The Correspondence subseries consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence dating from 1957 through 1976. A substantial amount of material is personal in nature, including letters to and from family and friends, while a small amount of material is related to Baker's legal and political activities.

The subseries is arranged chronologically. Materials within folders are in reverse chronological order.

3 boxes

The Diaries and Date Books subseries consists of Baker's diaries and date books from 1957 through 1979 (with the exception of 1976). The diaries list appointments, personal obligations, and work-related matters such as court cases. Two date books exist for both 1977 and 1978; information overlaps somewhat but is not duplicated.

The subseries is arranged chronologically.

2 boxes

The Financial subseries consists of a small group of documents relating to some of Baker's financial matters in the 1960s and 1970s. Included are materials from Baker's involvement with Texas Commerce Bank.

The subseries is arranged alphabetically.

1 box

The Legal subseries consists of memoranda and reader files containing legal correspondence associated with court cases with which Baker was involved from 1957 through 1977. Also included are subject files that include documents related to Andrews, Kurth, Campbell and Jones, material concerning Baker's affiliation with state and local bar associations, and various legal documents.

The subseries is arranged alphabetically

5 boxes

The Personal Subject Files subseries consists of documents related to Baker's charitable work, Princeton alumni activities, and other non-professional matters. Included are personal documents such as Baker's birth certificate and Baker's military and scholastic records, as well as documents and notes relating to Baker's travels to China (to visit George Bush), Africa, and the western United States.

The subseries is arranged alphabetically.

3 boxes

The most significant materials in the series are the files related to George H.W. Bush, which include material related to Bush's Congressional and Senate campaigns, as well as files of correspondence and notes sent between Bush and Baker from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s, including letters sent between the two while Bush was serving as Ambassador to China.

The correspondence addresses a wide variety of subjects, both political and personal, and ranges from letters concerning Bush's early Congressional campaigns to light-hearted notes and attempts to schedule tennis matches. The general correspondence folder consists primarily of professional and political correspondence, while the personal notes, letters, and miscellaneous folder tends to contain material that is more personal in nature, although professional and personal material does overlap somewhat in both folders. Highlights of the correspondence include a note sent from Bush to Baker on the day after Bush was passed over for the Vice Presidency in the Ford Administration, and a two-page, single-spaced letter, apparently hand-typed by Bush, sent soon after Bush's arrival in China. In addition to correspondence, the Bush files also include Baker's "political file" from 1969, when Baker, encouraged by Bush and others, was considering running for the Congressional seat vacated when Bush decided to run for Senate. The material, including additional correspondence from Bush, documents Baker's decision not to run for the seat and also includes some material related Bush's Senate campaign and other political topics.

The subseries is arranged alphabetically.

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The Campaign Administration subseries consists of documents relating to the general administration of Baker's campaign for Texas Attorney General. The subseries includes Baker's own files, which consist of handwritten notes, memos, and correspondence, as well as material created and maintained for Baker by his staff.

The "kitchen cabinet" files include strategy and planning documents created by a group of Baker's high-level advisers, including meeting agendas, various memos, and updates on finances and fundraising.

The subseries also includes a small amount of financial material and budgets, as well as documents concerning staff organization and hiring, files devoted to prominent staff members such as campaign manager Frank Donatelli, campaign memos, and notes from staff meetings.

The subject files contain material related to organizations endorsing Baker, such as Blacks for Baker, a folder of documents from "Prominent Republicans" such as Bob Dole and Gerald Ford, and memorabilia such as bumper stickers and buttons. The subject files also include Baker's campaign announcement and concession speech.

This subseries is arranged alphabetically.

4 boxes

The Correspondence subseries consists of three groupings of correspondence. The Name Files consist primarily of staff correspondence from 1978 to 1980. Much of this correspondence concerns fundraising, though there are two folders of correspondence from Governor William P. Clements. The "Reader Files" contain outgoing correspondence from Baker; the Reader Files often include fairly routine letters such as follow-ups to a contribution or fundraising event. The Miscellaneous correspondence consists of nine chronologically arranged folders dating from 1976 to 1979.

The Name Files are arranged alphabetically by last name. The Reader Files and Miscellaneous groupings are arranged chronologically.

3 boxes

Arrangement: This subseries is arranged alphabetically.

The County Files subseries includes material related generally to county organization across the state, as well as files devoted to specific counties. The general and statewide material includes notes, memos, and correspondence regarding various aspects of county-level organization and strategy, as well as contact information for and correspondence to county chairmen. Individual County Files consist of documents relating to organization for specific counties; folders generally contain memos and correspondence as well as financial documents and lists of contributors, notes on local contacts, and Baker's own notes on counties.

3 boxes

The Fundraising subseries consists of documents relating to the campaign's fundraising activities. Included are general fundraising files, information related to dinners and special fundraising events, and material created by the campaign's direct mail and phone bank operations. The General Files includes lists of contributors and correspondence with contributors, including a letter from Donald Rumsfeld, as well as financial statements and legal documents concerning campaign finance. Also included is material relating to post-campaign debt and its eventual cancellation. The Dinners and Special Events files contain documents relating to fundraising events held by the campaign including auctions, dinners, and a tennis match with Gerald Ford and John Newcombe. The Direct Mail files contain mailings and responses, including contribution cards, as well as miscellaneous financial documents. Numerous memos to and from Karl Rove, who ran the direct mail operations for the campaign, can be found within the files. The Phone Bank Operations grouping contains miscellaneous memos, correspondence, and other documents, including an overall campaign plan, relating to phone banks, primarily at the local level.

This subseries is arranged alphabetically.

7 boxes

The Issues and Strategy Files subseries contains notes, memos, correspondence, position papers, and press releases, relating to various issues that Baker incorporated into his platform, such as consumer protection, crime-fighting efforts, and natural gas policy. In addition to position papers and press releases the campaign compiled an "issues binder" that includes position statements and background material on a wide variety of topics. The binder is arranged alphabetically and includes information on a large number of issues such as abortion, environmental regulations, and teachers' pay. The subseries also includes documents pertaining to campaign strategy, including political management proposals, internal memos and correspondence, and background research concerning Baker's opponents.

This subseries is arranged alphabetically.

3 boxes

The Issues and Strategy Files subseries contains notes, memos, correspondence, position papers, and press releases, relating to various issues that Baker incorporated into his platform, such as consumer protection, crime-fighting efforts, and natural gas policy. In addition to position papers and press releases the campaign compiled an "issues binder" that includes position statements and background material on a wide variety of topics. The binder is arranged alphabetically and includes information on a large number of issues such as abortion, environmental regulations, and teachers' pay. The subseries also includes documents pertaining to campaign strategy, including political management proposals, internal memos and correspondence, and background research concerning Baker's opponents.

This subseries is arranged alphabetically.

2 boxes

The Press and Publicity subseries consists of materials relating to campaign publicity efforts, and includes advertising plans and agency information, campaign newsletters (the Baker Banner and Baker News Digest), press releases, letters to the editor, speeches, and schedules for television advertising, as well as correspondence with media outlets.

This subseries is arranged alphabetically.

2 boxes

The Scrapbooks and Clippings subseries consists of clippings relating to Baker and the campaign, as well as select copies of Texas political publications. The subseries includes two scrapbooks of clippings, newsletters, and press releases concerning the campaign, arranged in chronological order and covering June through November 1978. Material has been removed from binders and rehoused for preservation purposes.

This subseries is divided into two groupings, each arranged chronologically.

2 boxes

The Correspondence subseries consists of Baker's correspondence files from his time as Chief of Staff. The subseries includes correspondence from prominent figures in American politics and government, including George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Richard Nixon, and Donald Rumsfeld, and senators and Congressional leaders, including Richard Lugar, Paul Laxalt, and Newt Gingrich. Of note are letters from George P. Shultz, Lyn Nofziger, and William J. Casey. Much, though not all, of this correspondence is fairly brief. Nixon's correspondence, as with his correspondence in other series, tends to be detailed and involved, and often contains advice and comments on the political climate.

A substantial proportion of the correspondence comes from non-government contacts, family, and friends, and often consists of notes of congratulations on Baker's appointment, birthday greetings, notes of thanks, and short messages. There are also many requests for consideration for government positions. Preston Moore Jr., Baker's first cousin and a successful Texas businessman, corresponded heavily with Baker and is the largest correspondent in the series.

The correspondence subseries also includes Baker's personal chronological outgoing correspondence files, which is located at the end of the subseries.

Folders are arranged alphabetically by last name of correspondent, and chronologically within each folder. Personal chronological files are arranged chronologically.

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