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Albert Gore Sr. Senate Papers

Dates

1953-1970

Creator

Gore, Albert

Summary/Abstract

The Albert Gore Sr. Senate Papers include 900 linear feet of correspondence with other politicians, governmental departments, and constituents, as well as research files and casework. The papers cover Senator Gore’s work in the Senate from 1952 to 1970. The bulk of his papers covers 1962 to 1969. Topics include domestic and international trade and commerce, labor law, tax reform, transportation, medical care for older citizens, civil rights, and international relations. Four of the series in the collection are restricted. These series are Social Security Case Files, Veterans Case Files, Service Case Files, and Service Academy case files.

Quantity/Physical Description

Approximately 900 linear feet of manuscript materials

Language(s)

English

Repository

Albert Gore Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132, (615) 898-2632

Restrictions on Access

Social Security Case Files, Veterans Case Files, Service Case Files, and Service Academy case files are restricted.

Copyright

Senator Gore donated his copyrights and literary rights to this collection to the public through Middle Tennessee State University. It is presumed that any other corporate and individual copyrights in manuscripts, photographs, and other materials have bee

Preferred Citation

(Box Number, Folder Number), Albert Gore Sr. Senate Papers, Albert Gore Research Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Acquisition

Albert Gore Sr. deposited in 1971; signed deed of gift in 1984

Processed By

Original processor undetermined

Arrangement

Arranged by series and sub-series

Biographical Note

Albert Gore was born in Jackson County, Tennessee, on December 26, 1907. In 1938, Congressman Ridley Mitchell decided not to seek reelection from the Fourth Tennessee District. Albert Gore ran a successful campaign and in 1939, he began a thirty-two-year career representing Tennessee in Congress, fourteen years in the House of Representatives and eighteen years in the Senate. During one Senate race, his opponent labeled him, “the cunning gray fox from Carthage.” Gore liked the image and used it in future campaigns. In 1970, he lost his Senate seat in the wake of the Nixon-Agnew “Southern strategy” to alienate Gore from his constituents and win a Republican victory for William Brock III.

During his thirty-two years in Congress, Gore served on many major committees including Public Works, Public Roads Subcommittee (chair), Rules, the Subcommittee on Privileges and Elections (chair), Foreign Relations, Finance, and the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy. He was a member of the U.S. Delegation to the United Nations, the U.S. Delegation to the Nuclear Weapons Test Conference, and a participant in fact-finding missions to Africa, the Middle East, the Far East, and Central and South America.

As co-author of the Highway Act of 1956, Gore promoted the creation of the nation's Interstate Highway System. He became a civil rights proponent during the Eisenhower years and an advocate of racial justice. As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, he vigorously opposed the Vietnam War.

Scope and Content

The Albert Gore Sr. Senate Papers include twenty-four series, as follows:

I. Research Files include notes and research materials that Senator Gore used to develop his political positions.

II. Veterans Case Files include correspondence with war veterans regarding their benefits through the Veterans Administration. (Access is restricted for privacy reasons. See below for more information.)

III. Social Security Case Files include correspondence with constituents regarding their claims for social security. (Access is restricted for privacy reasons. See below for more information.)

IV. Issue Mail includes correspondence from constituents expressing their views on political issues of the day; the files often contain copies of Gore's replies.

V. Post Office Files include correspondence with constituents and other government officials regarding the building and staffing of post offices.

VI. Departmental Files include files on the actions of various government departments.

VII. Legislative Files include correspondence regarding Congressional legislation and record of Senate votes for legislation by subject.

VIII. Alphabetical Files include correspondence from constituents regarding their personal issues.

IX. Office Files include correspondence related to the operation of Senator Gore’s offices in Washington, Carthage, Memphis, and Nashville.

X. Politics Files include materials related to Senator Gore’s election campaigns.

XI. Media Files include correspondence, records, and statements of Senator Gore concerning appearances on radio and television and in newspapers.

XII. Newsletter series includes copies of Senator Gore’s newsletter, “The Washington Report,” sent to constituents on his mailing list.

XIII. Tennessee Files include correspondence with constituents and state officials concerning the state of Tennessee.

XIV. Personal Files include personal correspondence between the Senator and Mrs. Gore, and between Senator Gore and his assistants William Allen and Andrew J. Lynch.

XV. Applications Files include letters written to Albert Gore requesting aid in finding a job, letters of recommendation, and job information.

XVI. Patronage Files include cover letters, applications, resumes, and letters of recommendation from people requesting appointments by Senator Gore for patronage positions.

XVII. Federal Jobs Files include correspondence relating to positions in the federal government.

XVIII. Invitations Files includes letters and invitations received by Gore requesting his presence at various functions in Washington, Tennessee, and throughout the country.

XIX. Requests Files include correspondence from constituents requesting materials such as photographs and autographs of the Senator.

XX. Special Files include material that does not fit in any other category, including correspondence relating to the McCarthy censure, memorabilia from Gore’s term as president of the United States delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and information related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

XXI. Academy Files include correspondence from constituents who applied to the United States Service Academies. (Access is restricted for privacy reasons. See below for more information.)

XXII. Gore Bills include copies of bills introduced or co-sponsored by Senator Gore during his tenure.

XXIII. Index Files include the yellow (second) carbon copies of all letters sent from Senator Gore’s office.

XXIV. Service Case Files include correspondence from servicemen who were enlisted in the armed forces during Senator Gore’s tenure in office. (Access is restricted for privacy reasons. See below for more information.)

The arrangement of the papers corresponds closely to the filing order operating in the Senator’s office in 1969. Annual series are generally arranged alphabetically by office, committee, or some other descriptive unit, by sub-unit or sub-topic, and by date. Except for Issue Mail, carbon copies of outgoing correspondence usually are attached to the incoming letters to which they responded.