| Return to finding aids search |
Finding aid created by: MRC
Date: 7 Apr 2010
|
|
|
| 18 Sep 2023 | collection fully processed (SAB) |
Overview of the Collection |
|
| Creator: | Connor, John T. (John Thomas), 1914-2000. |
| Title: | John T. Connor Papers |
| Dates: | 1964-1967 |
| Quantity: | 6.5 linear ft. plus 13 film reels |
| Abstract: | Clippings, Department of Commerce publications, interviews, and speeches by United States Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor. |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: |
Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center |
John T. Connor (1914-2000) was an American attorney, businessman, and United States Secretary of Commerce from 1965-1967.
Connor was born in Syracuse, New York, on November 3, 1914. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1936, and went on to receive his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1939. Following his graduation from Harvard, Connor served as general counsel to the Office of Scientific Research and Development and special assistant to the Secretary of the Navy before joining the pharmaceutical company Merck as general counsel in 1947. Connor became president of Merck in 1955, and remained there until his appointment to President Johnson’s cabinet.
In his role as Secretary of Commerce, Connor was tasked with drawing corporations into Johnson’s voluntary balance-of-payments program, meant to reduce the deficit in the United States’ international balance of payments. His approach to the position was shaped by a desire to increase the voice of industry in the creation of US policy. He also played a role in the resolution of the 1965 dockworkers strike and the 1966 General Electric strike. Connor was openly critical of Johnson’s approach to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war for both moral and economic reasons, and resigned from his position in 1967.
Following his resignation, Connor took on executive positions at Allied Chemical Corporation, where he remained until his retirement in 1979. Connor died on October 6, 2000.
The John T. Connor Papers consist of clippings, Department of Commerce publications, interviews, speeches, and miscellaneous.
Clippings consists of magazine articles written about Connor, articles and editorials written by Connor, and sections of International Commerce relating to Connor's work, all from 1965-1966.
Department of Commerce publications spans 1964-1967 and primarily consists of press releases from the Department of Commerce during Connor's tenure as Secretary, as well as a small number of press releases from Connor's predecessor, Luther H. Hodges. It also contains bound copies of the Commerce News Digest, booklets, reports, and press kits.
Interviews consists of interviews with Connor from 1965-1966. Formats include magnetic tape, film reels, and print.
Speeches consists of speeches delivered by Connor from 1965-1967. The speeches primarily revolve around the international balance of payments, employment, and the relationship between the government and industry. Formats include photocopied drafts, printed copies, bound copies, magnetic tape, and 16mm film recordings.
Miscellaneous consists of recordings of events, television advertisements, and training videos from 1965-1966.
The collection is arranged alphabetically. Clippings have been further arranged chronologically within each folder. Publications are subdivided by type and arranged alphabetically by type. Interviews and speeches are arranged by format.
Access Restrictions:
The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.
Access to recordings requires advance notice to produce a use copy.
Use Restrictions:
Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
Persons
Connor, John T. (John Thomas), 1914-2000.
Hodges, Luther Hartwell, 1898-1974.
Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973.
Corporate Bodies
United States -- Officials and employees.
United States. -- Department of Commerce.
Subjects
Balance of payments.
Commerce -- United States.
Foreign trade and employment.
Government executives -- United States.
Industrial policy.
Industrial promotion.
Genres and Forms
16mm (photographic film size)
Booklets.
Clippings (information artifacts)
Interviews.
Press kits.
Press releases.
Sound recordings.
Speeches (documents)
Tape reels.
Occupations
Business executives.
Lawyers.
Public officers.
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
John T. Connor Papers,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Majority gift of John T. Connor, 1966-1967.
Speech drafts gift of Horace Knowles, 1968.
Clippings
Department of Commerce publications
Interviews
Speeches
Miscellaneous
| Clippings | |||||||||||
| Oversize 1 | Articles about Connor 1965 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Articles about Connor 1965-1966 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Articles by Connor 1965-1966 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 1 | Articles by Connor 1967 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | International commerce magazine 1965-1966 | ||||||||||
| Department of Commerce publications | |||||||||||
| Booklets | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Economic ABC's 1964-1966 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Economic growth 1965-1966 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Miscellaneous 1966 | ||||||||||
| Bound periodicals | |||||||||||
| Box 8 | Commerce news digest nos. 2915 thru 3171 1965 (2 items) | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Commerce news digest nos. 3172 thru 3322 1966 (2 items) | ||||||||||
| Press kits | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | National Bureau of Standards dedication 1966 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | USC GSS Oceanographer commissioning 1966 | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Youth opportunity campaign 1966 | ||||||||||
| Press releases | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Hodges 1964-1965 (2 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 1 | Connor 1965 | ||||||||||
| Box 2 | Connor 1965-1966 (12 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Connor 1966-1967 (4 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 9 | Selected Sunday feature articles issued by Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor 1965-1967 | ||||||||||
| Reports | |||||||||||
| Box 3 | Annual report of the Secretary of Commerce 1965 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Annual report of the Secretary of Commerce 1966 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Value of new construction put in place 1962-65 1966 | ||||||||||
| Interviews | |||||||||||
| Box 3 | Of Connor 1965-1966 | ||||||||||
| Oversize 1 | Of Connor 1966 | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Of others 1965 | ||||||||||
| Recordings | |||||||||||
| Reel | General Electric International Day, interview with Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor Oct. 29, 1965 - label number: "M-65-473A" (16mm film) (ID#: connor_jt_029) | ||||||||||
| Box 11 | Interview of Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor on ABC Reports with Edward J. Koppel September 29, 1966 (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_015) | ||||||||||
| Box 10 | Interview of Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor on Martha Deane Show March 13, 1965 (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_011) | ||||||||||
| Box 10 | Questions and Answers at Address by Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor to the Economic Club of New York City March 15, 1965 (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_010) | ||||||||||
| Toward the 1970s | |||||||||||
| Box 10 | Part 1: People and progress (week of October 15) October 15, 1965 - first of broadcasting recording of a special six-part series accompanied by a flyer (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_006) | ||||||||||
| Our growing Nation - its needs and how they are being met. Guests: John T. Connor, Secretary of Commerce, James G. Morton, Special assistant to the Secretary, A. Ross Eckler, Director, Bureau of the Census with David Von Sothen, moderator, Station WRC. | |||||||||||
| Box 10 | Part 2: The Challenges of Prosperity (week of October 17) October 22, 1965 - broadcasting recording of a special six-part series accompanied by a flyer (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_001) | ||||||||||
| A look at America's economic future, the pursuit of balanced and orderly growth, efforts to modernize our manpower to fill the need for skilled labor, productivity and its implications, measures to curb the dollar outflow, and a general overview of economic challenges and prospects. Guests: John T. Connor, Secretary of Commerce, James G. Morton, Special assistant to the secretary with Dean James H. McBurney, Northwestern University, moderator. | |||||||||||
| Box 10 | Part 3: Technology and the knowledge explosion (week of October 24) October 29, 1965 - broadcasting recording of a special six-part series accompanied by a flyer (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_002) | ||||||||||
| The technological explosion and its effects on man and machine, Federal programs in science and technology in the civilian sector, spreading the fruits of technology broadly through the range of American industry under the State Technical Services Act, technology and national growth. Guests: Dr. J. Herbert Hollomon, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Science and Technology, Dr. Ivan L. Bennett, Jr., Deputy Director, Office of Science and Technology Executive Office of the President with Dean James H. McBurney, Northwestern University, moderator. | |||||||||||
| Box 10 | Part 4: The car, the road, and your life (week of October 31) November 5, 1965 - broadcasting recording of a special six-part series accompanied by a flyer (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_003) | ||||||||||
| The new Federal legislation to improve highway safety, the systems approach of vehicle, road, and driver, the Interstate Highway System, the highway spot improvement program, and the challenge of preparing for trillion-mile-a-year travel in America. Guests: Alan S. Boyd, Under Secretary for Transportation, Rex M. Whitton, Federal Highway Administrator with Dean James H. McBurney, Northwestern University, moderator. | |||||||||||
| Box 10 | Part 5: The sky above, the sea below (week of November 7) November 12, 1965 - broadcasting recording of a special six-part series accompanied by a flyer (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_004) | ||||||||||
| The multi-million dollar pursuit of knowledge of man's environment, ocean exploration and its hopes for man, the weatherman in space, improved measures to protect life and property during the rampages of nature, and economic potential of the undiscovered world that lies 70% under the seas. Guests: Dr. Robert M. White, Administrator, Environmental Science Services Administration, Dr. Robert A. Frosch, Assistant Secretary of Navy for Research and Development with Dean James H. McBurney, Northwestern University, moderator. | |||||||||||
| Box 10 | Part 6: Is Trade the route to prosperity? (week of November 14) November 19, 1965 - broadcasting recording of a special six-part series accompanied by a flyer (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_005) | ||||||||||
| Potentials of world trade, balance-of-payments aspects, renewed efforts to close the travel gap, two-way investment, America's declining trade surplus and what we are doing about it, prospects for building bridges of trade to Eastern European countries to encourage their peaceful aspirations. Guests: John T. Connor, Secretary of Commerce, Lawrence C. McQuade, Assistant to Secretary, Lawrence A. Fox, Director, Bureau of International Commerce with Dean James H. McBurney, Northwestern University, moderator. | |||||||||||
| Speeches | |||||||||||
| Bound volumes | |||||||||||
| Box 5 | Appropriation testimony by Secretary of Commerce John T Connor 1965-1966 | ||||||||||
| Box 5 | Documents on voluntary balance of payments programs 1966 | ||||||||||
| Box 5 | Legislative testimony by Secretary of Commerce John T Connor 1965-1966 | ||||||||||
| Box 6 | Speeches by Secretary of Commerce John T Connor 1965 (2 items) | ||||||||||
| Box 7 | Speeches by Secretary of Commerce John T Connor 1966-1967 (2 items) | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Drafts 1965-1966 (3 folders) | ||||||||||
| Box 3 | Print 1965 | ||||||||||
| Box 4 | Print 1965-1967 (11 folders) | ||||||||||
| Oversize 1 | Print 1966 | ||||||||||
| Recordings | |||||||||||
| Box 10 | Address by Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor to the Economic Club of New York City March 15, 1965 (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_009) | ||||||||||
| Reel | Advertising Council, Balance of payment: Report to America, John T. Connor, Secretary of Commerce (JC-4-60) undated - one 60 sec. ad; label number: "67669/755" (16mm film) (ID#: connor_jt_023) | ||||||||||
| Box 10 | Remarks by Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor at the 15th Annual Fall Management Conference of the School of Business, Northwestern University November 11, 1965 (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_013) | ||||||||||
| Box 10 | Remarks by Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor at the 2nd Annual Business Outlook Conference of National Industrial Conference Board September 23, 1965 (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_012) | ||||||||||
| Box 11 | Remarks by Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor on American University lectures in Business-Government Relations, tape 1 November 30 1966 (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_018) | ||||||||||
| Box 11 | Remarks by Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor on American University lectures in Business-Government Relations, tape 2 November 30 1966 (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_019) | ||||||||||
| Box 10 | Remarks by Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor on Faye Henle Show September 29, 1966 (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_014) | ||||||||||
| Box 11 | Remarks by Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor on National's Business with Dorese Bell October 20, 1966 (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_016) | ||||||||||
| Box 11 | Remarks by Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor on National's Business with Dorese Bell October 21, 1966 (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_017) | ||||||||||
| Box 10 | Remarks by Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor on Report to the People with Linton Wells March 1965 (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_008) | ||||||||||
| Box 10 | Remarks by Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor with Dr. Carl Madden for the United States Chamber of Commerce, Education Series: The Enterprise Economy 1965 (1/4 inch audio tape) (ID#: connor_jt_007) | ||||||||||
| Reel | Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor: "E" Award Presentation, University of Houston March 11, 1966 (16mm film) (ID#: connor_jt_027) | ||||||||||
| Reel | Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor: Interstate Highway dedication statement undated - Prod. #997-167 (16mm film; running time 00:02:12) (ID#: connor_jt_028) | ||||||||||
| Miscellaneous | |||||||||||
| Reel | Advertising Council, Balance of payment: Jack Benny (JB-1-60) undated - one 60 sec. ad; label number: "64226/15" (16mm film) (ID#: connor_jt_020) | ||||||||||
| Reel | Advertising Council, Balance of payment: Jack Benny (JB-2-30) undated - one 30 sec. ad; label number: "67774/10" (16mm film) (ID#: connor_jt_021) | ||||||||||
| Reel | Advertising Council, Balance of payment: John T. Connor, Secretary of Commerce (JC-5-30) undated - one 30 sec. ad; label number: "67774/8" (16mm film) (ID#: connor_jt_024) | ||||||||||
| Reel | Advertising Council, Balance of payment: John T. Connor, Secretary of Commerce (JC-6-20) undated - one 20 sec. ad; label number: "67774/8" (16mm film) (ID#: connor_jt_025) | ||||||||||
| Reel | Advertising Council, Balance of payments: Jack Benny (JB-3-20) undated - one 20 sec. ad; label number: "67669/755" (16mm film) (ID#: connor_jt_022) | ||||||||||
| Reel | Apprentice training for automobile technicians, with Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor March, 1965 - Manpower Development and Training Act, Chrysler Motors Corp. film (16mm film; running time 14:00) (ID#: connor_jt_030) | ||||||||||
| Reel | General Electric International Day, United States Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor's visit Oct. 29, 1965 - label number: "M-65-473" (16mm film; running time 00:01:17) (ID#: connor_jt_026) | ||||||||||
| Reel | Oceanographer undated (16mm film; running time 13:30) (ID#: connor_jt_031) | ||||||||||
| Reel | Secretary of Commerce John T. Connor [various films] Nov. 29, 1966; Oct. 27, 1966; Sept. 28, 1966 (16mm film; running time 13:30) (ID#: connor_jt_032) | ||||||||||
| Contains: Nov. 29, 1966: Christening USC & GS Mt. Mitchell [MSS 22], Jacksonville, Florida, Newsfilm Station WJXT (two sequences); Oct. 27, 1966: "Your right to say it", Station WGN-TV; Sept. 28, 1966: [General Electric] International Day, Cleveland, Newsfilm, Station WJW-TV (two sequences). | |||||||||||