Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Charles B. Wilkinson Papers, White House Central Files, 1969-1971
Dates: 1969-1971
Collection Number: 6219849
Creator/Collector:
Wilkinson, Bud, 1916-1994
Extent: 31 linear feet, 5 linear inches; 72 boxes
Repository:
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Abstract: Charles B. “Bud” Wilkinson served as a Special Consultant to the President. Wilkinson was responsible for reviewing 1,500
to 1,800 Federal non-regulatory boards and commissions and making recommendations on improving their effectiveness. Wilkinson
was also responsible for arranging press conferences and public relations appearances by Department and Agency heads and members
of the President’s staff. The series contains: Chronological Files; Administrative Files (memoranda to and from White House
Staff); Subject Files (relating to various programs); and Publication Files (miscellaneous reports, Committee hearings on
a variety of domestic programs, government printing office publications, and Republican National Committee publications).
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
Charles B. Wilkinson Papers, White House Central Files, 1969-1971. 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 Charles B. "Bud" Wilkinson file group reflects his responsibilities as Special Consultant to the President from January
1969 to January 1971. Mr. Wilkinson was hired as a per-diem consultant and was provided with a support staff. At the time
of his appointment, Mr. Wilkinson was well-known as a former University of Oklahoma football coach and current sports analyst
for the ABC network college football telecasts. The per-diem arrangement allowed him to continue as a television sports analyst
while serving the Administration at the President's direction.
His first assignment was to review 1,500 to 1,800 Federal non-regulatory boards and commissions and make recommendations on
improving their effectiveness. Due to this public prominence, Mr. Wilkinson was given the responsibility for articulating,
through personal and television appearances, the Administration position on matters of public interest. He was also responsible
for arranging press conferences and public relations appearances by Department and Agency heads and members of the President's
staff. His public relations responsibilities also included assisting the President in receiving visiting dignitaries and other
prominent persons and accompanying the President to sports events.
In addition to the review of the Federal boards and commissions, his duties covered a wide range of activities such as overall
responsibility for the Sunday White House church services from 1969 to 1970, which included the selection of clergymen. The
responsibility for the White House Church services was turned over to Constance Stuart in 1970. He served as liaison to the
Advertising Council, the American Red Cross, the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped and the President's
Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He represented the White House on the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission
and the U.S. Olympic Committee. He served as Vice-chairman of the President's Council on Youth Opportunity dealing with youth
affairs and Chairman of an interdepartmental ad hoc committee on drug abuse. President Nixon appointed him president of the
National Center for Voluntary Action, a privately funded, non-profit, non-partisan organization. Also in the area of youth
affairs he worked on the 1970 White House Conference on Children and Youth and worked on improving the executive intern and
White House intern programs. Staff members reassigned to Mr. Wilkinson from other areas were James D. Atwater, Staff Assistant
to the President, Jeffrey E. Donfeld, Staff Assistant to the President, John L. Campbell from the Executive Office of the
President, Domestic Council and William B. Mullins, from the Office of Economic Development/VISTA.
Indexing Terms
Wilkinson, Charles "Bud"