Finding aid to the Marvin Liebman
Coming Out Conservative Collection, 1964, 1990-1993 GLC 23
Finding aid written by Tim Wilson
Support for the processing of the Marvin Liebman
Coming Out Conservative Collection was provided by a grant from the Library Foundation of San Francisco.
James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
info@sfpl.org
1996
Title: Marvin Liebman
Coming Out Conservative Collection
Date (inclusive): 1964, 1990-1993
Date (bulk): (bulk 1990-1992)
Identifier/Call Number: GLC 23
Creator:
Liebman, Marvin
Physical Description:
0.5 Cubic Feet
(20 folders + 1 videocassette tape in 2 document cases)
Contributing Institution:
James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: The collection contains correspondence, clippings, drafts of Liebman's coming-out letter and of his book
Coming Out Conservative, and a videotaped interview. Drafts include comments by Betty Berzon, William F. Buckley, Jr., Carol Buckley, and Priscilla
Buckley.
Physical Location: The collection is stored onsite.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English.
Access
The collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Marvin Liebman transferred copyright to San Francisco Public Library in 1993. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Marvin Liebman
Coming Out Conservative Collection (GLC 23), LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Provenance
The
Coming Out Conservative Collection was donated by Marvin Liebman in February, 1993.
Related materials
Researchers are encouraged to see also the Marvin Liebman Papers (1953-1980) at the Hoover Institution Archives at Stanford
University, and the Marvin Liebman Papers (1990-1996) at New York Public Library.
Biographical note
Marvin Liebman, born in New York City on 21 July 1923, was a public relations consultant and conservative lobbyist. His firm
Marvin Liebman Associates, Inc. (1957-1968) provided organizational, fundraising and public relations expertise to the anti-communist
and conservative movements in the U.S. and abroad. Its extensive list of clients includes: the Committee of One Million, Aid
Refugee Chinese Intellectuals, the American Emergency Committee for Tibetan Refugees, the American-Asian Educational Exchange,
the American African Affairs Association, and the American Committee for Aid to Katanga Freedom Fighters.
From 1969 to 1975, Liebman was Managing Director of Sedgemoor Productions in London. During this period, he produced or co-produced
nine West-End productions, an equal number of touring or out-of-town productions, two television films, and three feature
films.
In 1975, Liebman returned to the U.S. to organize Marvin Liebman Inc., a firm with the same mission as his earlier Marvin
Liebman Associates. Among the notable clients were: the Friends of Free China, the Friends of Jim Buckley, the Committee of
Single Taxpayers, the American-Chilean Council, the Ad Hoc Citizens Legal Defense Fund for the FBI, Firing Line, and Covenant
House.
With the Reagan victory in 1981, Liebman went to Washington, D.C. He was Consultant to the Office of Policy and Planning for
Action from June through October 1981, Consultant to the Office of Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Education from
October 1981 to February 1982, and Director of the Office of Public Affairs and Director of Special Projects for the National
Endowment of the Arts from February 1982 to July 1987. He served as Director of Special Projects and Acting Director for the
Office of Public Affairs at the National Endowment for the Arts.
In July 1990, Liebman came out in a letter published in
The National Review
and in an interview published in
The Advocate
. His autobiography,
Coming Out Conservative
was published in 1992. He died on March 31, 1997.
Scope and Contents
The
Coming Out Conservative Collection (1964, 1990-1993) contains correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings, typescript drafts relating to Marvin
Liebman's coming out letter to the
National Review in 1990, and his book
Coming Out Conservative published in 1992. The collection also contains a videotaped interview of Liebman.
Arrangement note
The collection is arranged into four series: Series 1. Correspondence; Series 2. Works by Liebman; Series 3. Clippings and
Press Coverage; and Series 4. Audiovisual Materials.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Political consultants -- United States -- Biography.
Lobbyists -- United States -- Biography.
Public relations consultants -- United States -- Biography.
Gay men -- United States -- Biography.
Homosexuality -- United States.
Coming out (Sexual orientation) -- United States.
Conservatism -- United States -- History -- 20th century.
Berzon, Betty
Liebman, Marvin -- Archives
Buckley, William F. (William Frank)
Series 1
Correspondence
1990-1992
Physical Description:
3 folders
Box 1, Folder 1
Series 1A
To / from Marvin Liebman
1990-1992
Scope and Contents
Contains letters to Liebman regarding his coming out letter in 1990 and his book in 1992. Most of the letters are supportive.
Carol Buckley and Priscilla Buckley send editorial comments on his 1991 draft of
Coming Out Conservative. Betty Berzon's letter of June 13, 1991 contains her comments on the draft of his book and includes clippings gathered by
GLAAD. Liebman's responses to letters from Harry Jaffa and Dr. George Mohun to
National Review appear in this series. Glen Abel's letter includes a paper on gay inequality.
Arrangement note
This folder is arranged alphabetically by last name, with anonymous letters filed in the front.
Series 1B
To/from The National Review
1990-1992
Physical Description:
2 folders
Scope and Contents
Contains letters directed to
National Review concerning Liebman's coming out letter and William F. Buckley, Jr.'s response. The prevailing view is that it was inappropriate
for
National Review to publish the letter, and that Liebman is a "Sodomite," etc. Some letters applaud Liebman's courage. Of interest are the
letters from Harry Jaffa and Dr. George Mohun regarding Liebman and his homosexuality. Liebman's responses are filed in Series
IA. Correspondence between Liebman and William F. Buckley, Jr. was separated from the general correspondence by placing it
in its own folder. It includes drafts of Liebman's corning out letter and Buckley's comments. This file also includes Buckley's
comments on a draft version of
Coming Out Conservative in 1991, and his review of the published volume in 1992.
Arrangement note
This folder is arranged alphabetically by last name, with anonymous letters filed in the front. The letters to William F.
Buckley, Jr. are separated out into their own folder.
Box 1, Folder 3
Buckley, W[illiam] F., Jr.
1990-1992
Series 2
Works by Liebman
1990-1992
Physical Description:
15 folders
Scope and Contents
Contains typescript drafts of books and statements by Liebman. Most of these are preliminary drafts of the book which was
ultimately titled
Coming Out Conservative. In chronological order, these are: "Autobiography" (June 1990), "History...Excerpts from Autobiography Covering Historical
Background" (October 1990),
Coming Out Right (November 1991),
Coming Out Conservative (March 1992), and
Coming Out Conservative (bound, [1992]). A copy of Liebman's 1992 statement for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force press conference appears
in this series as well.
Arrangement note
Folders arranged alphabetically by title.
Box 1, Folders 4-7
"Autobiography"
June 13, 1990
General note
See also Ser.2 "History…Excerpts from Autobiography Covering Historical Background."
Box 1, Folders 8-9
Coming Out Conservative
March 1992
General note
Uncorrected manuscript.
Box 1, Folder 10
Coming Out Conservative
[1992]
General note
Uncorrected manuscript. Bound.
Box 1, Folder 11, Box 2, Folders 1-4
"Coming Out Right"
November 3. 1991
General note
Also titled "Everywhere but Home."
Box 2, Folders 5-6
"History…excerpts from Autobiography Covering Historical Background"
October 15, 1990
General note
See also Ser.2, "Autobiography."
Box 2, Folder 7
"Statement...for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Press Conference"
August 17, 1992
Series 3
Clippings and Press Coverage
1964, 1990-1992
(bulk 1990-1992)
Physical Description:
2 folders
Scope and Contents
Contains photocopies of newspaper and magazine clippings. The primary subjects of these items are Liebman's letter to the
National Review
in 1990 and the publication of his book
Coming Out Conservative
in 1992. Gay rights, conservative politics, and anti-gay propaganda are among the other subjects touched upon in the articles.
Also included here is a photocopy of "Marvin in Manialand" written by John Gregory Dunne in 1964.
Arrangement note
Arranged chronologically.
Series 4
Audiovisual materials
1993
Physical Description:
1 videotape
Box 2
Interview
March 11, 1993
Physical Description:
1 videotape
General note
TRT 1:38:20. VHS. Labeled "Spring 1993."