Series

CORRESPONDENCE: Response Letters ["Blues"], 1983, 1986-2000 and 2008

Dates

1983, 1986-2000 and 2008

Scope and Contents

Summary: Letters from direct stakeholders, prominent constituents, and significant individuals or groups were flagged by the office, given a "rush status," and known internally as "blues" because of the blue response forms attached to them. A large number of these direct stakeholders were heads of companies, local government officials, and representatives of special interest groups and organizations whose perspectives were important to the office. Also represented here are the perspectives of various legislators in New Jersey and Congress members in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Extent

18 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

Bulk in English, with some items in Hebrew, Russian, and other languages

Conditions Governing Access

Restrictions: Due to restrictions in the deed of gift, materials created after 1994 are restricted for 25 years after their creation; earlier materials are available for research.

Additional Description

Arrangement

Arrangement: The Response Letters are arranged chronologically by year, and then alphabetized by subject.

There were some inconsistencies with how the correspondents were identified during archival processing. Folders for some New Jersey State Senators were labeled "New Jersey Senator," and some more specifically as "New Jersey State Senator." Some names of organizations are fully written out, rather than abbreviated with their more recognizable acronyms. Sometimes particular persons are named along with their affiliated organization or group, and at other times, a folder was labeled with only the organization name.

General

Appraisal and Discard Information: For this subseries, a 50% sampling method was used. Based on privacy concerns and research value, additional appraisal decisions were made. For example, résumés and nominations for individuals who did not ultimately obtain their desired positions were not retained, nor were letters delving into the details of personal medical history.

General

Notes on Subjects: "Public works" can include urban development and related issues. The phrase "appropriations" is used as a label when a clearer category is not discernible or when several different topics are addressed. "Budget" is used as a label when the letter directly refers to the budget and general suggestions for its improvement. "Health" can include Medicare, Medicaid, medical developments, pharmaceuticals, research, the FDA, and food. "Multi-issue" refers to a letter being about two or more significant topics. These multi-issue items can relate to several disparate issues or bring up an issue falling into overlapping categories.

Legislation and issues related to product liability have interchangeably been described as being a Commerce and a Judiciary subject, although the latter is more suitable. Similarly, legislation and issues related to private securities litigation reform and tort reform have been interchangeably described as a Banking and a Judiciary subject, although the latter is more appropriate.

With the separation of the Media and Telecommunications topics, the former refers more to subjects of advertising and what is broadcast, rather than to rules that regulate telecommunications companies.

The subjects of this subseries include the following: