Burton Hoffman Papers (Mss. Gr. 184)

Series 1. Special Assistant to the House Majority Whip
Box 1-15, Folder 1-169
The Special Assistant to the Majority Whip series consists of records kept by Hoffman in his position as Special Assistant to John Brademas, the Majority Whip of the U.S. House of Representatives, during the 94th, 95th, and 96th Congressional sessions. Subjects covered in the records include legislation, committee work, administrative matters, political issues, and internal issues concerning the House. The 95th Congressional session records contain material on press coverage of the House and press relations.

The series contains memoranda, press clippings, correspondence, reports, press releases, speech transcripts, notes, schedules, briefing materials, photographs, and one audiocassette. See series VII, Subject Files, for records relating to Hoffman's time in Congress working as Press Secretary to Senator Carl Levin (1981-83) and Representative Henry Waxman (1983-85). See also Senator Claiborne Pell Papers, MsG#71, Education Subcommittee files, for more on Representative John Brademas.

Folders in the series are arranged alphabetically by subject within each Congressional session.

Series 2. US-Soviet Legislative Exchange Trips
Box 16-20, Folder 1-37
The US-Soviet Legislative Exchange Trips series consists of records relating to a series of exchange trips between members of the U.S. Congress and the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. The records concern four separate trips in 1978 and 1979: two Supreme Soviet visits to the United States, and two Congressional delegations to the Soviet Union. The majority of records relate to the U.S. House of Representatives delegation to the Soviet Union in April 1979, of which Hoffman was a member. Subjects covered in the series include a number of issues discussed during the exchanges, particularly human rights issues and Soviet treatment of dissidents and refuseniks.

The series consists of briefing materials, reports, press clippings, travel brochures, postcards, correspondence, memoranda, invitations, receipts, and photographs.

The series is arranged chronologically by the date of each trip.

Series 3. Shriver Campaign 1972
Box 21-23, Folder 1-23
The Shriver Campaign 1972 series consists of records from Hoffman’s position as the Press Secretary to R. Sargent Shriver in his campaign as the Vice-Presidential running mate of George McGovern in the 1972 Presidential campaign. The series also contains a small amount of material from Shriver’s campaign for the Governorship of Maryland in 1970, as well as some material relating to Shriver from after the 1972 election.

The series contains travel and event schedules, staff lists, speech transcripts and drafts, statements, press releases, memoranda, news clippings, briefing materials, correspondence, and notes.

The series is arranged chronologically, with many folders representing a single week of campaign scheduling and planning documents.

Series 4. Korean Bribery Scandal
Box 24, Folder 1-10
The Korean Bribery Scandal series contains records relating to allegations of bribery of members of Congress by a Korean intelligence agent, and the subsequent Justice Department and Congressional investigations into the matter. A substantial portion of the records deal with campaign contributions to Representative John Brademas’ Congressional campaign given by Tong Sun Park, the Korean businessman indicted by the Justice Department.

The records consist of press clippings, memoranda, correspondence, Congressional reports, photocopies of Tong Sun Park’s 1977 indictment, notes, and cassette tapes of Congressional hearings into the scandal.

The series is arranged chronologically.

Series 5. Film Project on Congress
Box 25, Folder 1-6
The Film Project on Congress series consists of documents relating to the production of two films, broadcast on public television, focusing on the operations of Congress: Mr. Speaker: A Portrait of Tip O’Neill, broadcast in 1978, and H.R. 6161 An Act of Congress, broadcast in 1979.

The series contains memoranda, correspondence, project proposals, interview transcripts, promotional materials, press clippings, and reviews. Much of the original material in the series sustained severe damage from water and mold. Severely damaged records were photocopied, and the originals were discarded.

The series is arranged chronologically.

Series 6. Editorial Files
Box 26-28, Folder 1-40
The Editorial Files series consists of records relating to Hoffman’s editorial positions at several newspapers and magazines, including Congressional Quarterly, the Washington Star, and the National Journal. Also included in the series are records from Hoffman’s time as a reporter at the Washington Star, the Evening Telegram, and the Elmira Advertiser. The series also contains photocopies of material from the Pentagon Papers.

The series contains memoranda, newspapers, press clippings, correspondence, and reports.

The series is arranged chronologically.

Series 7. Subject Files
Box 29-32, Folder 1-42
Subjects covered in the series include Hoffman’s positions as Press Secretary for Senator Carl Levin and Administrative Assistant to Rep. Henry Waxman, his position with the consulting firm Hill and Knowlton, personal correspondence, job correspondence and resumes, and records related to sailing.

This series contains memoranda, correspondence, appointment books, realia, resumes, notes, press clippings, reports, photographs, slides, and color negatives.

The series is arranged alphabetically by subject.