Release of Clement E. Conger's Office Files

May 29, 2025

Office Files of White House Curator Clement E. Conger

The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum has released two boxes (approximately 1,000 pages) of White House Curator Clement E. Conger’s files. This series is arranged alphabetically and contains memoranda, correspondence, clippings, and press releases. Subjects include handcrafts by Julie Nixon Eisenhower, museum loans, the 1970 Heritage Ball attended by the President and First Lady, requests to paint portraits of the President and First Lady, and President Nixon’s 1973 bout with viral pneumonia.

The Presidential Historical materials of Clement E. Conger 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. In accordance with the Act and agency regulations, an archivist reviewed the file group to identify personal and private materials and non-historical items. When found, these items were returned.

Materials covered by the Act have been archivally processed and are described in the finding aid. Original photographic materials have been transferred to the audiovisual holdings of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. Whenever possible, photocopies have replaced the original photographic materials in the open boxes.

Employees of the National Archives will review periodically the unclassified portions of closed materials for the purpose of opening those which no longer require restriction. Certain classified documents may be declassified under authority of Executive Order 13526 in response to a Mandatory Review Request (NA Form 14020) submitted by the researcher.

About the Files

In March 1970, Clement Conger succeeded James R. Ketchum as White House Curator. He held the post until 1986 when he was succeeded by Rex Scouten. During his tenure, Conger worked on at least 27 rooms in the White House including the president’s bedroom, the press room, and multiple reception rooms while continuing to work as the first curator of the Department of State’s Diplomatic Reception Rooms.

The materials are arranged in one subject file series. The subject file series contains correspondence, White House press releases, and newspaper clippings related to topics including loans of items owned by Julie Nixon Eisenhower to cultural institutions, press releases related to President Nixon’s hospitalization in July 1973, and letters from the public who sought to paint President Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon’s portraits.

Notably, the series does not contain documents pertaining to the refurbishment of various White House rooms. Related materials may be located in the White House Central Files, Staff Member and Office Files of the First Lady’s Press Office and the White House Central Files, Subject Files, WH (White House Administration).