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The Dirksen Congressional Center

The Dirksen Congressional Center

The Dirksen Congressional Center promotes research and scholarship to advance the public understanding of the U.S. Congress

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Personal Series

  • Robert H. Michel
  • Michel Collection
  • Michel on the Record
  • Michel in Pictures
  • Michel Books & Manuscripts
  • Michel Special Features

The Personal series is divided into two parts, a subject portion organized alphabetically by subject name, and a chronological part organized by year and by folder title within a year.

Personal Files | 1948-2001

President’s Commission on Olympic Sports


Personal Files | 1948-2001

RESTRICTED

Date Prepared: April 7, 2000

The Personal series is divided into two parts, a subject portion organized alphabetically by subject name, and a chronological part organized by year and by folder title within a year.

NOTE: This is a preliminary finding aid. This series is currently CLOSED to research for reasons of personal privacy and donor deed restrictions.

PRELIMINARY IMPRESSIONS (October 20, 2003)

It is difficult to see how the correspondence in this series differs from several other series in the Michel Papers. Although many of the correspondents are on a first-name basis with Mr. Michel, a substantial number are not. Many are constituents, many are not. Subjects range from birthday greetings to observations about policy issues of the day. There are letters to and from colleagues in Congress on procedural matters, legislation, retirements, and even leadership topics. Former presidents and heads-of-state are represented, too.

Michel’s responses, particularly the lengthy ones, express the Michel style well: informal, straight-forward, and unapologetic.

The attached folder list indicates what subjects receive the most attention in the Personal Files.

Box 1

Apostolic Christian Church (2)

Autographs

Biography

Bradley University

Campaigns

Campaigns

Camp David

Certificates/Proclamations

Charitable Contributions 1949-1990

Chicago Board of Trade

Chowder & Marching Society

Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards (6)

Christmas Card 1956

Christmas Card 1957

Christmas Card 1958

Christmas Card 1959

Christmas Card 1960

Christmas Card 1961

Christmas Card 1962

Christmas Card 1963

Christmas Card 1964

Christmas Card 1965

Christmas Card 1966

Christmas Card 1967

Christmas Card 1968

Christmas Card 1969

Christmas Card 1970

Christmas Card 1971

Christmas Card 1972

Christmas Card 1973

Christmas Card 1974

Christmas Card 1975

Christmas Card 1976

Christmas Card 1977

Christmas Card 1978

Christmas Card 1979

Christmas Card 1980

Christmas Card 1981

Christmas Card 1982

Christmas Card 1983

Christmas Card 1984

Christmas Card 1985

Christmas Card 1986

Christmas Card 1987

Christmas Card 1988

Christmas Card 1989

Christmas Card 1990

Box 2

Christmas Card 1991

Christmas Card 1992

Christmas Card 1993

Christmas Card 1994

Congressional Baseball Game

Dirksen Center (2)

Family

General

Golf

House I.D. Cards

Invitations

Lincoln, A

Michel Baseball Card

Michel Portrait Committee

Military Service

Military Service

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Newspaper Columns

Passports (2)

Peoria High School Alumni Assoc.

Presidential Medal of Freedom 1994

Programs (11)

Box 3

Programs (11)

“Quotations from Bob”

Republican Congressional

Cookbook

Republican National

Conventions

Retirement

Retirement Press

Retirement Press

Boxes 4-9

Stamps

Boxes 5-12

Tax Returns

Box 13

Tributes (2)

Trips to District, 1957-1992

Unland Charges vs. Michel

U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress. Distinguished Service Award ’96 (2)

U.S.S. Peoria, LST-1183

USS Henry L. Stimson

Velde, Harold

1948. B

1948. Wedding Invitation

1950. B

1950. D

1953. Inauguration

1957. Inauguration

1966. M

1974. Chowder & Marching Society, MP C and M 25th anniversary

1976. M

1977. Carter, Jimmy

1977. Danny Thomas Golf Tournament

1977. Inauguration

1977. Michel Dinner

1977. Testimonial

1978. Birthday Letters

1978. Danny Thomas Golf Tournament

1978. Iron Spike, Royal and Ancient Order

1978. Jerry Ford Golf Tournament

1978. Kemper Golf Tournament

1978. Mugging

1979. Chowder; Marching Society, MP C and M 30th Anniversary (6)

1979. Golf Tournaments (2)

1979. Lake Placid Olympic Committee

1979. Soviet Union Visit (2)

1979. Strodel

Box 14

1979. Tide Water Conference

1980. A

1980. B

1980. Burning Tree

1980. C

1980. Congratulations as Leaders (6)

1980. Co-Signed Letters

1980. D

1980. E-F

1980. G

1980. H

1980. I-K

1980. Kemper Pro-Am

1980. L

1980. M

1980. N

1980. O

1980. P

1980. Questionnaires

1980. R

1980. S

1980. T

1980. V-W

1980. X-Z

1981

1981

1981. Budget Vote (2)

1981. Cosigned Letters

1981. Inauguration

1981. Reagan Assassination Attempt

1981. Sponsorships/Advisory Boards

1982

1983. Get Well Wishes

1983. Telephone Messages

1984. Telephone Messages (2)

Box 15

1984. Telephone Messages

1984

1984. M/P Appearance Request

1984

1984

1984. Civil Rights Commission

1984. M/P Commendations

1984. D

1984. E

1984. F

1984. G

1984. H

1984. J

1984. Jewish Leaders

1984. K

1984. L

1984. M

1984. P

1984. R

1984. S

1984. M/P Scholarship Fund

1984. V

1984. W

1984. XYZ

1985. A

1985. B

1985. C

1985. C-D

1985. E-F

1985. G

1985. H

1985. I-K

1985. Inauguration

1985. L

1985. M

1985. N

1985. O-R

1985. S

1985. T

1985. Telephone Messages (2)

1985. Public Relations Thank Yous

1985. U-Z

1986. A

1986. B

1986. C

1986. Congressional Awards Program

1986. D-G

1986. H-J

1986. K

1986. L

1986. M

1986. N

1986. O

1986. P

1986. Q

1986. R

1986. S

1986. T

1986. Telephone Messages

1986. U

1986. V

1986. W

1986. XYZ

1987. A-S

1987. Sponsorships

Box 16

1988. A-B

1988. Bradley University

1988. C

1988. Chowder & Marching Society

1988. Congressional Awards Program

1988. D-I

1988. International Management and Development Institute

1988. J-M

1988. Minstrel Letters (2)

1988. N-S

1988. Public Relations

1988. Sponsorships

1988. T-V

1988. Telephone Messages

1988. Variety Club

1988. W-Y

1989. A-B

1989. Bradley University

1989. Burning Tree Club

1989. C

1989. Chowder; Marching

1989. Congressional Awards Program

1989. D

1989. Dirksen Center

1989. E, F, G

1989. H-J

1989. Inauguration

1989. K-L

1989. M

1989. N-P

1989. Public Relations

1989. Q-R

1989. S

Box 17

1989. Sponsorships accepted

1989. Sponsorships declined

1989. T

1989. Telephone Messages

1989. U-Z

1990. A

1990. Accident-California

1990. Acorns

1990. Bradley University (3)

1990. Burning Trees

1990. C-D

1990. Dirksen Center

1990. E-G

1990. H-J

1990. K-L

1990. M

1990. N-P

1990. Q-R

1990. Requests

1990. S

1990. Sponsorships

1990. T

1990. Thanks

1990. U-Z

1991. A-B

1991. C-L

1991. M-P

1991. Q-S

1991. Sponsorships

1991. T-Z

1992. A-B

1992. C-D

1992. E-G

1992. H-K

1992. L-P

1992. Michel Bridge

Box 18

1992. Portrait Unveiling

1992. Q-S

1992. Sponsorships

1992. State of the Union

1992. T-Z

1993. A-B

1993. Bradley University

1993. C-F

1993. G-H

1993. I-L

1993. M-N

1993. Michel Response to the State of the Union Address, pro RHM

1993. RHM Response SOTU, Con-RHM

1993. Michel Response to SOTU, Pro Clinton

1993. Response to the SOTU, Con Clinton (2)

1993. National Anthem

1993. O-Q

1993. R-S

1993. Retirement Announcement Letters (3)

1993. T-Z

1994. Birthday Greetings

1994. Bradley’s Salute to Bob Michel

1994. D

1994. D-Day (3)

1994. Lincoln Day Luncheon Tribute

1994. Presidential Medal of Freedom

1994. Retirement

1997. Eureka College Honorary Degree

1997. Inauguration

2001. D

President’s Commission on Olympic Sports

Date Prepared: July 17, 2000

On June 19, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford, by Executive Order, established the President’s Commission on Olympic Sports to determine what factors impede or prevent the U.S. from fielding its best amateur athletes for participation in the Olympic Games and other international amateur sporting events. He appointed Rep. Michel to serve on the commission.

This series consists of hearings transcripts, interim reports to the President, and related materials. The commission staff generated the vast majority of documents B very little originated with Michel or his staff, although there are occasional underlinings in commission materials. Virtually all the information dates from mid-1975 through 1976; earlier records consist of reference information.

Box 1

Briefing Materials (6)

Chicago Hearing (3)

Chronological File (1-9)

Box 2

Chronological File (10-12)

First Report to the President (February 1976)(2)

Legislative Proposals re Amateur Athletics

Meeting, September 1975

New York Hearing

Public Hearings (1-12)

Box 3

Public Hearings (13-14)

Sport-by-Sport Reports, Volume 1

Sport-by-Sport Reports, Volume 2

Sport-by-Sport Reports, Volume 3

Sport-by-Sport Reports, Volume 4

Sport-by-Sport Reports, Volume 5

Sport-by-Sport Reports, Volume 6

Sport-by-Sport Reports, Volume 7

U.S. Olympic Committee

Washington, DC Hearing

Wrestling Consulting Group

Michel Collection

Alphabetical Series

Audiovisual Series

Campaigns and Politics Series

District Office Series

General Series

Interfile Series

Leadership Series

Legislative Series

Voting Records

Memorabilia Series

Patronage Series

Personal Series

Press Series

Project Series

Schedules Series

Scrapbook Series

Speeches and Trip Series

Staff Series

During the 1960s, Everett Dirksen emerged as the leading voice of those who objected to the Supreme Court’s reapportionment rulings. I arrived at the Dirksen Center with high hopes of learning more about Dirksen’s views on the subject, but never imagined that I would find such a wealth of amazing materials. My understanding of the topic has been immeasurably enhanced by the chance to have worked in the Dirksen Papers. I am deeply grateful to the Dirksen Center for the financial support that allowed me to do such critical research.

J. Douglas Smith

On Democracy’s Doorstep: The Inside Story of How the Supreme Court Brought “One Person, One Vote” to the United States

This excellent book explains why Bob Michel was the most effective minority leader in the history of the House of Representatives. Its richly detailed and perceptive essays show that he was a legislator in full” a servant for his district, a watchdog of the public treasury, and a masterful tactician who won historic votes without partisan majorities. Anyone who wants to understand congressional leadership should read Robert H. Michel: Leading the Republican House Minority.

John J. Pitney Jr.

Roy P. Crocker Professor of Politics, Claremont McKenna College

[About The Center-sponsored Robert H. Michel: Leading the Republican House Minority (University Press of Kansas, Spring 2019) Frank H. Mackaman and Sean Q Kelly, eds.] : A richly documented and authoritative look at Michel’s congressional career. Editors Mackaman and Kelly have done an excellent job both in selected contributors and developing a compelling narrative to frame these expertly written chapters. This should be the first book consulted by readers who are curious about Bob Michel’s legislative legacy.

Jeffrey Crouch

The Presidential Pardon Power

It is also important to note that [the Congressional Research Grants] Program is a vital source of support for types of research not generally funded by organizations such as the National Science Foundation.  While Dirksen award amounts are relatively small, they very powerfully combine with other small funding streams (for example, the typically small grants given to faculty by their academic institutions) to render otherwise impossible projects possible.

Laura S. Jensen

University of Massachusetts, Amherst, (Congressional Research Grant recipient, 2005)

Frank Mackaman at the Dirksen Congressional Center in Pekin, Illinois, is a peerless one-man band, a veteran archival librarian and the reigning expert in all things Ev. His monograph on Dirksen’s role in the bill was never far from my side, and I am everlastingly grateful for his help …

Todd S. Purdum

An Idea Whose Time Has Come: Two Presidents, Two Parties, and the Battle for the Civil Rights Act of 1964:

The Dirksen Congressional Center has been a wonderful and indispensable addition to the community of scholars interested in congressional history. The Center has offered financial support that scholars need to conduct research into the legislative branch, while it has been instrumental to the organization of conferences, workshops, web-based initiatives, and teaching programs that greatly further our knowledge of congressional history.

Julian Zelizer

The American Congress: The Building of Democracy

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