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John Sununu Cabinet Agencies Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
1998-0004-F[1]
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:
Cabinet Agencies Files
OA/ID Number:
29187
Folder ID Number:
29187-001
Folder Title:
Cavazos (Education - 1989)
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
15
25
6
4
Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
(George Bush Library)
Document No.
Subject/Title of Document
Date
Restriction
Class.
and Type
01. Memo
From Lauro F. Cavazos to John Sununu
2/14/89
(b)(6)
Re: Recommendations for Department of Education
Positions (4 pp.)
Collection:
Record Group:
Bush Presidential Records
Office:
Chief of Staff, White House Office of
Series:
Sununu, John, Files
Subseries:
Cabinet Agencies Files
WHORM Cat.:
File Location:
Cavazos (Education - 1989)
Date Closed:
12/2/2004
OA/ID Number:
29187-001
FOIA/SYS Case #:
1998-0004-F[1]
Appeal Case #:
Re-review Case #:
2005-0426-S
Appeal Disposition:
P-2/P-5 Review Case #:
Disposition Date:
AR Case #:
MR Case #:
AR Disposition:
MR Disposition:
AR Disposition Date:
MR Disposition Date:
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P-1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
(b)(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P-2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
(b)(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of an
P-3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P-4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
(b)(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
(b)(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P-5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
(b)(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P-6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA]
(b)(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed of
(b)(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
(b)(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
PRM. Removed as a personal record misfile.
HIGHER ED.
ATTENDEES FOR BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE EDUCATION TASK FORCE MEETING
WITH THE PRESIDENT; SEPTEMBER 26, 1989; ROOSEVELT ROOM
John F. Akers, Chairman
IBM Corporation
Joseph E. Antonini, Chairman
K mart Corporation
John L. Clendenin, Chairman
BellSouth Corporation
David T. Kearns, Chairman
Xerox Corporation
Robert Kennedy, Chairman
Union Carbide Corporation
Charles E. McKittrick, Jr., Vice President
IBM Corporation
Paul O'Neill, Chairman
Aluminum Corporation of America (ALCOA)
Robert Price, Chairman
Control Data Corporation
John G. Smale, Chairman
Procter & Gamble
Edgar S. Woolard, Chairman
E.I. du Pont de Nemours
BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE STAFF
William Lurie, President
The Business Roundtable
Sam Maury, Executive Director
The Business Roundtable
WHITE HOUSE STAFF
Bobbie Kilberg, Deputy Assistant to the President for Public
Liaison
Gregg Petersmeyer, Deputy Assistant to the President for National
Service
Scott Sutherland, Assistant Director, Office of Public Liaison
Jeff Vogt, Assistant Director, Office of Public Liaison
EDUCATION: SPENDING VS. PERFORMANCE
980
$5,000
SAT Score
$4,500
960
Spending
$4,000
Average Combined SAT Score
940
$3,500
$3,000
920
Expenditures per Pupil
$2,500
900
$2,000
880
$1,500
1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988
Spending = expenditures per pupil in public elementary and secondary schools (1987 dollars)
MEDICAL VICE OF THE STATES UNITED
December 9, 1988
Dear Ron,
Thanks so much for coming to the meeting with
College Presidents on Monday. I thought the session
went very well, and it was especially good to see you
again.
I will have my staff review the possibility of coming
to the University of Nebraska next spring. Many thanks.
Warmest best wishes,
by
THE VICE PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20501
Dr. Ronald Roskens
President
University of Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0745
PERSONAL
bcc: Governor Sununu
Charlie Greenleaf
Hector Irastorza
University of Nebraska
Lo Distate L
Office of the President
Sunday, December 4
Dear mr. Vice President,
Tomorrow is not likely to provide an
opportunity for a private momen; hence, a
quick note.
First, we would like to have you
may 13, 1989. Since this is not a formal
address our Spring Commencement on Saturday,
communication, A am merely asking if
your staff review the possibility?
you would consider it appropriate to have
Second, & want to thank you for the
encouragement that you education have given those
of us in higher be community.
I have no doubt that you will
them, as The Education President.
remembered for many positive reasons- among
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Third, I'd like to suggest that Eric
Block be considered for the position &
national Science advisor. He represents
all you us very e effectively. (He does that
not have the slightest inkling
P might propose his name to you.)
Finally, Lois and results I were un-
geniumely on elated election as night. the you and
folded Barbara are supreme role models for
all of us - and we are grateful for
your frendship. of is my hope that A can continue
the privilege of occasional communication that
with you and & P would appreciate &
privilege if it is panted, would promise
to be in frequent, and I expect
no acknowledgment. Thanks- - and Happy, Happy Holedays!
Ron Rosbens
P.S. From time to time Kay Oar could use a
little reinforcement. She has / taken far more
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20270
January 9, 1989
MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARY LAURO CAVAZOS
FROM:
JOHN H. SUNUNU
SUBJECT:
Lamar Alexander's Attached Recommendations
I had a very good meeting with former Governor of
Tennessee Lamar Alexander last month. He passed along a memo
he drafted for the President-elect. It gives several
recommendations to flesh out George Bush's campaign promise
to be America's "Education President".
Please review it and let me know what you think.
CC: David Q. Bates
1
FOR THE PRESIDENT-ELECT
From Lamar Alexander
Subject: Following up the question
you asked in our meeting
YOUR QUESTION:
When you met with university presidents on December
5, you asked me:
"What about the education conference I
promised with the Governors? Should I meet with the
college presidents at the same time? Will you follow-up
and let me know how I should do this?"
ANSWER:
I would say no, don't try to meet with Governors and
university presidents all at once. There are too many --3400
college and university presidents, not to mention principals,
teachers, their unions, etc. A big education meeting will usually
become a big mess and turn itself into nothing useful.
Instead, have bite-sized meetings, usually outside
Washington, on your agenda, on your terms.
The next pages suggest a way to do that.
2
These next pages suggest how to get quickly into
being America's education President. These
suggestions:
**are tactical; things a busy President can actually get
done;
**for the most part don't cost federal dollars;
**stick to your agenda, not someone else's;
**will take care of your being "education President"
for the next six months;
**require only a few decisions on agenda and
personnel;
**leave you plenty of room to adjust your agenda
after six months or SO as you become more comofrtable with the
issues;
** involve Mrs. Bush in a big way;
**will help you fulfill several campaign promises;
**if done right will really accomplish something for
America and not produce merely media-event puffs of smoke.
3
SUMMARY OF IDEAS: The New Century
These suggestions center around two main ideas, both
designed to help Americans educate themselves to get ready
for "The New Century" (the year 2000 and beyond).
I hope you will think about it this way--
**Helping Americans prepare ourselves for The New
Century-this could become the central purpose of your
Presidency.
**Helping America build an education system that
offers every American the world's best possible education--this
could be the crusade that would do the most to help achieve your
central purpose. (Just like in war, our aim is not to leave one
wounded person out there.)
IDEA NUMBER ONE:
THE U.S.
LITERACY CORPS
President and Mrs. Bush commision and inspire a new
army of Presidential volunteers in 100,000 USA communities.
The charge to the volunteers is: work in your home communities,
help students and working adults learn basic skills, computer
skills and new jobs skills--the things Americans need to know
andbe able to do in order to live and work in the New Century.
Communities should set their own goals and reach them by
theend of the 1990's. Governors and their spouses will help
organize this.
4
IDEA NUMBER TWO: SCHOOL DAYS
President Bush launches a crusade to help American
schools make hard changes so our students can have the world's
best educational opportunities. The President devotes a day a
month to this crusade--going outside Washington, sticking to his
agenda, celebrating those who are making the hardest and most
important changes, showing others how to do make the same
changes, helping to start something and leaving something
tangible behind in that place after each "school day". This eight-
year crusade will get America's schools ready for the demands of
the New Century.
IT IS ALWAYS WORTH STOPPING FOR A MINUTE
TO REMEMBER WHY AMERICA NEEDS AN
EDUCATION PRESIDENT--
Because in America, education is
the way you get from the back to the front of the line
the way you build the economy to balance the budget
the way you learn to deal with change
5
the way you keep life interesing
the way we compete with the Japanese
Better schools mean better jobs.
But more than anything, education is the way the greatest
country gets ready for its greatest challenge. It's the way we
Americans prepare ourselves for The New Century:
EXACTLY HOW TO GO ABOUT
DOING IDEA NUMBER ONE:
THE U.S. LITERACY CORPS
1.
Set the Mission Clearly-- It is: Enlist and inspire a
volunteer literacy corps in every one of America's 100,000
communities each of which will:
a.
Set their own goals -Decide for themselves
what students and working adults need to know and be able to do
in order to live and work in the New Century
b.
Help Students--Working with schools, do
whatever it takes to make sure that every students knows and
can meet the goals
6
C.
Help Workers--Working with people where they
have jobs, help businesses do whatever it takes to make sure
that everyone with a job can meet the goals.
d.
Make their own Report Cards--Develop a
community report card to see whether the goals are being met.
Note:
Might want to keep working on name "Literacy
Corps"; I keep thinking there might be something better.
2.
Agree on characteristics of this idea:
a.
It is a crusade, not a federal program
b.
Almost no federal money in it; no one has to ask
Washington for permission to do anything,.
C.
Focus on 100, 000 U.S. Literacy Corps
Communities
d.
There is no one way to skin the cat; almost any
idea that will work is a good idea
e.
Work in your own community, not someone else's
f.
Set your own goals and create your own reports
cards
g.
Focus on schools (most young people are there)
and workplaces (most adults are there).
3.
Hire some help now, during January I would
recommend:
7
a.
One White House staff member to coordinate.
b.
Chairman( Two days a week) and advisory Council
from outside government to oversee
4.
In the following way, invite the Governors to
help:
a.
President addresses Governors at annual
National Governors' Association meeting in Washington late
February. Ask Governors to:
(1) Organize the Literacy Corps and lead the
crusade in their states;
(2) Select two pilot communities in each state
doing the best job on literacy--these will be the first 100 pilot
communities for the U.S. Literacy Corps;
(3) Set aside an extra day in August in Illinois
before the Governors' 1989 summer meeting. You would meet
with Governors. There the 100 pilot communities would be
featured and the crusade would be formally launched. (This
fulfills campaign commitment for Governors' conference)
(4) Establish now a working relationship
between White House and Governors to plan for the August
meeting. This planning group will recommend how to involve
other educators and businesses in the crusade starting with the
August meeting with Governors and to work out details that
spring up and absorb ideas;
(5) Mrs. Bush should be very involved.
Everyone admires her leadership in literacy issues. She could
8
visit pilot communities when President could not. She could
involve Governor's spouse in each state.
5.
Number one danger to "U.S. Literacy Corps
Idea"--someone will try to make it a Washington program and
tell everybody what to do from Washington; it must be kept a
community-by-community effort
6.
No start-up hoopla-- This idea doesn't need to be
kicked off with a lot of noise. Just needs to be started. The
hoopla will come community-by-community when volunteersfrom
100,000 communties get going after a few years. Everyone will
say then, "Where it the world did all this come from?"
******* Extra bonus idea: Announce in February to
the Governors that you will deliver your first annual
state of education address to them (and national TV) at
the Illinois meeting of Governors in August. Main subject
for 1989 address will be Literacy. (This address is
something you promised to do in campaign)
EXACTLY HOW TO GO ABOUT
9
DOING IDEA NUMBER TWO:
SCHOOL DAYS
1.
Set the mission clearly: It is: a Presidential
crusade to help American schools (and colleges) make the hard
changes they must make if our students are to have the world's
best education.
2.
Agree to try to make each day meet the
following tests:
a.
Full Day?--President actually spends one day a
month on this (some months that day could be literacy corps
work); a lot of this time will be spent listening which will remind
the country to listen;
b.
Outside Washington?--America works
community-by-community on these issues, not from inside the
beltway;
C.
Part of the tough reform agenda?--Stick to your
own agenda for change. Idea is to help schools make hard
changes, (for example, giving parents a choice of public schools)
not to be a cheerleader for more of the same;
d.
Does it celebrate success?--For example, go to
St. Paul to celebrate Minnesota's choice plan and invite to join
you as special guests the leaders of the 30 other school
districts in the country doing the best job with choice;
e.
Does it spread the message and, even better, does it
start something?--evening news will spread the message but
10
this can be done even better by, for example, also inviting to St.
Paul school leaders from thirty communities who want to try
choice in their schools
f.
Does it leave something behind?--While in St.
Paul raise $250,000 to establish at University of Minnesota a
network for all those school districts working with choice plans.
Extra bonus idea: At end of each
"school day" gather a group of children for 30 minutes
and read them a story and tape it and make it available
to radio and television. Treat them as if they were your
grandchildren. Help them understand the joy of reading.
Mrs. Bush might do this, too. Again, don't make too big a
deal of it, just do it once a month. Might do this at public
libraries and organize reading clubs of children. Perhaps
ask the kids to write book reports. These might be
published: "children writing about reading" The children
themselves occasionally could be invited to the White
House.
3.
Number One Danger to "school day" idea -- That
someone will try to turn it into an occasional, unfocused series of
in-and-out, puff-of- smoke media events. You will avoid this
danger if you stick to all the tests outlined in point 2 above.
4.
Here is a suggested schedule for the first six
months of school days:
a.
January -- Science and Math
Go to a major research university campus,
Michigan, Yale, MIT. Announce your new Assistant to the
President, Science and Technology adviser. Meet there with
11
him/her and as many of the membersi of the your new Advisory
Council on science and Technology as possible. Announce the new
report of Educational Testing Service(coming out in January)
showing American kids last in Science and Math among 12
countries. Visit model program for improving science and math
teaching in elementary schools. Raise $250,000 for a summer
institute for gifted students in science and math and for teachers
of science and math.
Note: This is the number one concern of the big
research universities, it is a campaign promise, it doesn't cost
anything, and doing it first will permit you to move quickly on to
elementary and secondary school issues.
2.
February -- The U.S. Literacy Corps
Meet with the Governors as described above
about U.S. Literacy Corps. If you can find the time, spend a few
hours outside Washington in Virginia with National Governor's
Association Chairman Baliles visiting Virginia's best literacy
project.
3.
March-- Choice of Schools
Go to Minnesota. Celebrate success of their new plan
to give students choice of public schools. Visit classrooms.
Visit colleges, which high school students may also choose to
attend. Invite leaders from 30 other school districts who are
doing best job with choice. Invite 30 school district leaders who
would like to try choice. Raise $250,000 to start a network that
will encourage choice.
Note: Choice is the most important restructuring idea
for education. Hitting it early will signal that you have embraced
the conservative reform movement Bill Bennett and I and others
strongly believe in.
12
4-7. April, May, June, July
There are many options, such as--
report cards: what students know and can do-
-If we are going to set literacy goals, what should the goals be?
We want to avoid a national curricula but we need to agree on
some goals. This would relate to the August meeting with
Governors.
** Paying more for teaching well--Come to
Tennessee. Invite the 20 other states who are trying to reward
outstanding teaching. Encourage colleges of education to find
ways to evaluate good teaching, which is the stumbling block.
This is the other most important reform (along with choice).
** teaching shortage or college bottleneck?-Go
to New Jersey and let Tom Kean show you how to attract into
teaching men and women in mid-careers.
** Cutting the cost of going to college- Go to a
school that is leading the way in holding down costs and invite
others.
** Geography-- work with Gil Grosvenor and the
National Geographic Society to find ways to encourage geography
in schools.
** Free teachers to teach: deregulating schools-
-go to California to see models of deregulation, perhaps in
conjunction with meeting of American Federation of Teachers (Al
Shanker) the reform-minded national teachers' union.
** Business involvement in the schools--Visit
the best example of this, perhaps in connection with literacy.
13
*
*citizenship-President teaches a civics class in
school; involve patriotic and civil rights organizations to honor
civics teachers and American values
8.
August -- National Governors Association/
State of Education Address
Go to Illinois. Launch U.S. Literacy Corps in 100 pilot
communities, two from each state. Make the first annual
nationally televised State of Education address.
For staff:
You will need at least one person to coordinate
"school days" and a team to design Literacy Corps. To begin with,
both should be in the White House.
Recommendations:
(1) Jennie Carter Thomas, Nashville--Jennie is
a former teacher who worked with me in state government. Ran
our community "Better Schools" task forces. Very able. Can
conceptualize and get things done. Republican. Husband, Jon
Thomas, was Tennessee Bush chairman in 1988.
(2) Joe Nathan, St. Paul --Joe is the staff
person who is the driving force behind the Minnesota choice plan. I
used him as the staff person for the National Governors'
14
Association "Time for Results" report. He is a self-starter, well
-respected. A former principal. A Democrat but very much
committed to reform agenda.
(3) Bill Bennett had several bright young
people who worked for him. You may want to hire one of those.
Acknowledgements:
In preparing these ideas I talked with several of the other
University Presidents who were at your meeting as well as with
Checker Finn, former Assistant Secretary of Education. Some of
these ideas have come from them. Several, including Bill Friday
(North Carolina) and Frank Rhodes (Cornell) and Checker Finn
proposed something that resembled the "Literacy Corps".
All of them are enormously able people and have more good
ideas and would be delighted to help you and your staff flesh out
any of this and some would give you a huge amount of their time.
Respectfully,
Lamar Alexander
NASHVILLE
December 30, 1988