Susan A. Porter Papers, White House Central Files, 1969-1974
1969-1974
Title: Susan A. Porter Papers, White House Central Files, 1969-1974
Dates: 1969-1974
Collection Number: 6213064
Creator/Collector:
Porter, Susan, appointments secretary
Extent: 22 linear feet, 4 linear inches, 51 boxes
Repository:
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Abstract: Susan A. Porter served as the Assistant Director of Correspondence for Mrs. Nixon (1971-72), Assistant to Appointments Secretary
to Mrs. Nixon (197273), and Appointments Secretary to Mrs. Nixon (1973-74). The file group documents the activities of the
First Lady’s Appointments Office from 1969 to 1974. These files also contain the records of Coral F. Schmid and Stephanie
A. Wilson, who ran the Appointments Office during the first Nixon administration.. Within the collection, the Scheduling and
Activities series provides a complete record of the First Family events, calendars, and affiliations while the Subject File
series deals with topics and projects of interest to the First Lady.
Language of Material: English
Collection is open for research. Some materials may be unavailable based upon categories of materials exempt from public release
established in the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act of 1974.
Most government records are in the public domain; however, this series includes commercial materials, such as newspaper clippings,
that may be subject to copyright restrictions. Researchers should contact the copyright holder for information.
Susan A. Porter Papers, White House Central Files, 1969-1974. Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
These materials are in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration under the provisions of Title I of
the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-526, 88 Stat. 1695) and implementing regulations.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Susan A. Porter file group documents the activities of the First Lady's Appointments Office from 1969 through 1974. During
the first administration (1969-1973) the office was primarily run by Coral F. Schmid and Stephanie A. Wilson, under the guidance
of Chief of Staff, Constance C. Stuart. Susan Porter took over the office on January 22, 1973 and continued as Appointments
Secretary until the President's resignation in August 1974. She continued at the White House as Mrs. Ford's Appointments Secretary
until 1977. The administrative changeover in 1973 is most clearly evident in the change in the filing arrangement in the Correspondence
File series, from chronological in the first term to alphabetical in the second.
The Appointments Office was in charge of scheduling events for Mrs. Nixon, Julie and David Eisenhower and Tricia and Edward
Cox. The office, in collaboration with First Family members, constructed the official calendars and responded to invitations
from organizations and individuals desiring the presence of a member of the First Family at an event, or the use of their
name as chairman or member of an organization.
The most important series in the collection are Scheduling and Activities, which provides a complete record of First Family
events, calendars, and affiliations; and the Subject File, which deals with topics and projects of interest to the First Lady.
Also of interest is the Invitations series, which includes extensive outgoing correspondence in answer to invitations received
in the First Lady's office. The Briefing Books series, while potentially of great interest, contains much classified material
and is mostly restricted at this time.
Further material of interest can be found in the files of Lucy A. Winchester, Gwendolyn B. King and the White House Special
Files. Taped exit interviews with Constance Stuart, Penelope A. Adams, William R. Codus and notes from an interview with Coral
Schmid will also prove informative. In addition, an oral history program has recently begun which will include former members
of the First Lady's office.
The extensive photographic, film and video collection contained in the Nixon presidential materials has much material documenting
the activities of the First Lady. Also available are audio recordings of Mrs. Nixon and Constance Stuart taped by the White
House Communications Agency.