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Citizens Committee for Reorganization of the Executive Branch of the Government records
52007  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Use
  • Acquisition Information
  • Preferred Citation
  • Historical Note
  • Scope and Content Note

  • Title: Citizens Committee for Reorganization of the Executive Branch of the Government records
    Date (inclusive): 1949-1958
    Collection Number: 52007
    Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
    Language of Material: English
    Physical Description: 92 manuscript boxes, 2 oversize folders, 1 motion picture film reel (38.6 Linear Feet)
    Abstract: Correspondence, reports, newsletters, press releases, clippings, and printed matter, relating to the recommendations of the two Commissions on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government chaired by Herbert Hoover.
    Creator: Citizens Committee for Reorganization of the Executive Branch of the Government
    Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives

    Access

    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.

    Use

    For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

    Acquisition Information

    Acquired.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], Citizens Committee for Reorganization of the Executive Branch of the Government records, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

    Historical Note

    The Citizens Committee for Reorganization of the Executive Branch of the Government (CCREBG) was organized in the state of New York in April 1949. It was established as a temporary, voluntary organization to follow through on the Hoover Report and to promote public and congressional support for the recommendations of the first Hoover Commission.
    The Hoover Report was a popular reference made to the extensive studies made by the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government under the direction of Herbert C. Hoover. The term "Hoover Report" quickly became a synonym for the investigation and constructive recommendations of the Commission. The first Hoover Commission established in 1947 when the U.S. Congress passed a law providing for a Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government. The commission was to aim at limiting expenditures, ensuring efficient performance, eliminating duplication, consolidating services, and defining and limiting executive functions. The second Hoover Commission was appointed under the Eisenhower administration. Its purpose was to contemplate changes in social and economic policy. Its right to issue subpoenas resulted in opposition by many government officials. In Hoover's estimate, Congress accepted about a third of the commission's proposals.
    The membership of the CCREBG's Board of Directors consisted of agricultural, business, educational, labor, veterans and women's groups. In recognition of its essentially educational nature, the Bureau of Internal Revenue declared that contributions received by the Committee would be deductible for federal income tax purposes.
    The CCREBG had two offices, one in New York City and another in Washington, D.C. A network of regional and state chairmen was created and held together by newsletters and periodic meetings. It provided speakers, film shows, editorials, resolutions, panels and forums, and radio and television announcements. The Committee developed 300 state and local affiliated committees with active outposts in every congressional district. "Little Hoover Commissions" were appointed in 28 state governments, as well as Hawaii and Alaska. The result was and unprecedented upsurge of public interest in government operations.

    Scope and Content Note

    The records of the Citizens Committee for Reorganization of the Executive Branch of the Government (CCREBG) cover the period of time from 1948 to 1958. During these years the CCREBG engaged in various operations to promote public and congressional support for the Hoover Commission's recommendations to streamline the federal government and curtail the waste of federal funds.
    The records are divided into eight series. The first three (office file, correspondence, and reports) consist of materials issued and collected by the main administrative offices of the CCREBG. They include bulletins, circular letters, editorial analyses, memoranda, correspondence, minutes of meetings, press releases, and other materials. Included in the office file series are speeches and writings by officers of the CCREBG and others. The reports series contains reports issued by the CCREBG and includes reports by outside sources.
    The Congressional legislation series provides complete sets congressional bills and their drafts, congressional hearing transcripts, reports, correspondence, and memoranda relating to legislation of the U.S. Congress on the recommendations of the Hoover Commission.
    The reorganization plans series provides documentation on the various reorganization plans for the federal government by the Hoover Commission, and the State Committees series reflects the operations of the state committees and their relationship with the main office administration.
    The subject file and printed matter series consist primarily of materials collected by the CCREBG, which relate to their operations in effecting reorganization of the Executive Branch of the government.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    United States -- Politics and government -- 1945-1989
    Executive departments -- United States
    Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964
    United States. Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government (1947-1949)
    United States. Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government (1953-1955)