These Presidential historical 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 (44 U.S.C. 2111 note), and implementing regulations. In accordance with the act and regulations, archivists reviewed the file group to identify private or personal as well as non-historical items. Such items, if found, have been withdrawn for return to the individual with primary proprietary or commemorative interest in them.
Materials covered by this act have been archivally processed and are described in this finding aid. Items that are security classified or otherwise restricted under the act and regulations have been removed and placed in a closed file. A Document Withdrawal Record (NA Form 14021) has been placed in the front of each folder describing each withdrawn item. Employees of the National Archives will review periodically the unclassified portions of closed materials for the purpose of opening those which no longer require restrictions. Classified documents may be reviewed for declassification under authority of Executive Order 13526 in response to Mandatory Review Request (NA Form 14020) submitted by the researcher.
- Linear measurement of materials: < 3.2 ft.
- Number of pages: 5,800
Subject Category FG 106 contains material relating to the District of Columbia, the seat of the Federal Government of the United States. In 1790, George Washington chose the site, located along the Potomac River and taken from the sovereignty of Maryland and Virginia, for a permanent national capital to replace Philadelphia. He appointed a French engineer, Pierre Charles L'Enfant, to design the city, named Washington, which became the nation's capital in 1800. The District of Columbia was created as a municipal corporation in 1871 and embraced Washington, Georgetown, and the County of Washington. The Twenty-third Amendment, ratified in 1961, granted District residents the right to vote for President and Vice President for the first time and gave it three members in the Electoral College. Congress governed the District from 1878-1967 through three commissioners appointed by the President. The Reorganization Plan of 1967 substituted one commissioner (i.e., Mayor), an assistant, and a nine-member city council, all appointed by the President. Congress still appropriated budgetary funds for the District. In 1970, President Nixon signed legislation providing the District a single non-voting delegate in the House of Representatives. In 1973, Nixon signed a bill, subject to voter approval in a charter referendum, to permit the mayor-council government to be locally elected. In 1974, voters approved the charter, which became the Home Rule Act; under it, Congress retained the right to review legislation, rescind council actions, and authorize Washington's budget. By the end of the Nixon years, activists remained determined to secure Washington's independence from the Federal Government.
The records consist of correspondence, reports, memorandums, press releases, printed materials, and resumes. Primary correspondents include the President, Daniel P. Moynihan, John D. Ehrlichman, Egil ("Bud") Krogh, Kenneth Cole, Jr., Bryce Harlow, William Timmons, Richard Nathan, John Brown, III, Richard Blumenthal, Walter Washington, Graham Watt, and Jerry Wilson. Topics include home rule, District government organization, crime (e.g., illegal drugs) and law enforcement, public housing, transportation, bicentennial planning, education, budget, employment, personnel matters (e.g., appointments), urban renewal, and public welfare programs (e.g., health). Corresponding oversized attachments have been processed and integrated into the files.
The terms Executive and General are used before the code FG 106 generally to determine the source of the materials. Items designated Executive are communications among national, foreign, state, and local governments and their agencies, members of Congress, and other prominent people. Items designated General are communications between government offices and private citizens, institutions, and other private interests.
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