Title: Sanford L. Fox Papers, White House Central Files, 1969-1974

Dates: 1969-1974

Collection Number: 3667557

Creator/Collector: Fox, Sanford L.

Extent: 50 linear feet, 9 linear inches; 116 boxes

Repository: Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum

Abstract: The Sanford Fox file group documents the activities of the Social Entertainments Office from 1969 through 1974. Fox, as Chief of the Office, and his staff performed duties in connection with the planning and successful execution of social events organized by the Social Secretary, Lucy A. Winchester.

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.

Sanford L. Fox 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.

Sanford L. Fox - born 1919, died December 29, 1996. A native of West Virginia, Sanford Fox settled in the Washington, D.C. area in 1939. He entered into the Army’s Air Transport Command in 1940, serving with the Army Air Forces & Navy during WWII. After the war, he worked for what became the CIA for 7 years, and then transferred to the White House staff in 1952. Fox took a permanent position in 1959 as the Assistant Chief of the Social Entertainments Office. He eventually became the head of the office when his predecessor, Adrian B. Tolley, retired. In this capacity, Fox oversaw the planning of events throughout the Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford administrations. He retired in June 1975.

The Sanford Fox file group totals 60.11 linear feet (48 cubic feet) and is comprised of 16 series which document the activities of the Social Entertainments Office from 1969 through 1974. Fox, as Chief of the Office, and his staff performed duties in connection with the planning and successful execution of social events organized by the Social Secretary, Lucy A. Winchester. The majority of these files contain materials accumulated by the Office in their role of preparing invitations, menus, seating charts, and programs for dinners, luncheons, receptions, worship services, and entertainment, among others. The Office was responsible for the creation of products, such as Christmas prints, cards, and presidential certificates; these also are included in these files. Another work product of the Office of Social Entertainments was an alphabetical name file used to keep track of guests who attended White House functions. There are separate card indices for Social Events and Worship Services. The collection is predominately text-based, with a small number of photographs and artifacts. (See: Presidential Photographs and Plaques series.) To gain a more complete understanding of the responsibilities of Sanford Fox and the larger role played by the Social Entertainments Office in the East Wing of the White House, one could view this collection in conjunction with his Exit Interview, the WHCF, Subject Files, Social Affairs (SO), and the WHCF, SMOF of Lucy Winchester.