Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Bradley H. Patterson, Jr. Papers, White House Central Files, 1969-1974
Dates: 1969-1974
Collection Number: 6213051
Creator/Collector:
Patterson, Bradley H. (Bradley Hawkes), 1921-
Extent: 38 linear feet, 6 linear inches; 88 boxes
Online items available
Repository:
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Abstract: Bradley H. Patterson, Jr., served as an Executive Assistant, Special Consultant to the President in the office of Leonard
Garment. The file group reflects Patterson’s responsibilities in civil rights, plans for the American Revolution Bicentennial
celebration, oversight of both the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment of the Humanities, U.S.-American
Jewish affairs, Native Americans, and cable TV regulation. Patterson also has a three (3) box series entitled “The Late Accretion
File.” The files consist of an alpha-subject series that approximately parallels the Alpha-Subject Files in the Patterson
papers but was added after the main body of documents had already been processed. The emphasis of the documents in this file
is on African Americans.
Language of Material: English
Access
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.
Publication Rights
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.
Preferred Citation
Bradley H. Patterson, Jr. Papers, White House Central Files, 1969-1974. Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Acquisition Information
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 materials of Bradley H. Patterson, Jr., executive assistant to Leonard Garment, reflect his responsibilities in civil
rights, plans for the American Revolution Bicentennial celebration, oversight of both the National Endowment of the Arts and
the National Endowment of the Humanities, U.S.-American Jewish affairs, and cable T.V. regulation.
Patterson has stated that he "helped [Garment] across the board in everything he did" with the exception of Watergate. In
the areas of school desegregation, busing and fair housing, he estimated that his input was 25% to Garment's 75%, while in
Indian affairs he had 90% input to Garment's 10%. "I didn't know very much about [Indian matters] in the beginning but have
learned a lot since then...and I'm now sort of considered a resident overseer on Indian matters here in the White House."
Garment and Patterson were primarily responsible for drafting President Nixon's July 8, 1970 message establishing tribal self-determination
as basic federal policy. In other civil rights areas - problems of the elderly, women, ethnic and religious minorities, and
student unrest (Kent State), their input was roughly equal.
The Patterson materials consist of five series: White House Memo Files, Correspondence Files, Alpha-Subject Files, Court Hearings,
and Late Accretion File. The White House Memo Files cover a one-year period from March 1973 through February 1974 and are
arranged chronologically. The Correspondence Files are arranged alphabetically by subject or name of correspondent and contain
letters to and from both Garment and Patterson on a broad range of topics. A few documents in this series concern the immigration
struggle of John Lennon and Yoko Ono and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Court Hearings Series contain the
records and related materials in the U.S. Court of Claims case of The Innocent Victims of the Occupation of Wounded Knee,
S.D. vs. the United States, May 6-20, 1980. This case contains documents concerning the occupation of the Bureau of Indian
Affairs building in November 1972 by the American Indian Movement as well as the Wounded Knee incident. This is an incomplete
series because several plaintiff exhibits as well as correspondence from Patterson, General Haig, Garment and John C. Whitaker
were not received from the Justice Department. The collection also includes short hand notes which Patterson created while
attending various meetings such as the Wounded Knee negotiations, December Group, et al.; these have been removed pending
transaction. The Late Accretion File consists of an alpha-subject series that approximately parallels the Alpha-Subject Files
in the Patterson papers but was added after the main body of documents had already been processed. The emphasis of the documents
in this file, unlike the Patterson materials where the emphasis is on Native Americans, is on Afro-Americans.
This series contains the files of Bradley H. Patterson, Jr. The series is comprised of the White House Memos subseries, the
Correspondence Files subseries, the Subject Files subseries, the Court Hearings subseries, and the Late Accretion subseries.
The White House Memos subseries contains internal memoranda from White House staff members, newspaper clippings, and press
releases covering a one-year period from March 1973 through February 1974. Topics include civil rights for the elderly, women,
ethnic and religious minorities and student unrest.
The Correspondence Files subseries contains correspondence, memoranda, and newspaper clippings related to a broad range of
topics. A few documents in this series concern the immigration struggle of John Lennon and Yoko Ono and the U.S. Immigration
and Naturalization Service.
The Subject Files subseries contains correspondence, memoranda, handwritten notes, press releases, reports, cables, speeches,
and other such materials. Topics include civil rights for minority groups, particularly Native Americans; the bicentennial;
Kent State; cable television; and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The Court Hearings subseries contains testimony, exhibits, and briefs related to the U.S. Court of Claims case of The Innocent
Victims of the Occupation of Wounded Knee, S.D. v. the United States. Also included are documents concerning the occupation
of the Bureau of Indian Affairs building in November 1972.
The Late Accretion subseries contains correspondence, memoranda, notes, press releases, pamphlets, press conference transcripts,
and reports related to minority issues, such as civil rights, equal employment opportunities, and school segregation.