morton, I will list below my work phone and my home phone. I would
appreciate your calling me to let me know that you arrived safely.
If there is any way I can be of assistance to you during your stay,
please feel free to call on me. We will need to know what time you
plan to arrive at the World Ministry Center on Sunday so our staff mem-
bers can assist you in getting together with Brother Swaggart prior
to the start of the festivities.
Pray for a great day!
Sincerely,
But Howard "Bud" Fisher
Director of Direct Mail
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries
work (504) 769-8300
ext. 191
home (504) 293-8188
HF/jm
P.O. Box 2550, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-2550
from the office of
Jimmy Swaggart
March 17, 1983
Morton Blackwell
Special Assistant to the President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. Blackwell:
I am writing today to ask your help in arranging the possible
visit of President Reagan, Vice President Bush, and yourself to the
official dedication of the World Ministry Center in Baton Rouge on
Mother's Day, May 8, 1983.
I have enclosed three official invitations, along with further
information about what this historic event is all about. Your
prompt action on this request would be most appreciated by Brother
Swaggart and all of us at the ministry.
Phase I of the World Ministry Center has been completed, and
this is what we will be dedicating on that special day. This
service will be videotaped for showing on the hour-long Jimmy
Swaggart Telecast -- which is the most widely viewed religious
program in the world.
If President Reagan's schedule will not permit him to attend,
we hope that you would bring a personal greeting from him to Jimmy
Swaggart that could be read on camera.
We support the views of President Reagan wholeheartedly. We
are for a return to the Judeo-Christian ethic; we are for the return
of voluntary prayer and Bible study to our schools; we are for the
repeal of abortion on demand: and we are for the protection and
promotion of the traditional family unit as the bedrock of our society.
Please contact me -- by mail and/or by phone -- to inform us
as to who will be coming. When we know this, we will alert the public
for promotional purposes.
501(9(3)
Sincerely,
Bad
Howard "Bud" Fisher
Director, Direct Mail
P.S. My phone number is (504) 769-8300, extension 191.
HF/jm
P.O. Box 2550, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-2550
General Information about the Dedicatory Services for the
Jimmy Swaggart World Ministry Center to be held May 8, 1983
in Baton Rouge, LA.
Since early 1981, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries has been in
a massive building program -- constructing a new world head-
quarters just off Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
This impressive complex, called the World Ministry Center,
covers an area of approximately 100 acres. It consists of
three main buildings: the administrative building, the pro-
duction building and the Vance Teleproduction Center (still
under construction), as well as other auxiliary structures.
These buildings, representing phase I in the World Ministry
Center building program, will be formally dedicated on Sunday,
May 8, 1983 in an internationally televised program originating
from the front of the new buildings.
Thousands are expected to converge on Baton Rouge for this
momentous occasion. Respected dignitaries and veteran Christian
missionaries and leaders from around the world are expected to
attend.
Brother Swaggart would be honored above measure if President
Ronald Reagan and Vice President George Bush could be in attend-
ance in this "year of the Bible."
Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart is viewed by more television viewers
worldwide each week than any other Christian ministry. According
to the latest Arbitron TV ratings, the Jimmy Swaggart Telecast has
also become the most widely viewed Christian TV program in the
United States.
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries is dedicated to the propagation of
the Gospel of Jesus Christ into all the world, to the preservation
and strengthening of the traditional family unit -- America's
greatest treasure, and to the resistance of communism through
sound Christian missionary activities around the world.
Presently, the Jimmy Swaggart Children's Fund is caring for
more than 60,000 needy children in several Third World countries
each year. Through freewill gifts and offerings from concerned
Americans and Canadians, these children receive a warm meal each
day, clean clothing and shoes, a sound basic education, medical
assistance, and loving Christian discipleship from born-again
missionaries who really care.
2
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries has been proclaiming God's Good
News for nearly twenty-seven years. Brother Swaggart, one of
the best-loved Gospel musicians of all time, has sold more
Christian recordings than any other artist in history.
He conducts scores of area-wide crusades each year in giant
arenas and auditoriums all across the U.S., Canada, and other
nations of the world.
His Telecast is a phenomenal success in many nations of the
world, and is considered by many to be one of the greatest forces
for good in a troubled world beset by SO many destructive forces.
3.31.83
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 31, 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR FAITH RYAN WHITTLESEY
FROM:
MORTON C. BLACKWELL
M
SUBJECT:
Speaking Invitation -
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries
I have been invited to bring White House
greetings to the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries
at the dedication of their new worldwide
TV building.
The event is May 8, a Sunday, and would require
my traveling to Baton Rouge on Saturday and
returning on Monday.
They have offered to pay my expenses and
are a 501 (c) 3 organization.
Swaggart is the third or fourth most widely
listened to TV preacher. I would like to
accept this invitation. Do I have your
permission?
PERMISSION GRANTED
DENIED
THE WHITE HOUSE
washington
APRIL 5, 1983
TO:
DODIE LIVINGSTON
FROM:
MAISELLE SHORTLEY
Morton is going to Baton Rouge for
the dedication of the World Ministry
Center of the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.
He needs to take along greetings from
the P. Can you (as usual) arrange
to get these to Morton no later than
May 5.
Attached is all the info on the event.
As usual, thank you for your stellar
work.
P.S. When you send us back the message
can you return the booklets? I
have made copies of the letter
and general info. sheet. Thanks
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
TO: mr. Blackwell
Your signed travel authorization
form is attached.
The original is to be attached
to your travel voucher when it
is submitted for payment. In
addition, there is a copy for you
and your office respectively.
For your files
shanks Lisa wacke
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE
OFFICIAL TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION
No. 0815
(TRAVELER TO COMPLETE SECTIONS 1-8.)
Date of Request
APRIL 5, 1983
1.
TRAVELER
J.I.A.
oT
81
21HT
Name:
MORTON c. BLACKWELL White House Staff J99A
BA
Extension:
2657
Room: 191 oT
Other
STANDIT
2. PURPOSE(S) and DATE(S): To attend the official dedication ceremonies of the
World MinistrieSenter of the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, on May 8, 1983.
This is a 501 (c) 3 organization and will take care of all expenses.
3. ITINERARY WASHINGTON, D.C., ATLANTA BATON ROUGE, AND RETURN
(List an cities where stopover occurs.)
anibnstrivo ПБ OJ bobivorq For Biw
4.
DEPARTURE:
RETURN:
Date:
May 6, 1983
Date:
May 9, 1983
Time:
6:50 pm
Time:
8:55 an
Mode:
Delta Flt. e 211
Mode:
Delta Plt. # 304
5.
NATURE:
100% Official
10
bisqs
100% Political
00
Hell
полошьэк
6
bisqon
Iliw
must
81
#398
6.
SIGNATURES:
Traveler:
neid fraiting to grantly Department YJMO art. for (I5VBTI Head (1 have 1800210g read and agree 10 to the 100 terms 804 set on forth (Special the Assistant side) Approving to the President Officer for Administration)
insbience fliw 103 bozu gried bas bouzai-
7. ESTIMATED COSTS:
visnibnooss botest SPECIAL EXPENSES:
No. of Days Per Diem
Registration Fee of $
Hotel Name
Commercial Car Rental
Hotel Daily Rate $
Excess Baggage
Other
Other
8. TRAVEL ADVANCE REQUESTED:
YES
No
Amount: $
Signature of Recipient:
Date:
REPAID:
Amount
Date
Schedule
Balance this trip
9. FOR TRANSPORTATION OFFICE USE ONL
GTR No.
Amount $
code 113 Ø M05
(8/13/81)
ORIGINATING OFFICE COPY
JOUOH 3TIHW ЭНТ
2180
JIVART JADITHO
1.8-1 SMOTTORE OT ЯЗДУЛЯТ)
Я3.13 VASIT
THIS APPROVAL IS SUBJECT TO ALL
APPLICABLE GOVERNMENT LAWS AND REGULATIONS,
AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES
RELATING TO TRAVEL ADVANCES
reas
AND GOVERNMENT-ISSUED TICKETS
(2)3TAG
bas
(2)3209909
1.
ADVANCES FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL ONLY
Cash travel advances will not be provided for political trips.
УЯАЯЗИТІ
Advances will not be provided to anyone with an outstanding unaccounted-for
advance.
МИНТЯ
Advances over $250 require 48 hours notice to White House Administrative Office,
extension 2500, except in emergencies.
2. ADVANCES TO BE REPAID FROM SALARY AFTER 15-DAYS
Any travel advance which is not either repaid or accounted for in full by an expense
voucher, within 15 days after return, will be repaid by a deduction from the Staff
member's salary.
3.
GOVERNMENT TICKETS FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL ONLY
Government-issued tickets shall not be requested or used for anything other than
100% official trip (i.e., no political or personal travel). The entire cost of any
government-issued tickets that end being used for unofficial travel will be considered
a personal travel advance and treated accordingly.
2
to
2
2
ИОГТАТЯОЧЕИАЯТ
2
Y900 301730 ЭИНАЖЕНО
THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE
OFFICIAL TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION
No. 0815
(TRAVELER TO COMPLETE SECTIONS 1-8.)
Date of Request
APRIL 5, 1983
1.
TRAVELER
Name:
MORTON c. BLACKNELL
White House Staff
Extension:
2657
Room:
191
Other List
2. PURPOSE(S) and DATE(S): To attend the official dedication ceremonies of the
World MinistrieSenter of the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, on May 8, 1983.
This is a 501 (c) 3 organization and will take care of all expenses.
3. ITINERARY WASHINGTON, D.C., ATLANTA RATON ROUGE, AND RETURN
(List all cities where stopover occurs.)
4.
DEPARTURE:
RETURN:
Date:
May 6, 1983
Date:
May 9, 1983
Time:
6:50 pm
Time:
8:55 am
Mode: Delta Flt. # 211
Mode:
Delta Flt. # 304
5.
NATURE:
100%
Official
10
100% Political
11st8
6.
SIGNATURES:
visits
Traveler:
(1 have read and agree to the terms set forth the side)
ЯОТ
f to 1800 oring (Isver) Isnested TO on (Special Assistant to the President for Administration)
19010 Department Head TO beloupe: 50 Hadz 090221 Approving Officer
Hw
7. ESTIMATED COSTS:
vignibroos SPECIAL EXPENSES:
No. of Days Per Diem
Registration Fee of $
Hotel Name
Commercial Car Rental
Hotel Daily Rate $
Excess Baggage
Other
Other
8.
TRAVEL ADVANCE REQUESTED:
YES
No
Amount: $
Signature of Recipient:
Date:
REPAID:
Amount
Date
Schedule
Balance this trip
9. FOR TRANSPORTATION OFFICE USE ONLY:
GTR No.
Amount $
care 113 0 M05
(8/13/81)
TRAVELER'S COPY
JEVOH HTIHW 3HT
2180
ИОIТАNЯОНТUА ГАУАЯТ JADINTO
2
to 318Cl
1.8.1 COMPLETE OT
ЯЛЛЕКАЯТ
THIS APPROVAL IS SUBJECT TO ALL
APPLICABLE GOVERNMENT LAWS AND REGULATIONS,
AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES
RELATING TO TRAVEL ADVANCES
reas
AND GOVERNMENT-ISSUED TICKETS
ADVANCES FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL ONLY
3
Cash travel advances will not be provided for political trips,
Advances will not be provided to anyone with an outstanding unaccounted-for
advance.
ИЯСТВЯ
:38UTRATAO
Advances over $250 require 48-hours notice to White House Administrative Office,
extension 2500, except in emergencies.
smiT
2. ADVANCES TO BE REPAID FROM SALARY AFTER 15 DAYS
Any travel advance which is not either repaid or accounted for in full by an expense
voucher, within 15 days after return, will be repaid by a deduction from the Staff
member's salary.
1901 TO and NY of 73138 bos state
3. GOVERNMENT TICKETS FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL ONLY
Government-issued tickets shall not be requested or used for anything other than
100% official trip (i.e., no political or personal travel). The entire cost of any
government-issued tickets that end being used for unofficial travel will be considered
a personal travel advance and treated accordingly.
2
forth
2
231
2 InunnA
Y900
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
May 5, 1983
Dear Jimmy:
I am delighted to send my greetings and
congratulations to all who gather for the
dedication of the new World Ministry Center
in Baton Rouge.
This is a special day for you and your
ministry. I know many people have worked
diligently to see this project completed.
This new facility will greatly assist in
the work you do all over the world.
As you begin this new phase, you have my
best wishes for continued success and,
again, congratulations.
Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan
The Reverend Jimmy Swaggart
World Ministry Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
from the office of
Jimmy Swaggart
April 19, 1983
Morton Blackwell
Special Assistant to the President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. Blackwell:
We are pleased to enclose your round trip ticket from Washington
to Baton Rouge and return.
The dedication of phase I of the World Ministry Center on Sunday,
May 8, is an event we are all looking forward to, and we will be so
honored to have your presence.
I do hope this will also give you an opportunity to spend some -
time with your loved ones here in Baton Rouge. Please feel free to
bring them to our dedication services as you come.
Morton, I will list below my work phone and my home phone. I would
appreciate your calling me to let me know that you arrived safely.
If there is any way I can be of assistance to you during your stay,
please feel free to call on me. We will need to know what time you
plan to arrive at the World Ministry Center on Sunday so our staff mem-
bers can assist you in getting together with Brother Swaggart prior
to the start of the festivities.
Pray for a great day!
Sincerely,
But Howard "Bud" Fisher
Director of Direct Mail
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries
work (504) 769-8300
ext. 191
home (504) 293-8188
HF/jm
P.O. Box 2550, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-2550
from the office of
Jimmy
file
Swaggart
May 23, 1983
Dictated May 12, 1983
Mr. Morton Blackwell
Special Assistant to the President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. Blackwell:
We were so honored to have you in our Dedication service,
May 8, 1983, representing the President of the United States.
I personally believe the President could not have chosen a better
man to fill this important office. Our country is well served
respecting your representation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As you stood before the people, your remarks were received
with welcomed hearts. They were so very appropriate for the
occasion. Our people need to be reminded of the things you said
over and over again. I think we take them for granted.
Also, I deeply appreciate being included in the conference
call regarding the prayer in public schools issue. I feel it is
tremendously important and I am grateful to the President for his
efforts in this respect, plus the diligence given by you and others.
If there is anything we can ever do for your Mother and Dad,
please feel free to call upon us.
May the Lord bless you richly.
In the Master's service, yours,
Jimmy Swaggart
JLS/brw
P.O. Box 2550, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821
ASSOCIATION
&
/
THE UNITED STATES
National Association of Home Builders
15th and M Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005
Telex 89-2600
(202) 822-0200
May 27, 1983
Mr. Morton Blackwell
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Morton,
I want to express a sincere "thank you" from myself and
from the members of BUILD-PAC's Capitol Club for your participation
in our program in Washington, D.C. on May 13.
We enjoyed having the opportunity to hear your thoughts on
the issues of the day, and we found your comments to be insightful
and informative.
Again, thank you -- and I hope that you will be able to meet
with us again sometime in the future.
Rat
Sincerely,
Pat Collins
Staff Vice President
A tig congrats our un wembers
felt you well superb.
File Jinams Swassent
Morton C. Blackwell
Outline of Remarks to Jimmy Swaggert's
Dedication Ceremony, Baton Rouge, La.
May 8, 1983
Significance of this event:
1. No one in parking lot taking down license #s
2. No tear gas will be thrown by govt. agents
into this gathering to break up our meeting.
3. No police will club us with sticks or hose us
with water cannon as we come and go.
4. No hostile mob, organized by the government
disrupt this religious event, as the government
of Nicaragua disrupted the recent visit there
of the Pope.
5. None of us will be told tomorrow that we have lost
our jobs because we worshiped here today.
6. We don't have to fear punishment, as in the Soviet Union,
if the government learns we are teaching children here
the Christian faith.
7. We know that the government is not the answer to
all our problems, and free Americans , not the govt.
have voluntarily contributed every penny to build this
new facility.
What a great country we have.
The only police here are private security people, whose
job is only to help direct the traffic in and out.
Government officials are here, but to participate,
not to persecute.
I am here to bring you greetins from President Reagan,
a man who is not ashamed to confess, repeatedly and publicly,
his faith in Jesus Christ.