NEWSCLIPPINGS, 1962-1982

Summary: Documentation of the Congressman's activities as reflected in, usually, district newspapers, although other newspapers are included.

The early clippings (1962-1975) provide glimpses of the Congressman's pre-political beginnings as a doctoral student doing research in Tanganyika (now Tanzania), as advisor in the U.S. mission to the United Nations, and as a candidate for Freeholder in Bergen County. (These three activities are but scantily mentioned in the rest of the collection,) The early clippings also sketch a background of strong Republicanism in a district in which Maguire, the liberal Democrat, gained a surprising victory in 1974. The clippings then chart his increasingly activist course with respect to environmental hazards, particularly asbestos and electromagnetic radiation. Also heavily represented are his efforts to keep the Mahwah Ford plant open, and to found a New Jersey television station. Constituent reaction to Maguire's often uncompromising views are heavily represented in letters to the editors throughout this series. The NEWSCLIPPINGS also cover campaign issues such as funding, not without a fair amount of cross-accusation between opponents.

It should be noted that subject arrangements within NEWSCLIPPINGS do not correspond to those of the SUBJECTS FILE or any other series in the collection. Thus, "District Activities" or "Redistricting" are unique to this series although they may be represented in small part elsewhere. Perhaps the most useful feature of this series is the coverage of news in which Congressman Maguire is not directly involved but which, apparently according to instructions to the clipping service (discussed later in this description) was collected with a view to maintaining a reference file on events likely to become important with respect to legislation, projects, Congressional voting, campaign or other facets of political life.

The NEWSCLIPPINGS were predominantly gathered by the New Jersey Clipping Service, a company based in Livingston, New Jersey and are so indicated by a white slip attached to them naming the newspaper and date of publication. The subject arrangements, however, were probably done by the Congressman's staff. Chronological grouping was done in final processing.

The gap between 1980 and 1982 in the NEWSCLIPPINGS is probably accounted for by the non-Congressional activities of Maguire at this stage in his career, while the resumption of news coverage in Spring 1982 would be due to his 1982 Senatorial campaign.

Additional newsclippings may be found in the SUBJECTS FILE, and SOUTHERN AFRICA SENATE/HOUSE AD HOC MONITORING COMMITTEE.