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Title: Warren Christopher papers
Date (inclusive): 1927-2011
Collection Number: 2014C29
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
35 manuscript boxes, 12 oversize boxes, 1 cassette
(19.4 Linear Feet)
Abstract: The Warren Christopher papers document the career of an American statesman who held government posts under three presidents,
most notably serving as secretary of state during the first term of Bill Clinton's administration (1993-1997). The largest
part of the collection relates to this period and mainly concerns the public side of Christopher's time as head of the State
Department. In particular, there are press releases, speeches, and photographs relating to official trips and meetings.
There are also materials in the papers pertaining to Christopher's other government posts, as well as to his long career as
a lawyer with a major firm in Los Angeles. The last part of the collection contains numerous video recordings of speeches
by Christopher, as well as of his appearances before committees of the U.S. Congress.
Creator:
Christopher, Warren
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2014.
[Identification of item], Warren Christopher papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives
| 1925 October 27 | Born, Scranton, North Dakota |
| 1943-1946 | Served in U.S. Navy |
| 1949 | Awarded J.D. degree, Stanford Law School |
| 1950-1967 | Practiced law with firm of O'Melveny and Myers |
| 1965 | Member, Governor's Commission on the Los Angeles Riots |
| 1967-1969 | U.S. deputy attorney general |
| 1974-1975 | President, Los Angeles County Bar Association |
| 1977-1981 | U.S. deputy secretary of state |
| 1991 | Chairman, Independent Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department |
| 1993-1997 | U.S. secretary of state |
| 1998 | Author, In the Stream of History: Shaping Foreign Policy for a New Era |
| 2001 | Author, Chances of a Lifetime |
| 2011 | Died |
The Warren Christopher papers document the career of an American statesman who held government posts under three presidents,
most notably serving as secretary of state during the first term of Bill Clinton's administration (1993-1997). The largest
part of the collection relates to this period and mainly concerns the public side of Christopher's time as head of the State
Department. In particular, there are press releases, speeches, and photographs relating to official trips and meetings.
There are also materials in the papers pertaining to Christopher's other government posts, as well as to his long career as
a lawyer with a major firm in Los Angeles. The last part of the collection contains numerous video recordings of speeches
by Christopher, as well as of his appearances before committees of the U.S. Congress.
As secretary of state, Christopher was directly involved in the negotiations that led to the 1995 Dayton Agreement that ended
the civil war in Bosnia. He also facilitated the signing of the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization that resulted in the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. While the Christopher papers do not reveal
the inner workings of these diplomatic undertakings, they do contain information on the general lines of American diplomacy
during Christopher's term in office.
Christopher had previously served as deputy secretary of state during the Carter administration, and he played a major role
in efforts to resolve the Iranian hostage crisis, helping to secure the release of those Americans held captive in Iran.
He also led the Carter administration's successful efforts to have the Panama Canal treaties ratified by the U.S. Senate.
Prior to this, Christopher had been appointed deputy attorney general by Lyndon Johnson. In this position, he led the government
response to the Detroit riots in 1967. He already served on an official commission that investigated the 1965 Watts riots
in Los Angeles. Later he was chairman of a commission set up in response to the 1991 Los Angeles riots.
Christopher was an important figure on the national level in the Democratic Party. He headed the search that led to Bill
Clinton's selection of Al Gore as his vice presidential running mate in 1992; he also headed the presidential transition team
for Clinton after his election victory. In the controversy surrounding the outcome of the 2000 presidential election, Christopher
served as Al Gore's representative during the recount of the vote in Florida.
Significant parts of the collection detail these other aspects of Christopher's public career. These materials consist largely
of correspondence, reports, press releases, and photographs.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Video tapes
United States -- Politics and government -- 1963-1969
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1977-1981
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1993-2001
Statesmen -- United States
United States. Department of State
United States. Department of Justice