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John T. Connor Papers

An inventory of his papers at Syracuse University


Finding aid created by: MRC
Date: 7 Apr 2010



Biographical History

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.


Scope and Contents of the Collection

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.


Arrangement of the Collection

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.


Restrictions

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.


Subject Headings

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.

Administrative Information

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.


Table of Contents

Clippings

Department of Commerce publications

Interviews

Speeches

Miscellaneous


Inventory