Clifford P. Case Papers

Dates

Majority of material found in 1925-1982 ( 1945-1978)

Scope and Content Note

The Clifford P. Case papers date from 1934 to 1982, with the bulk of the documents falling between 1945 and 1978. The papers, comprising ca, 310 cubic feet of material, primarily document Senator Case's career in the U.S. House of Representatives (1945-1953) and in the U.S. Senate (1955-1978), Also documented are the Senator's activities following his retirement from the Senate, and his participation over the years as a trustee or director of various non-profit organizations. Very little information concerning Senator Case's early career as a lawyer in New York City is included in the papers.

The Senator's papers are composed of a wide variety of document types, including correspondence, memoranda, speeches, reports, press releases, scrapbooks, editorial cartoons, and agendas and minutes. Visual and audio formats are represented by photoprints, audiotape, phonograph discs, cine film, and videotape, Printed materials include legislative bills, newsletters, pamphlets, brochures, programs, and newspaper clippings, as well as magazine articles, government documents, and other publications.

Senator Case's papers contain information relating to many aspects of United States public policy, especially in the areas of civil rights, mass transit, and foreign affairs (especially in the Middle East), and the environment. Document series providing insights into the legislative process include LEGISLATIVE WORKING FILES (1965-circa 1978) and ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT I S FILES (ca, 1965-circa 1978), both documenting staff research on current legislation.

LEGISLATIVE CORRESPONDENCE (1944-1978) contains letters received and sent which relate to proposed legislation. The series BILLS FILES (1945-1978) includes the texts of bills introduced by the Senator. Also relevant is the publication "Record Vote Analysis," issued by the Republican Policy Committees of the U.S. House and Senate, which has been kept with the Senator's papers as the series VOTING RECORD AND ANALYSIS (1945-1978). In addition, legislative issues are frequently reflected in the series JOINT LETTERS (1978) which includes the texts of correspondence signed by Senator Case and at least one other member of Congress.

Senator Case's own views on policy questions and specific bills are revealed in several locations within the papers. Relevant series are SPEECHES, TESTIMONY, and PUBLISHED ARTICLES (1947-1977) and CONGRESSIONAL RECORD REMARKS (1955-1976), the latter recording comments made by the Senator on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Other series which preserve Senator Case's views are RADIO AND TELEVISION RECORDINGS (1945-1978) and the related RADIO AND TELEVISION TRANSCRIPTS AND RELEASES (1954-1978).

Over the years, many of Senator Case's constituents visited his Washington, D.C. office and recorded their names and addresses in the VISITORS' REGISTERS (1955-1978). Activities of Senator Case and his staff on behalf of specific constituents are documented in the series GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE (circa 1955-1978). Except for ACADEMY NOMINATIONS, however, individual case files have not been preserved. In responding to constituent inquiries, the Senator I s office frequently used standardized replies in the form of automatic typewriter letters. A master file of standardized replies to constituent mail is preserved in the series ROBOS AND ENCLOSURES (1955-1978). Citations and awards presented to the Senator by his constituents are included in the series CERTIFICATES AND AWARDS (1925-1928).

Although much of the collection focuses on national issues, New Jersey activities and projects are represented in several ways within the Clifford Case papers. The series NEW JERSEY PROJECT FILES (1955-ca.1978) documents projects proposed and implemented within the state by agencies of the federal government. NEW JERSEY STATE FILES (1955-circa 1978) documents state and local activities in which the Senator had an interest. Senator Case I s political activities within the state are reflected in a collection of EDITORIAL CARTOONS (1961-1978) and by the series POLITICAL FILES (1942-1978), The latter series, in addition to documenting the Senator's New Jersey political campaigns, and endorsements, also includes biographical sketches of Senator Case and information concerning his Republican party activities at the national level, including his attendance at Republican National Conventions.

Supplementing the campaign biographies included in the series POLITICAL FILES is the series BIOGRAPHICAL FILES (1949-1972) which includes information on all aspects of Senator Case I s career. Other document series which relate to all aspects of Senator Case's career include SCRAPBOOKS (1945-1978) which contain chiefly newspaper clippings, PHOTOGRAPHS (1947-1978), constituent NEWSLETTERS (1958-1978), PRESS RELEASES (1945-1978) and the Senator's DAILY SCHEDULES (1955-1978). Also covering many facets of Senator Case's career is the series WHITE COPIES which includes copies of the more important letters, press releases, and other documents released each week by the Senator's office.

Family and personal concerns are reflected in the series FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS (1943-1952) and in PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE (1945-1980), although the latter series contains some political correspondence as well. The series INVITATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS (1955-1981) contain many invitations received by Senator Case and a record of causes to which he gave money. Documentation of the Senator's activities not directly relating to the U.S. Congress is also included in the series BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS (1934-1981). The related COMMISSIONS AND TRAVELS (1958-1980), however, pertains mostly to activities undertaken by the Senator in his capacity as a member of Congress.

Extent

310 Cubic Feet

Physical Location

Stored offsite: Advance notice required to consult these records.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Biographical files, 1949-1972; daily schedules, 1955-1978; visitors' registers, 1955-1978; speeches, testimony, and published articles, 1947-1977; Congressional Record remarks, 1955-1976; radio and television transcripts and releases, 1945-1978, sometimes accompanied by Edison discs; radio and television recordings, 1945-1978, including audiotape, phonograph records, cine film and videotape; photographs (primarily black-and-white), 1947-1978, including a partial index by name, category of person or type of group; press releases, 1945-1978, including letters to the editor; scrapbooks, 1945-1978, containing press clippings documenting Case's career; constituent newsletters, December 1958-October 1978; white copies (either carbon copies or photocopies), 1955-1964, 1971 and 1976-1978, of the more important documents issued from Case's office; personal correspondence, 1939(1945)-1981, consisting of letters sent and received to which Case gave his personal attention; invitations and contributions, 1955-1982, consisting of a sampling of the invitations which Case received and of the financial appeals (for 1962-1972 only) to which he donated; joint letters (sent to U.S. officials), 1969-1978, signed by at least one other member of Congress; robos (automatic typewriter letters) and enclosures, 1955-1978, representing standardized responses to inquiries received by Case's office; general correspondence, ca. 1955-1978, consisting of a sample of constituent correspondence on non-legislative topics, especially questions relating in some way to the federal bureaucracy; legislative correspondence, 1944-1953, 1955-1960 and 1976-1978, including a partial name index for 1944-1953; bills files, 1945-1978, consisting primarily of public bills, resolutions and private bills sponsored or co-sponsored by Case; legislative working files, ca. 1965-ca. 1978, including background materials, intra-office memoranda and letters received from selected constituents and from other members of Congress; administrative assistant's files, ca. 1959-1978, kept by Frances Henderson; voting record analysis, 1945-1978, issued by the Republican Policy Committees of the House and Senate; service academy nominations, 1945-1978, but only for persons who actually received appointments; New Jersey project files, 1955-ca. 1978, relating to projects proposed or implemented in New Jersey by federal agencies; New Jersey state files, 1955-ca. 1978, concerning local or state projects in New Jersey in which Case had an interest due to constituent contacts; files pertaining to boards and commissions, 1934(1950)-1982, on which Case served; conference and travel files, 1958-1982; political files, 1942-1978, documenting Case's activities, both as a candidate and an office holder, in local, state and national politics; original editorial cartoons (chiefly depicting Case), 1961-1978, the bulk of which appeared in New Jersey newspapers; certificates and awards, 1925(1955)-1978, among which are diplomas and plaques; and financial documents, 1943-1952. Many aspects of U.S. public policy are documented in the Senator's papers, especially in the areas of civil rights, mass transit and the environment; the Vietnam Conflict is also represented. Case's personal correspondence includes letters from, among others, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon. The New Jersey project files include documentation relating to the proposed Tocks Island Dam on the Delaware River. Organizations represented in the boards and commissions files are the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in America, the National Council of Churches, Roper Public Opinion Research Center, Freedom House, the New Jersey Society for Crippled Children and Adults, the Fund for the Republic and Rutgers University. Among materials in Case's conference and travel files are the Senator's notes from a Bilderberg Conference in 1958 and materials from a trip to Vietnam. Case's political files relate in part to successive Republican National Conventions.

Biographical Chronology

1904
: Born April 16th in Franklin Park, New Jersey, the eldest child of the Reverend Clifford Philip and Jeannette McAlpin (Benedict) Case
1907-1921
: Lives in Poughkeepsie, New York (where his father serves as pastor of the First Dutch Reformed Church) and attends the public schools
1920
: Upon the death of his father, drops the "Jr." from his name
1921-1925
: Attends Rutgers College, the alma mater of both his father and his uncle (Clarence E. Case, later Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court); while in college is a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, the lacrosse team, and several musical organizations; is graduated Phi Beta Kappa with an A.B, degree in addition to other activities; is graduated from Rutgers with an A.B. degree
1925-1928
: Attends the Columbia University School of Law and is graduated with an LL.B. degree
1928
: On July 13th marries Ruth Miriam Smith, of Linden, New Jersey, whom he met while both were students, he at Rutgers College and she at the New Jersey College for Women
1928
: Moves to Elizabeth, New Jersey
1928
: Is admitted to the bar in New York
1928
: Accepts a position as an associate at the New York City law firm of Simpson, Thatcher & Bartlett
1929
: Moves to Rahway, New Jersey
1929
: Begins attending the (Second) Presbyterian Church, as Rahway has no Dutch Reformed Churches
1934-1950?
: Serves as a member of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in America
1938-1942
: Serves as a member of the Rahway Common Council, having been first elected in 1937
1939
: Accepts an invitation to membership in the firm of Simpson, Thatcher & Bartlett
1941
: Seeks nomination to the New Jersey House of Assembly in the Republican primary; places fifth in a contest between twelve candidates for four available nominations
1943-1944
: Serves in the New Jersey House of Assembly, having been first elected in 1942; his committee assignments include Civil Service, Corporations, and Interstate Cooperation
1944
: Wins election to the U.S. House of Representatives from Union County, New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District, by defeating Democrat Walter H. Van Hoesen
1945
: Delivers as his maiden speech in the House a refutation of comments made by Congressman John E. Rankin attributing "Communistic ideals" to Judge Felix Frankfurter of the U.S. Supreme Court
1945-1946
: Serves on the Civil Service, Claims, and Education Committees of the U.S. House of Representatives
1945-1959
: Serves as a trustee of Rutgers University
1946
: Defeats Dwight A. Danforth in Union County's Republican primary election
1946
: Wins re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives by defeating Walter H. Van Hoesen
1947-1953
: Serves on the House Judiciary Committee
1948
: Defeats Democrat H. Frank Pettit and Independent Progressive Daniel Wagner to win re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives
1950
: In his re-election campaign, receives the endorsement of the (New Jersey) State Federation of Labor, A.F.L., the first of several labor endorsements which he receives during his political career Wins re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives by defeating Democrat Harry Mopsick
1952
: Advocates the selection of Dwight D. Eisenhower as the Republican Party's nominee for President
1952
: In one of several appearances advocating the election of candidate Eisenhower, debates Archibald S, Alexander, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from New Jersey, concerning the relative merits of the two party's presidential candidates
1952
: Defeats Democrat H. Frank Pettit to win re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives
1952
: Serves on the staff of President-elect Eisenhower following the November election
1953
: In February, announces his candidacy for governor of New Jersey and receives the endorsement of U.S. Senator H, Alexander Smith (R-N.J.)
1953
: In March, withdraws as a candidate, prior to the primary election, citing a lack of campaign funds In May, Paul G. Hoffman, Chairman of the Board of the Fund for the Republic, announces that Case has accepted the presidency of the Fund, an independent corporation funded by the Ford Foundation to work "toward elimination of restrictions on freedom of thought, inquiry and expression in the United States and the development of policies and procedures... to protect these rights in the face of present international tension,"
1953
: In August, assumes the presidency of the Fund for the Republic after resigning from the House of Representatives and from Simpson, Thatcher & Bartlett
1953
: In November, Democrat Harrison A. Williams, Jr., defeats Republican George F. Hetfield win election to the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District, the seat formerly held by Case
1954
: In March, announces that he will be a candidate for the U.S. Senate from New Jersey and thereupon resigns the presidency of the Fund for the Republic
1954
: In April, wins the Republican primary following the earlier withdrawals of rivals Walter T. Margetts and U.S. Senator Robert C. Hendrickson
1954
: In July, makes a public declaration concerning Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-Wisc.): "I am convinced that our total effort to meet and defeat the menace of Communism will be strengthened when the distracting and decisive effort of his participation is removed."
1954
: In August, receives the endorsement of President Eisenhower
1954
: In November, despite continuing factional disputes within New Jersey's Republican party, Case narrowly defeats Democrat Charles R. Howell (U.S. Representative from New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District) to win election to the U.S. Senate;after the election, a recount is begun, but is dropped in mid-December when it fails to reveal significant changes in vote totals
1955
: Serves on the Republican Committee on Committees of the U.S. Senate and moves that Senator McCarthy not serve on the Government Operations Committee; his motion is ruled out of order
1955
: In June, receives an honorary doctorate from Rutgers University, the first of 13 awarded to him during his lifetime
1955
: In December, visits the Panama Canal as a member of the Civil Service Committee
January 1955- May 1957
: Serves as a member of the Senate's Committee on the District of Columbia and the Post Office and Civil Service Committee
1956
: Establishes a residence in the Washington, D.C., area, in addition to his Rahway home
1956
: Attends the Republican National Convention as a delegate from New Jersey
May 1957- January 1959
: Serves as a member of two Senate committees: Banking and Finance and Rules and Administration
1958
: In September, attends a conference (in Buxton, England) of the Bilderberg Group, an organization devoted to promoting "mutual understanding and goodwill among men occupying the highest positions" in the Western Alliance Becomes the senior Senator from New Jersey upon the election of Harrison A. Williams, Jr,, to succeed H, Alexander Smith
1959
: In May, a committee of New Jersey Republicans, headed by Robert W. Johnson, is formed to oppose the renomination of Senator Case in 1960; subsequently, the Committee for Senator Case is established "to provide a non-partisan channel through which members of both major parties and political independents can join in support of Senator Case,"
January 1959
: Serves as a member of two Senate committees: Interstate and 1962 Foreign Commerce and Labor and Public Welfare
January 1959- January 1965
: Serves as a member of the Senate's Aeronautics and Space Sciences Committee
1960
: In early March, formally announces his candidacy for re-election
1960
: In the April primary, defeats Robert Morris to become the Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from New Jersey
1960
: Attends the Republican National Convention, but, by his own choosing, is not a delegate because of his candidacy for re-election
1960
: In November, defeats Democrat Thorn Lord to win re-election to the Senate
1960
: States that he will not be a candidate for governor of New Jersey in 1961, despite speculation that his landslide re-election to the Senate would make him a strong gubernatorial candidate
1961
: Through his efforts, secures the nomination of James P, Mitchell for governor against the wishes of the New Jersey Republican Party's hierarchy (which prefers Walter H, Jones); Mitchell loses the gubernatorial election
1961-1965?
: Serves as a director of the American Institute for Retarded Children
1961?-1982
: Serves as a trustee and later honorary trustee of the Roper Public Opinion Research Center at Williams College
February 1962
: Serves as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee; his Jan,1979 subcommittee assignments over the years include, among others, Transportation, Oceans and International Environment, European Affairs, Arms Control, and Multinational Corporations
July 1962- January 1965
: Serves as a·member of the Senate Armed Services Committee
1963
: Among its other provisions, the Higher Education Facilities Act of 1963 includes "a program of financial assistance to the states for the construction of public community colleges," a measure first advocated by Senator Case in 1959
1964
: Serves as a floor manager for passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the U.S. Senate
1964
: In June, announces his advocacy of William Scranton as the Republican Party's nominee for President
1964
: In July, serves as a delegate to the Republican National Convention, but declines to vote for Senator Barry Goldwater when an attempt is made to make unanimous the New Jersey delegation's vote for Goldwater following the Arizona Senator's official nomination
1964
: Declines to endorse the candidacy of Barry Goldwater
January 1965- January 1979
: Serves as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, eventually becoming its ranking Republican member
March 1965- June 1968
: Serves as a member of the Joint Committee on the Organization of the Congress and of its successor, the Special Committee on the Organization of the Congress
1966
: In late July, formally announces his candidacy for re-election
1966
: In late August, represents the U.S. Senate at dedication ceremonies for Israel's new Knesset building
1966
: In September, wins the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator from New Jersey in an uncontested primary election
1966
: Serves as a delegate to the 21st General Assembly of the United Nations, one of two Congressional delegates named by President Lyndon B. Johnson
1966
: In November,- defeats Democrat Warren W. Wilentz to win election to a third term in the Senate
1966-1970?
: Serves as a trustee of the New Jersey Committee to Preserve the Democratic Process
1967
: In May, visits Southeast Asia, including a one week tour of Vietnam
1967?-1982
: Serves as a director of the Columbia Law School Alumni Association
1968
: In May, travels to London where he attends the Fourth Anglo-American Parliamentarians' Conference on Africa
1968
: In August, attends the Republican National Convention as co-chairman and "favorite son" candidate of the New Jersey delegation, but is unsuccessful in his attempt to obtain the entire delegation's vote on the first ballot, a strategy designed to hold the New Jersey delegation neutral (and thus favor Nelson Rockefeller over Richard Nixon)
1969
: In February, visits Japan as a representative of the U.S. Senate to the Japan Parliamentary Exchange Conference
1969
: In March, attends the British-American Parliamentary Conference in Hamilton, Bermuda
1970
: In November, attends the Sixteenth Annual Session of the North Atlantic Assembly in the Hague
February 1971- January 1973
: Serves as a member of the Joint Committee on Congressional Operations
1972
: In the June primary, defeats James W. Ralph to become the Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from New Jersey
1972
: Also in June, attends the U.N. Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden, as an advisor to the U.S. delegation
1972
: Does not attend the Republican National Convention
1972
: In August, President Nixon signs the "Case Act" which requires the U.S. President to submit to Congress the texts of executive agreements within 60 days of their signing
1972
: In November, defeats Democrat Paul J. Krebs and Independent Charles W. Wiley to win re-election to a fourth term in the Senate
1972
: Also in November, attends the North Atlantic Assembly in London, England, and Bonn, West Germany
January 1973- January 1979
: Serves as a member of the Technology Assessment Board of the U.S. Congress
1973
: In May, the U.S. Senate passes the State Department authorization bill without the Case-Church amendment (co-sponsored by Case and Senator Frank Church) which would have cutoff funds for the Vietnam conflict within four months after the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong had pledged to release the American prisoners of war
1973
: In June, attends the Thirteenth British-American Parliamentary Conference in Ditchley Park, England
1974
: In August, attends the Caracas, Venezuela, session of the Third U.N. Law of the Sea Conference as a Senate advisor to the U.S. delegation; in later years attends other sessions of the same conference
January 1975- September 1977
: Serves as a member of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy
1975
: In August, visits Alaska as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee
1975
: In November, attends the British -American Parliamentary Conference in Bermuda
May 1976- January 1979
: Serves as a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
June 1976- January 1979
: Serves as a member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
1976
: In August, attends the Republican National Convention as chairman of the New Jersey delegation
1976
: Attends the signing by President Ford of the "Fenwick-Case Bill" establishing "a U.S. commission to monitor compliance with the human rights provisions" of the Helsinki Accords
1978
: In January, visits the Panama Canal as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
1978
: In April, formally announces that he is a candidate for re-election
1978
: In the June primary, Jeffrey Bell defeats Senator Case to become the Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from New Jersey
1978
: In early October, endorses Jeffrey Bell noting that "the preservation and strengthening of the Republican Party is essential to the two-party system," but states that he will not actively campaign for Bell because of their differing views on many issues
1978
: Also in October, attends the signing by President Carter of an ethics bill requiring annual financial disclosure statements by top federal officials, a law enacted twenty years after Senator Case first proposed such legislation
1978
: In November, Democrat Bill Bradley defeats Jeffrey Bell to win election to the Senate
1979?-1981?
: Serves as a co-chairman of the New Jersey Coalition for Fair Broadcasting
1979
: In January, is elected a member and chairman of the board of trustees of Freedom House, an organization based in New York City, seeking "to strengthen free institutions at home and abroad,"
1979
: During the spring, serves as an unpaid visiting professor at Rutgers University's Eagleton Institute of Politics
1979
: In May, becomes a counsel for Curtis, Mollet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle, an international corporate law firm with an office in Washington, D,C.
1980-1981
: Serves as a member of the Advisory Panel on Technology and Soviet Energy Availability of the U.S. Congress's Office of Technology Assessment
1980
: In November and December, attends the Conference on Security and Cooperation meeting in Madrid, Spain, as a member of the U,S, delegation
1981
: Becomes a counsel for the Newark law firm of Stanley & Fisher
1981
: Becomes co-chairman of the Coalition for Strategic Stability in the Middle East, a "coalition of Americans opposed to the sale of advanced arms to Saudi Arabia"
1981
: In March, becomes a member of the Helsinki Watch Committee, an independent, non-governmental organization seeking "to monitor domestic and international compliance with the human rights provisions" of the 1975 Helsinki Accords
1981
: In August, is operated on for the removal of a malignant tumor from his lung
1982
: Dies March 5th of lung cancer at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.
1982
: Is buried March 9th in New Cemetery, Somerville, New Jersey, following a funeral service at Rutgers University's Kirkpatrick Chapel
1982
: Harrison A. Williams, Jr., with whom Senator Case served for 20 years, resigns from the Senate
1983
: Former President Gerald R. Ford inaugurates the annual Clifford P. Case Professorship in Public Affairs at Rutgers University's Eagleton Institute of Politics

Arrangement Note

The bulk of the Clifford P. Case papers, boxes 1-194, was arranged and described in 1978 by Eugene Jenkins, an archivist employed by Senator Case. Boxes 195-218 (received by Rutgers in 1961) and boxes 219-258 (received in 1971) were sent to Washington, D.C., when the remainder of Senator Case's papers were being processed, but Jenkins did not incorporate these boxes into the inventory which he prepared. Another portion of the collection was received at· Rutgers after Jenkins completed his inventory and consists of materials packed and shipped by Senator Case's staff at the end of his term of office. Subsequently received were boxes 307-313 (received April 1982; relate to post-Senate years) and boxes 314-315 (received May 1984; relate to pre-House years).

For the most part, the papers of Senator Case have been kept as they were maintained in his House and Senate offices, although appraisal decisions made in 1978 reduced the size of several document series. Thus ACADEMY NOMINATIONS was reduced in size to include only folders relating to persons actually nominated, not everyone who applied for nomination. Similarly, the bulk of the series INVITATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS was reduced to include only a representative sample from each category, although all White House invitations were apparently retained. Also reduced in size through sampling was the series GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, from which similar and duplicate letters were discarded.

Related Materials

William R. Fernekes oral history collection relating to Senator Clifford P. Case, 2005-2008.. MC 1436. Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: Inventory to the Clifford P. Case Papers
Status: Edited Full Draft
Author: Eugene Jenkins and Albert C. King
Date: 1985
Language of description note: Finding aid is written in English.
Sponsor: Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.