--------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800000 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ C TITLE...................... BENTON L. BECKER PAPERS (Attorney; Advisor to Gerald Ford) ...DESCRIPTION... Although not a member of Ford's congressional or White House staff, Benton L. Becker played an integral role in some of the most important events of Gerald Ford's career, including the investigation of Associate Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, Ford's confirmation as Vice President, the Nixon pardon, and the disposition of Nixon's papers. The Benton Becker Papers provide unique and valuable documentation of these events. The majority of folders contain especially worthwhile primary sources, often including handwritten notes and memos to the file. Becker's papers reveal his concern for the historical record. Becker and Ford first met in 1967 when Becker was Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice investigating a matter involving possible congressional corruption. In 1970, Becker assisted Ford in preparing the unsuccessful impeachment case against Associate Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. Pursuant to Mr. Becker's deed of gift, materials related to the Douglas investigation are currently closed. When nominated for the vice presidency in October 1973, Ford called on Becker and others for assistance in preparing for the confirmation hearings. Becker assumed a key role on the "Confirmation Team," headed by Robert Hartmann, and is credited with developing the "Answer Book." While at the witness table, nominee Ford regularly referred to this indexed series of questions and answers regarding his political record. Becker's papers include some of the questions and answers, "talking points" on various subjects, and miscellaneous background material used in the compilation of the "Answer Book." The confirmation materials also include a Ford/Becker annotated copy of Robert Winter-Berger's affidavit, accusing Ford of improper activities. Especially noteworthy are the handwritten notes of Ford and Becker at the House Judiciary Committee Hearings. As Vice President, Ford frequently sought Becker's advice, but Becker's papers provide little evidence of this. In August 1974, Becker took a leave of absence from his active law practice to assist Ford during the presidential transition. Becker made several recommendations for the disposition of President Nixon's papers, and was integral in stopping their destruction or shipment to San Clemente. In September 1974, President Ford and Philip Buchen, counsel to the President, selected Becker to negotiate a pardon agreement with ex-President Nixon. Becker performed the legal research to determine Ford's authority to pardon Nixon. Ford and Buchen also instructed Becker to obtain an agreement regarding the possession and control of Nixon's papers and tapes, and they asked Becker to assess Nixon's mental and physical condition. Becker's papers document these assignments. Perhaps the most valuable item in the Becker collection is his eighteen-page memo to the record in which he describes the history of the Nixon pardon and his role therein. Most secondary sources describing the pardon cite Becker's account of the occasion in some way. Becker also brought back to the White House the Nixon-Sampson agreement on the disposition of the Nixon papers. The Becker Papers contain substantive materials reflecting the post-pardon history of Nixon v. Sampson, including considerable information regarding the alleged backdating of Nixon's deed of gift. Becker continued to aid and advise Ford during the presidency, when he served as deputy counsel to the Republican National Committee, under Bill Cramer. Of special note in the few Becker Papers relating to the 1976 campaign are Becker's handwritten notes on the Ford-Carter debates. Becker's papers also contain brief memos on 1976 campaign issues, including a proposal for avoiding a 1976 presidential primary battle with Governor Reagan. Some items pertain to legal services Becker provided the 1980 Republican Convention Rules Committee. ...ABSTRACT... The Benton Becker Papers are a fragmentary collection of materials created, received, or filed by Becker as an attorney and advisor to Gerald Ford. The papers uniquely document Becker's role in Ford's vice presidential confirmation hearings, the Nixon pardon, disposition of the Nixon papers, and the 1976 presidential campaign. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Nixon Pardon, Nixon Papers, Vice President, Presidential Appointments LC SUBJECT TERM............ UNPOB, NIXOP, VICU, United States--Politics and government--1974-1977, Nixon, Richard M., 1913- --Pardon, Vice-Presidents--United States BEGINNING DATE............. 1973 ENDING DATE................ 1976 VOLUME..................... 0.8 UNITS MEASUR............... linear feet ...RELATED MATERIAL... Although there are extensive materials related to the Nixon pardon and Nixon papers in the Files of Philip Buchen, there is little evidence of Becker's specific role in these matters. The sizable White House Central Files Subject Files FG 2-36: Richard Nixon and JL 1/Nixon: Amnesties - Clemencies - Pardons include scattered documentation regarding the pardon and papers. The Files of John O. Marsh, counsellor to the President, contain noteworthy material on the Nixon pardon, papers, and presidential transition. The Papers of Edward Hutchinson, ranking Republican member, House Judiciary Committee, and the vice presidential files of Robert Hartmann (Vice President Ford's chief of staff) are among the most useful for assessments of Ford's vice presidential confirmation. Copies of the original court case, United States v. Burdick, precedent for the Nixon pardon, are available in the vertical file under "Nixon Pardon." Collections containing material on the 1976 presidential campaign are described in "The 1976 Presidential Election: A Guide to Manuscript Collections Available for Research," available upon request. ADDL UNDESC. ACCRETIONS.... N ...ARRANGEMENT... Arranged in a single series: General Subject File. PREFERRED CITATION......... Benton L. Becker Papers, Gerald R. Ford Library CLASSIFICATION CODE........ U, Not Classified LANG. CODE(S).............. eng LOCATION................... 2-01-14-4 DATE OF OPENING............ 06/1976 CREATORS NAME.............. Becker Benton CONFORMING NAME............ Becker, Benton CONFORMING NAME INDICATOR.. P CREATORS RELN TO PRES...... Attorney, personal friend, advisor CREATORS CURRENT POSN...... Professor, School of Law, University of Miami ...BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE... 1938 - Born, Washington, D.C. 1960 - B.A., University of Maryland 1966 - J.D., American University 1966-68 - Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division, Fraud Section 1968-70 - Assistant U.S. Attorney 1970-77 - Partner, law firm of Cramer, Haber, & Becker, Washington, D.C. 1973 - Counsel to Ford at vice presidential confirmation hearings 1974 - Counsel to Ford throughout 1974 presidential transition 1976 - Counsel to the Republican National Committee 1977-82 - Professor, University of Miami School of Law 1982-83 - Senior Trial Attorney, Office of Dade County's State Attorney 1983-91 - Law Offices of Benton Becker 1988-91 - Adjunct Professor, constitutional law, University of Miami DONORS NAME................ Becker Benton DONORS RELN TO CREATOR..... SELF SOURCE OF LEGAL TITLE...... DM, Donated materials ...PROVENANCE... The Ford Library solicited these materials from Mr. Becker. He consulted with President Ford and then agreed to donate them. The materials were shipped to the Library via UPS from Mr. Becker's office. Accesioned as 91-NLF-024. ...RESTRICTIONS... Open. Some items are temporarily restricted under terms of Mr. Becker's deed of gift, a copy of which is available on request. ...LITERARY RIGHT... Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. In addition, Mr. Becker has donated to the United States of America his copyright interest in any other of his writings that might be included in this collection. The copyright interest to materials written by other individuals or organizations is presumed to remain with them. WRITTEN PERMISSION......... N BOX........................ ******* BECKER FILES --------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800001 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ S TITLE...................... General Subject File, {This is a Series Title} ...DESCRIPTION... Memoranda, correspondence, reports, news clippings, handwritten notes, and printed matter related to Ford's vice presidential confirmation, the Nixon pardon, Nixon's papers, and the 1976 presidential campaign. Especially notable materials include Becker-Ford handwritten notes during the vice presidential confirmation and Becker's memo to the record regarding the Nixon pardon. Arranged alphabetically by subject. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Nixon Pardon, Vice President, Presidential Appointments, Nixon Papers BEGINNING DATE............. 1973 ENDING DATE................ 1976 VOLUME..................... 0.8 UNITS MEASUR............... linear feet BASIS OF ARRANGEMENT....... A, Arranged alphabetically. TYPE OF MATERIAL........... MEM, COR, REP, CLI, NOT, Memorandum, Correspondence, Report, Clipping, Note BOX........................ 1-2 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800002 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Campaign Records - 1970 - Congressional Campaign ...DESCRIPTION... Jean McKee. Fifth District SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Congressional Elections, Campaign Funds BEGINNING DATE............. 11/1970 ENDING DATE................ 1972 BOX........................ 1 PAGE COUNT................. 20 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800003 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Carter, Jimmy - Playboy Magazine Interview ...DESCRIPTION... Hugh Hefner. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Presidential Campaign - 1976 BEGINNING DATE............. 10/1976 ENDING DATE................ 10/1976 BOX........................ 1 PAGE COUNT................. 5 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800004 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Cuban Refugees ...DESCRIPTION... Jose Manuel Casanova. Republican National Hispanic Assembly. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Cuba, Refugees, Cuban-Americans, Immigration and Naturalization BEGINNING DATE............. 07/1973 ENDING DATE................ 01/1976 BOX........................ 1 PAGE COUNT................. 75 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800005 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Douglas, William O. - Investigation (Entire File Closed to Research) SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Judicial Impeachment, Supreme Court BEGINNING DATE............. 1970 ENDING DATE................ 1970 BOX........................ 1 PAGE COUNT................. 400 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800006 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Ford/Carter Debates ...DESCRIPTION... Becker's handwritten notes regarding the debates. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Presidential Campaign - 1976, Campaign Debates, Domestic Affairs, Foreign Affairs BEGINNING DATE............. 09/1976 ENDING DATE................ 10/1976 BOX........................ 1 PAGE COUNT................. 13 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800007 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Ford, Gerald R. - News Clippings ...DESCRIPTION... Regarding allegations that Ford failed to report congressional campaign contributions. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Campaign Funds, Presidential Trips, Congressional Elections BEGINNING DATE............. 10/1970 ENDING DATE................ 09/1975 BOX........................ 1 PAGE COUNT................. 30 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800008 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Ford, Gerald R. - Vice Presidential Confirmation - General (1)-(3) ...DESCRIPTION... Background material. Handwritten notes of Becker and Ford. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Campaign Funds, Vice President, Congressional Investigations, Congressional Elections, Presidential Appointments BEGINNING DATE............. 10/1967 ENDING DATE................ 11/1973 BOX........................ 1 PAGE COUNT................. 300 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800009 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Ford, Gerald R. - Vice Presidential Confirmation - House Judiciary Committee Correspondence ...DESCRIPTION... Peter Rodino. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Vice President, Congressional Investigations, Presidential Appointments BEGINNING DATE............. 11/1973 ENDING DATE................ 11/1973 BOX........................ 1 PAGE COUNT................. 6 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800010 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Ford, Gerald R. - Vice Presidential Confirmation - News Clippings SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Vice President, Congressional Investigations, Presidential Appointments BEGINNING DATE............. 05/1972 ENDING DATE................ 11/1973 BOX........................ 1 PAGE COUNT................. 35 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800011 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Ford, Gerald R. - Vice Presidential Confirmation - Questions ...DESCRIPTION... Questions about Watergate, Cambodia, Warren Commission, personal finances. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Vice President, Congressional Investigations, Executive-Legislative Relations, Presidential Appointments BEGINNING DATE............. 11/1973 ENDING DATE................ 11/1973 BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 70 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800012 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Ford, Gerald R. - Vice Presidential Confirmation - Vice Presidential Confirmation - Robert Winter-Berger ...DESCRIPTION... Robert Winter-Berger affidavit, annotated by Ford and Becker. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Vice President, Congressional Investigations, Presidential Appointments BEGINNING DATE............. 10/1973 ENDING DATE................ 10/1973 BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 8 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800013 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... National Republican Party - Rules Changes SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Republican Party, Presidential Campaign - 1980, Campaign Funds, Party Delegates BEGINNING DATE............. 09/1973 ENDING DATE................ 07/1980 BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 40 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800014 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Nixon Deed of Gift ...DESCRIPTION... William Casselman. Livingston Memo. Mary Livingston. Ed Morgan. Ralph Newman. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Nixon Papers, Presidential Libraries BEGINNING DATE............. 08/1972 ENDING DATE................ 11/1974 BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 65 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800015 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Nixon Deed of Trust to GSA ...DESCRIPTION... Arthur Sampson. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Nixon Papers, Presidential Libraries BEGINNING DATE............. 09/1974? ENDING DATE................ 09/1974? BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 4 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800016 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Nixon Pardon - Acceptance Statement ...DESCRIPTION... Drafts. Handwritten notes by Becker. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Nixon Pardon BEGINNING DATE............. 09/1974 ENDING DATE................ 09/1974 BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 8 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800017 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Nixon Pardon - Becker's Memorandum ...DESCRIPTION... History and background of Nixon pardon. Robert Hartmann. Phil Buchen. U.S. v. Burdick, U.S. v. Garland, San Clemente. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Nixon Pardon, Presidential Transitions, Nixon Papers BEGINNING DATE............. 09/1974 ENDING DATE................ 09/1974 BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 18 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800018 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Nixon Pardon - Correspondence ...DESCRIPTION... Correspondence to and from Becker regarding his role in the pardon. News clippings. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Nixon Pardon BEGINNING DATE............. 09/1974 ENDING DATE................ 09/1974 BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 25 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800019 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Nixon Pardon - Legal Precedents ...DESCRIPTION... U.S. v. Burdick. Federalist Papers. "Behind the Nixon Pardon," The Nation. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Nixon Pardon BEGINNING DATE............. 1974 ENDING DATE................ 1979 BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 40 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800020 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Nixon-Sampson Agreement - History ...DESCRIPTION... Trevor Ambruster. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Nixon Papers, Presidential Libraries BEGINNING DATE............. 05/1978 ENDING DATE................ 05/1978 BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 7 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800021 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Nixon v. Sampson (1)-(2) ...DESCRIPTION... Ralph Newman appraisal. Documents from case. Correspondence. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Nixon Papers, Judicial Matters BEGINNING DATE............. 1969 ENDING DATE................ 11/1974 BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 300 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800022 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Presidential Campaign - 1976 ...DESCRIPTION... Ronald Reagan. Sunshine Campaign. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Presidential Campaign - 1976, Republican Party BEGINNING DATE............. 05/1975 ENDING DATE................ 06/1975 BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 9 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800023 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Republican National Committee - White House Accounts (1)-(2) ...DESCRIPTION... Thomas B. Curtis. SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Federal Election Commission, Campaign Funds, Presidential Trips, Republican Party BEGINNING DATE............. 07/1975 ENDING DATE................ 02/1977 BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 150 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ---------------- COL,SER,FLDR ID............ 023800024 ACCESSION.................. 91-NLF-024 RECORD CODE................ F TITLE...................... Southern Florida Sugar Growers Association ...DESCRIPTION... Claude Wylie SUBJECT DESCRIPTOR......... Campaign Funds, Congressional Elections BEGINNING DATE............. 1973 ENDING DATE................ 1973 BOX........................ 2 PAGE COUNT................. 3 BECKER GENERAL SUBJECT FILE ----------------