PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1944-2003

Summary: Letters received by Brendan Byrne at his home, law office and state house addresses, mostly in the form of thank-you letters, invitations and congratulations for various honors and achievements. Included among the letters are a limited number of postcards, telegrams and greeting cards, as well as enclosures in the form of a draft of an article for Suburban Life (January 1960) and one resume from Mr. Alan M. Abrams (1993).The series also includes several letters written by Byrne.

The series includes correspondence received from numerous political figures and celebrities. Among the notables are Secretary of Agriculture Phillip Alampi (2 letters: 1970, 1982), State Senator Raymond H. Bateman (1 letter: 1977), author Peter Benchley (2 letters: 1983 and undated), Princeton University President William G. Bowen (5 letters: 1973, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987), Senator Bill Bradley (2 letters: 1982, 1986), Don Budge (1 letter: 1975), Vice President George H.W. Bush (1 letter: 1981), Senator Robert C. Byrd (1 letter: undated), Governor William T. Cahill (3 letters, 1 Mass card: 1973, 1974), President Jimmy Carter (3 letters: 1976, 1980, 2002), President William J. Clinton (1 Christmas card and 1 letter: 1996, 2000), Governor Alfred E. Driscoll (1 letter: 1960), Adviser/Environmental Protection Commissioner Jerry F. English (1 letter: 1999), State Senator Donal C. Fox (1 letter: 1957), Rutgers President Mason W. Gross (2 letters: 1969, 1971), Governor Richard J. Hughes (3 letters: 1962, 1969, 1990), Senator Estes Kefauver (1 letter: 1961), Senator Edward M. Kennedy (1 letter: 1982), Ethel Kennedy (3 letters: 1974, 1977, 1981), New York City Mayor Edward I. Koch (1 letter: 1981), Governor Robert B. Meyner (10 letters: 1959-1974), Treasurer Richard C. Leone (1 letter: [1978]), State Senator Anne C. Martindell (1 letter: 1977), Vice President Walter F. Mondale (4 letters: 1976, 1980, 1982), George M. Steinbrenner III (4 letters: 1973, 1978, 1979, 1985), White House Chief of Staff Jack H. Watson (3 letters: 1977, 1978), Justice Joseph Weintraub (1 letter: 1958), David A. "Sonny" Werblin (1 letter: 1976).

Among the several letters written by Brendan Byrne, is one written to Yankees great Joe DiMaggio in 1996, which does not include a response.

In addition to topics previously mentioned, several letters address specific honors bestowed upon Byrne, including nomination for the Ten Outstanding Young Men of 1959 (letter is addressed to Robert B. Meyner: nomination certificate included), selection as Irishman of the Year by St. Patrick's Guard of Honor of New Jersey in December of 1968, and induction into The Military Order of the World Wars in 1974. Several letters pertain to potential appointments, including possible nomination to the Task Force on Communications Policy in 1968 (letter addressed to Richard J. Hughes), and inquiries into judicial appointments to the Superior Court of New Jersey in 1970 and the Third Circuit Court in 1971. Letters from June and July of 1973 convey congratulations for Byrne's gubernatorial primary victory. One letter from 1978 urges Governor Byrne to endorse Richard C. Leone over Bill Bradley for U.S. Senate.

Two letters addressed to Byrne from College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey president Stanley S. Bergen, dated February 26, 1979 and February 25, 1981, include the report of Byrne's annual executive physical.