John P. East Papers
1965-1986
Manuscript Collection #513- Creator(s)
- East, John P.
- Physical description
- 188.16 Cubic Feet, 278 boxes, 2 oversize folders
- Preferred Citation
- John P. East Papers (#513), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
- Repository
- ECU Manuscript Collection
- Access
- No restrictions
Papers (1908 – 1986, undated [bulk: 1964 – 1986]) of John Porter East, including biographical, genealogical, and historical materials relating to his life (b. 5 May 1931 – 29 June 1986) ; his marriage to Priscilla Sherk East and their children; his service as an officer in the U. S. Marine Corps; his battle against poliomyelitis and the paralysis it caused; his graduate studies in political science and as a professor of Political Science at East Carolina University, 1964 – 1980, including his teaching files for each of his classes, his academic and professional publications, speeches, interviews; and also his conservative Republican political beliefs and affiliations and political career, including his several unsuccessful attempts to win political office in North Carolina, 1966 – 1976, culminating in his successful campaign for and election to the United States Senate in 1980; but the bulk of the collection focuses on his service in the Senate, where he was aligned with Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) and a member of Helms' political organization, the Congressional Club; including his mailing lists, correspondence and constituent cases and projects files; his office and staff files, including files of this administrative assistants, press secretaries and legislative assistants; his political patronage and nomination files, committee and legislative activities; his voting records, newsletters, voluminous clipping files, press and public relations files, including publications, audio and video of interviews, speeches, and political events; his frequent bouts of ill health due to poliomyelitis, hyperthyroidism, urinary tract blockages, and depression, and their side effects which may have contributed to his death by suicide; also including photographic prints and negatives, microfilm of committee records, correspondence, case and general files, voter registration files; and also oversized materials, 1981 – 1986, undated.
Biographical/historical information
John Porter East was born on 5 May 1931 in Springfield, Illinois. The first American-born ancestor of the East family was Susanna Sharples, born in 1747, into a family of Quaker immigrants to Pennsylvania. In 1769, she married Jacob Talbot. Their daughter, Rachel Talbot (1780 – 1851), married William East (1773-1864) in 1797. William East, born in North Carolina, was the son of William and Frances (Cochran) East. The couple had 12 children. Later, the family migrated to the Middle West, including branches in Michigan and Illinois.
East's parents were Laurence John East (d. 1973) and Virginia Porter East (d. 1981), both of Normal, Illinois where a number of the East and related Porter families also live. Both his parents were college graduates. Laurence John went on to earn a graduate degree from University of Illinois (M.S. 1927). Laurence John East was then appointed principal of the elementary school attended by his son John. Later he worked for the Illinois State Department of Public Health until entering the Navy in World War II. His grandfather, John Porter, lived in and was once mayor of Olney, Illinois. His uncle, Christian East, who died in 1954, also lived in Olney. During World War II, Laurence John East served in the Navy and took his family with him when he was assigned to Washington State and Kansas. In 1945, John East graduated from grammar school in Olathe, Kansas.
After the war, Laurence East returned with his family to Springfield, Illinois, where John resumed his education. In 1948 or 1949, Laurence moved the family to Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, where he served as superintendent of the Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School, in Normal, Illinois, from 1948/1949 to 1962/1963.
in 1949, John graduated from the Bloomington-Normal High School in 1949. John East then attended a college preparation school prior to enrolling in college. Interviewed after John's election to the Senate, Illinois State Rep. W. Joseph Gibbs, who had been in John's high school class, noted that "He was a congenial fellow. . . . Well liked." A former girlfriend, Connie Hathaway Humphrey, who had dated John in high school and who was secretary to longtime Springfield Republican boss, William F. Cellini, remembered that East had served on the student council and was "very bright." From Fall 1949 to Spring 1953, John attended Earlham College, a small Quaker liberal arts college, in Richmond, Indiana.
John graduated from Earlham with a BA on 8 June 1953. His military service records state that his BA degree was in "Pre-Law". A life-long swimmer, he had played tackle on both his high school and college football teams. In college he was also a member of the debate club and the public speaking club. He won 5th place in a national debating championship and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Regarded by his teachers as an exceptional student, he achieved a "fair" knowledge both German and Spanish languages. During the summers of 1951 and 1952, he also worked as a lifeguard in Saugatuck, Michigan.
While still an undergraduate at Earlham College, East met and became engaged to a Pennsylvania girl, Priscilla "Sis" Sherk (born 9 July 1931) who was on the cheerleading team. The couple married in September 1953. Priscilla moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia when East was at Quantico and received 100% of his pay while he was there. The couple had two daughters: Kathryn (Chip) born in 1955; and Martha Ellen (Marty) born in 1960.
MILITARY SERVICE, 1953 - 1955 On 12 May 1953, shortly before receiving his diploma from Earlham College, Porter enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He passed the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) with Category 1 – 3 score, agreed to the Loyalty Oath, and attested that he was not a member of any of the organizations on the Consolidated List of Organizations Designated by the Attorney General (Totalitarian, Fascist, Communist, or Subversive). East served as a recruit and then Private First Class, United States Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR) from 12 May – 18 September 1953.
From 4 July through 18 September 1953, East attended the 10-week 8th Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia, whereupon he was appointed a 2d Lt., in the USMCR. From 12 October 1953 to 23 March 1954, he attended the 20-week 26th Special Basic Course (SBC) at Quantico, Virginia.
Between 23 March through 31 July 1954, he attended the 16-week Basic Field Artillery Officer's Course, at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, graduating 51st in a class of 77 students. From 3 August 1954 to 16 August 1955 he was assigned to K Battery, 4th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Promoted to 1st Lt. in the USMCR, on 19 March 1955, he continued to serve as a 1st Lt. in Battery K, at Camp Lejeune, from 9 July through 17 August 1955. On 17 August 1955, East was released from active duty, stating that he could be reached through the University of Chicago Law School beginning on 4 October 1955. He had won a full scholarship to the prestigious school. While no longer on active duty, East continued to serve in the 9th Marine Corps Ready Reserve Division (MCRRD) 22 August 1955 through 9 October 1957.
Only a few weeks later, in September 1955, East's ambitious plans for his future came crashing down on him, when he contracted polio (anterior poliomyelitis). He was only 24 years old and the father of an infant daughter (Kathryn). And it was only a few months before the Salk vaccine ended the scourge of polio forever. The vaccine came too late for East. He survived polio but it marked him forever:
According to a long 1982 biographical article in the Los Angeles Times: East is left with residual paralysis in both legs and some limited dysfunction in his right shoulder. He has full control over bladder, bowel and sexual functions and is able to drive a car with hand controls.
However, he never walked unassisted again. East then spent more than a year in recovery and rehabilitation in hopes of returning to active duty, but he never achieved sufficient recovery to do so. Eventually, on 27 June 1957, a Marine Corps Medical Board found him unfit for service due to his physical condition. On 13 August 1957, he submitted a letter of resignation to the USMCR which was accepted on 10 October 1957.
Indeed, tragedy stalked John East's family. A sister had died at birth. His brother, Larry, later committed suicide in 1966 after several years of psychiatric treatments for depression. He father died in 1973. His mother died shortly after he entered the Senate in 1981. These experiences, and his own struggle with polio and paralysis; and, later, with hyperthyroidism, urinary tract blockages, and depression, marked him for life. In political terms, it informed his own strong philosophical position on abortion and aid to the handicapped.
LAW SCHOOL AND GRADUATE SCHOOL, 1955-1964 By the time East resigned from the Marines, however, he had recovered sufficiently to consider a less strenuous career. He had been a pre-law major at Earlham College. He returned to that path. Due to his physical condition, however, he was unable to attend the University of Chicago Law School despite having received a scholarship. In 1956, therefore, he entered University of Illinois Law School, receiving his law degree in 1959. He then moved his family to Florida to establish a law practice.
After practicing law for only a short time during 1959-1960, East realized that he did not really want to practice law. Perhaps, it was the requirement that he attend court and address juries that dissuaded him. He later suggested that after contracting polio it took him ten years before he felt fully at ease in public again. He quickly redirected himself and enrolled in the graduate school at the University of Florida, receiving his MA in 1962 and his Ph.D. in 1964, both degrees being in political science. His dissertation, entitled "Council-Manager Government: The Political Thought of Its Founder, Richard S. Childs, was published as a book by University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 1965. A paperback edition was published in 2011. In his subsequent academic career, East focused on the study of political thought and theory, especially American conservative political thought, and theory, through biography. Most of his numerous publications focus on the political thoughts of leading individual conservative leaders.
EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY FACULTY, 1964 - 1980 Even before receiving his Ph.D., East had accepted a position on the faculty of the Political Science Department at East Carolina University. He served in this position for the next 16 years until he resigned to take his seat in the United States Senate in 1981. The John Porter East Papers includes a substantial body of material relating to his teaching and administrative activities.
While serving on the East Carolina University faculty during 1964-1980, East distinguished himself, for his teaching, administrative abilities, publications, and his political activities. He received two "Excellence in Teaching Awards" while at ECU. He managed the Political Science Honors Program for a number of years. He published one book, and more than a dozen articles in academic journals and served on the editorial boards of several journals and professional organizations. In 1972, East won promotion to full professor. In the 1960s and 1970s, he drew increasing public attention off campus. During this period, East appeared regularly on a local "Crossfire" television debate program which pitted him as the conservative protagonist against another ECU faculty member, Janice Faulkner, who represented the liberal perspective. His papers contain numerous letters of commendation and regard from students, colleagues, and administrators, public figures, and academicians.
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, 1966 - 1980
East's early political ventures were not nearly so successful. In 1966, he was the unsuccessful Republican congressional candidate in the 1st District of North Carolina, which included Greenville. In losing to Democrat Walter B. Jones, however, he won over 40% of the vote, an unusually high percentage for the time. In 1968, he was elected as a delegate to Republican National Convention, but later in the year, he was defeated as a candidate for North Carolina Secretary of State by the longtime incumbent Thad Eure. In 1976, East was elected to the Republican National Committee and served as a delegate to Republican National Convention. Later that year, he co-chaired Gerald R. Ford's unsuccessful presidential campaign in North Carolina. In 1980, he was unanimously reelected to the Republican National Committee and again attended the Republican National Convention. Despite his losses, East's campaigns established his credentials as a strong conservative and energetic campaigner and began to raise his visibility among North Carolina voters statewide.
In 1979, when East began his campaign for the United States Senate, his prospects for success did not look good. He was running against former North Carolina attorney general, Robert Morgan, had won his senate seat by a landslide in 1974, yet fewer than 5% of North Carolinians even knew who John East was. Morgan was the prohibitive favorite. However, East won the key support of North Carolina incumbent Republican Senator Jesse Helms. With Helms' assistance, East put together a highly effective organization spearheaded by the Congressional Club and raised a substantial campaign treasury. In the end, the East campaign outspent Morgan's campaign by $1,332,565.00 to $956,648.00 or approximately 1 to 1.4. Senator Helms had established the Congressional Club in 1972 to help him raise funds to repay the debt from his recent senatorial campaign. Afterwards, he had repurposed it as a bi-partisan campaign to elect conservatives to political office. Helms, who had worked closely with East at the 1976 Republican National Convention, knew that East shared his basic political philosophy, and offered his support to East's candidacy. Both men had served on the 1976 Platform Committee and had together written much of the final document. East had been elected to the Republican National Committee in 1976 and was unanimously reelected in 1980. In 1980, Jesse Helms continued as honorary chair of the Club, but Thomas Ellis, as chair and Carter Wrenn, as Executive Director, actually ran the organization. Subsequently, they both played important roles as advisors to Senator East. With Congressional Club's behind-the-scenes support, East's name recognition problems ended. Following East's election to the Senator, he become an honorary co-chair of the Club, along with Helms, and the Congressional Club expanded its activities to include patronage and personnel recommendations during the Reagan Administration. The collection includes files on hundreds of individuals whom the Club evaluated for federal positions.
In a January 1981 interview, Senator East described his relationship with Senator Helms. Reporter Al Manning noted: "'He's a close political associate. . . . I've been encouraged by him. . . .'" "He [East] realized taking on an incumbent Democrat, Robert Morgan, would not be easy. "'I knew it would be a difficult race,' East said. 'But I thought he was vulnerable. I knew the ingredients for victory were there.' "He said his handicap was of no great consequence during the campaign. "'It was no problem,' he said. 'I manage to live with it. I enjoy find health otherwise. I did not emphasize it. I did not hide it.'"
East ran an energetic campaign marked by very effective use of television advertising and polling, with the assistance of his family. He wife, "Sis" who had served on the Greenville Recreation Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission, could speak ably on a number of public issues. A regular tennis player and swimmer, and former cheerleader, she was an energetic campaigner. East's campaign biography states: "Sis East shares John's concerns about the direction our country has taken in recent years. Both Easts are very hopeful the 1980 elections will be a turning point in America – for a return to principle and restoring responsibility in government. Sis believes that the conservative ideals we share will make it possible for the American family to regain its strength and vitality."
The two East daughters: Marty [Martha Ellen] & Chip [Kathryn] also appeared on the 1980 campaign trail. Chip, who worked for Greenville Parks & Recreation Commission; and Marty who was a junior at ECU could easily participate in many campaign events, although neither was a political insider.
East campaigned on both domestic and foreign policy issues. On foreign and defense policy, he complained that Senator Robert Morgan and the Carter Administration had demonstrated weakness in foreign affairs, most notably in passing the Panama Canal Treaties that transferred ownership of the Panama Canal to Panama: Carter for proposing the treaties and Morgan for providing the vote which ensured passage of the treaties. The Iranian hostage crisis and the failed attempt to rescue the American hostages highlighted this issue, which dragged on throughout the election campaign. The Carter Administration's efforts to enforce the SALT II Treaty before the Senate had approved it further seemed to confirm this argument. East campaigned to greatly strengthen national defense and opposed efforts to limit defense spending. He also opposed the Carter Administration's embargo on grain exports to the Soviet Union as punishment for their invasion of Afghanistan. While he supported punishing the Soviet Union, he argued that it was unfair to put the whole burden on American farmers to do the punishing.
On domestic and economic policy, East had a plethora of attractive targets. The nation was suffering from both high inflation and rising unemployment, which the Carter Administration seemed unable to handle. High fuel prices caused by the 1973 Arab oil embargo, and national fuel conservation measures, were both unpopular. A rising tide of imported goods from Europe and Asia were hurting American manufacturers and their employees, especially the kind of industries that dominated the North Carolina economy: agriculture, clothing and shoemaking, and furniture. The Carter Administration had eliminated agricultural price supports for tobacco farmers, had restricted advertising for tobacco products, and had prohibited tobacco usage in public buildings and transport. The tobacco industry had been one of North Carolina's leading industries for over a century at the time – hundreds of thousands of farmers and their families depended on it - and it hurt Senator Morgan to be associated with the Carter Administration's policy regardless of its impact on health. East also criticized the Carter Administrations policies on food stamps, trade liberalization and tariff reduction. East called for reform of the food stamp program, higher tariffs on imported manufactured products, especially cloth, clothing, and shoe and furniture imports, that hurt North Carolina manufacturers and caused a rise in bankruptcies and unemployment. This enabled East to make inroads among urban workers who would normally have voted for the Democratic candidate.
Meanwhile, the Carter Administration's policies on school desegregation, including busing to promote integration, were unpopular in North Carolina as they were elsewhere in the nation, especially in the South. East was firmly opposed to busing, but he did not emphasize these or other "family issues" during the campaign realizing that it would inflame opponents against his candidacy without gaining any new support. Morgan, who had never supported busing, suffered anyway, since he did not seem to be able to prevent the federal government from imposing the policy any more than he had been able to prevent the federal government's anti-tobacco policies. The attempt to codify women's rights in an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the United States Constitution also hurt Senator Morgan although he did not actively support the proposal either. In other words, it seems that Morgan's failure to take strong positions on issues caused him to lose support on both sides. By the same token, the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, liberalizing laws on abortion, also hurt Morgan, since it overturned longstanding laws which had strong local support without gaining support among groups already supporting Morgan. As with the tobacco issue and the busing issue, Morgan did not actively support the Roe v. Wade decision, or the ERA, but his failure to oppose them, or do anything about them, weakened him in the same way. For his part, East did not emphasize the abortion issue, or the right to life issue, or the ERA, but his arguments to restore traditional, conservative, policies, such as voluntary prayer to the public schools, appealed to those who opposed federal intrusion into traditionally state matters, and strengthened the East campaign without overly alarming those who supported those issues. In the end, East won a narrow victory receiving 898,064 votes (49.96%) to Robert Morgan's 887,653 votes (49.38%). Two minor candidates received 11,958 votes (0.06%).
SENATE CAREER, 1980 - 1986 In the Senate, East received several important committee assignments. He became a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, a position formerly held by Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr., and chaired its Subcommittee on Separation of Powers Subcommittee and was on its Security and Terrorism Subcommittee. He was also a member of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee and served on its Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Subcommittees. He also served on the Senate Energy Committee and its Conservation and Supply, Regulation, and Research and Development Subcommittees. He later served on the Senate Armed Services Committee and on its Military Construction, Manpower and Personnel, and Seapower and Force Projection Subcommittees. In most respects, East was a conventional Republican conservative in the Senate. For the most part, he eschewed the political limelight and concentrated on traditional senatorial responsibilities as befitted a junior senator. He worked hard to respond to constituent complaints and demands. From January through September 1981, he missed only 4 out of 300 roll call votes in the Senate, Columnist Richard Oppel wrote: "The pace takes its tool on a man confided to a wheelchair. He speaks of 'feeling the enormous demands' of the Job." About the issues of the accessibility issues facing him, he said: "My attitude is positive. . . . I do not anticipate any long-term problems of consequence. . . . My goal is to assemble a good staff and to provide good constituent services," he said. " I must learn the functions and the rules first so I can be effective on substantive issues."
He published frequent newsletters to his constituents. He studied Library of Congress briefing reports on many of the issues before the Senate. He strongly defended the Reagan Administration and his fellow Republicans against attacks in the news media, often leavening his critical remarks with humor. "American national media people are hasty . . . They don't have the intelligence to deal with legal matters. In judiciary committee meetings, they don't understand the language, but they get on TV and tell 200 million people what the meeting was about. "The Charlotte Observer pointed out that Senator Helms and I voted the same 94 percent of the time. . . . I told them Helms voted wrong 7 percent of the time. The poor fellow has been up there for a decade. He could get confused after all that time.
The biggest problem he faced in the Senate turned out to be his inexperience as a politician. He had never served in public office and was somewhat unprepared to live under the extraordinarily intense spotlight that shone upon his every move as a senator. In perhaps the greatest blunder of his political career, East attended an informal news conference after addressing the High Point Chamber of Commerce, in which he "reportedly alluded to a long-ago morals charge against Richmond and [Sen. Thomas F.] Eagleton's electric shock therapy for depression" which caused him to resign as a vice presidential candidate during the 1972 election campaign. The resulting "Eagleton – Richmond flap" caused East "agony". He later apologized and tried to move on, but "is known to privately feel that news reports of the incident were distorted." Senior Republican Senator Barry Goldwater added sting to East's regrets by also criticizing East. For the rest of his term, he remained very careful in his references regarding Eagleton.
Like most Republicans in the Senate, Senator East favored a strong national defense, opposed embargoes on foreign trade and favored protective tariffs against unfair foreign competition. He opposed deficit spending and favored a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. He introduced several such amendments. He was a strong defender of agriculture in general and of the tobacco industry in particular. Only on a few issues did he step into the limelight. As a former Marine, he actively participated debates on foreign and defense policy, especially in the debate over the Carter Administration's SALT II Treaty [Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty II], which had never been approved by the Senate. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Separation of Powers, he was also particularly vocal on the impact of court decisions, especially in the cases of "racial busing, school prayer, abortion and other social issues." In an August 1981 interview, for example, "he said that the federal courts are the 'major violators of the traditional separation of powers between the three branches of government in the American system. . . But as it stands now . . . a lot of people in this country have simply been pushed around – or should I say bused around – by unelected federal judges who make policy decision without regard to popular sentiment or the authority of Congress.'" He opposed forced busing for racial integration and promoted prayer in the public schools. His stance on the Abortion – Right to Life issue drew the most public attention to him since he had not campaigned on this issue. East differed from most of his colleagues – Democratic and Republican - on the abortion issue. He did not oppose contraception and he supported allowing abortion in cases of rape or incest or to protect the life of the mother. He broke ranks with the extremes on both sides, questioning the use of "viability" outside of the womb as the determining point for the beginning of life. In putting forward this belief, he took the lead on proposing a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution and drew significant opposition in the media in doing so. He chaired hearings on the proposed amendment. He explained his position in a Los Angeles Times article, published in 1982, in this way: "When I was in the Marine Corps and contracted polio, I don't know that I would say I was viable," says East, who was stricken in 1955, one year before the Salk vaccine became available. "It's a little presumptuous, down-right egotistical, to say 'I am viable,' I go it alone.' The Devil you do! You think you do, but you're dependent on other people in this life and you are from the time of being an unborn child until you die. "Yet, the concept that the whole Roe vs. Wade mentality turns on is, quote, viability . . . young man! . . . Marine Corps! . . . macho! . . . the whole thing . . . you're at the peak of your physical capacity, struck down like THAT (he snapped his fingers), totally dependent on little nurses coming in that weigh half as much or a third as much as you do. All of a sudden, you're no longer viable. Now, if viability is the test of livability, of the right to live, should I have been just left to die!"
Perhaps the most surprising difference between East and his colleagues was his position on the issue of federal aid to the handicapped. Assistant Senate Historian Don Ritchie is reported to have noted that East was the first member of either house of Congress to have arrived in Congress confined to a wheelchair. The Senate had to change its rule requiring senators to stand while addressing the body to accommodate him. It also had to install an elevator and a restroom for the handicapped to allow him to access the Senate Chamber. Despite such efforts, accessing the Senate Chamber continued to be a problem for East. The underground shuttle tram, for example, could not accommodate East's wheelchair, so he had to wheel himself 600 feet back and forth every time he attended a session or voted. Considering his physical condition, many hoped that he would become a leading supporter of federal programs for the handicapped. However, when 59 senators requested that President Reagan reconsider budget cuts in education and rehabilitation programs for the handicapped, East was not among them. According to Los Angeles Times staff writer Betty Cuniberti:
"That is East's style. Plunge in, pull yourself up, don't complain. "He does not set himself up as a champion of the handicapped. During his expensive campaign, conducted almost entirely on television, he was never shown in his wheelchair. Some constituents and senators were surprised to learn he was disabled when he arrived on Capitol Hill. 'We (his campaign planners) thought, and I always have since I've had polio, rather than use it as an excuse to badger more money out of the government or badger more sympathy out of people, why don't you just try to put your life back together, be creative and productive and contribute?" said East. 'I don't play up the issue. I spend 99.9% of my time with able-bodied people, and I think that's a contribution. And the notion that if I had wasted away in a V.A. [Veterans Administration] hospital and complained about not having enough government largess of some kind, or was out demonstrating, or lying in the street or obstructing a train – to get into all that business, sometimes I think you reach a point if you get out and perform and work and create and do and succeed, you will do more. Those people do more for the cause than all the screamers and the yellers and the hollerers. When you're around somebody who's constantly playing up their disabilities and their ailments and their hurts and their pains, they're a darn bore.'"
On the other hand, East did not totally ignore the issue of aid to the handicapped and was not philosophically opposed to it. For example, he supported moving funds from the proposed Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, in Washington, DC, to increase funding for the Warm Springs Rehabilitation Center, which had helped both Roosevelt and East to recover from polio. But it never became a central focus of his activities.
Betty Cuniberti predicted that East would enjoy serving in the Senate. "For John East, the college debate champion, the Senate must be the ultimate platform. "Here is a place where he can, even from a wheelchair, rise above other men and shine. Here is a place where he can submerge himself each and every day in one consuming interest: political theory."
ILLNESS AND DEATH OF SENATOR EAST For a few years, it seemed that Cuniberti's prediction might come true. During the last two years of his Senate career, however, East's health began to deteriorate. The main problem does not seem to have been his paralysis, due to polio, but rather to a series of other maladies that became increasingly serious, including hyperthyroidism , a low white blood cell count, and urinary tract blockages. Depression, for example, is a known symptom of hyperthyroidism or, possibly a result of treatments for hyperthyroidism. During 1985, these various illnesses resulted in his hospitalization on several occasions and caused him to miss large parts of the Senate's sessions. He began to believe that the illnesses had permanently damaged his intellect. It is possible that the various treatments he received may have induced or aggravated the depression which led him to suicide on 29 June 1986. Ultimately, it was the likely the growing number of his health issues and his growing fear that his condition would grow worse rather than better, led him to announce in September 1985 that he would not be a candidate for reelection in 1986.
After that, East's health appeared to return, and he began to attend Senate sessions more regularly. He seemed to be more cheerful and energetic. Thus, it was a shock and a surprise to even his family and close friends when he committed suicide at his home in Greenville, North Carolina during the Senate's Fourth of July break. A few days after East's death, on Monday, 30 June 1968, the Washington Post traced his final days: East's last appointment in Washington was Friday afternoon, when he met at his Capitol Hill office with Judge Antonin Scalia to discuss Scalia's nomination to the Supreme Court. East, a member of the Judiciary Committee, was to have voted on the nomination. East returned to his home in Alexandria Friday afternoon and drove to Greenville Saturday with his special assistant, John Petree, for the Fourth of July congressional recess. East's wife, Priscilla, was visiting her mother in Hilton Head, S.C., and East apparently was home alone, police said. His body was found by Petree, who had come to see East shortly after 8 a.m., police said.
Administrative information
Custodial History
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Gift of Mrs. Priscilla East
Gift of Roger E. Kammerer, Jr.
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Curators have arranged Series 1 into 11 subseries in boxes 1 – 25 [25 boxes] . Series 1 documents Senator East's constituent correspondence files and appointment schedules. Files from his Greenville office, his personal correspondence, mixed personal and office files from his Greenville, Raleigh, Charlotte, and Asheville offices, his personal mail reports, and the senator's schedules and speeches are also included.
Constituent Correspondence, Agriculture - U. S. Marine Corps, 1977 – 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in boxes 1 - 2. Subseries 1 is filed alphabetically and consists of correspondence, clippings, pamphlets, and periodicals that document agricultural organizations and individuals involved in agriculture, or agricultural industries, mostly concerning federal legislation, administration policies and issues. Correspondence, clippings, and printed material on tobacco predominates.
Constituent Correspondence [Greenville File Copies] A - Widener, 1982 – 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 2 in boxes 3 - 4 [2 boxes] . Subseries 2 mainly documents Senator East Greenville Office staff's contacts with constituents requesting assistance, seeking jobs, complaining about treatment by federal agencies, or submitting suggestions and is filed alphabetically. Subseries 2 mainly consists of TLS (Typed Letters Signed] , ALS [Autograph Letters Signed] , clippings and photocopies of constituent correspondence.
Constituent Correspondence [East Personal Responses & Greenville File Copies] A - U. S. Marine Corps Camp LeJeune Expansion, 1981 – 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 3 in boxes 5 - 6 [2 boxes] . Subseries 3 also consists of correspondence compiled by Senator East's Greenville office staff, but it also includes the Senator's personal responses and Constituent Interview Summary files, generated by his staff, and mainly documents constituents' concerns regarding the proposed expansion of U.S. Marine Corps Camp Lejeune, in 1986.
Constituent Correspondence, Ethel S. Schofield, 1982 – 1984. Curators have arranged Subseries 4 in box 7. Subseries 4 consists entirely of unsolicited letters, clippings, and printed materials sent to Senator East by a woman from Sebring, Florida informing Senator East of her views. Note: Researchers are advised that the materials she sent the Senator included anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant, homophobic, and racist statements.
Constituent Affairs Correspondence, 1980 – 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 5 in box 8. Subseries 5 consists of constituent correspondence documenting Senator East's membership on the Senate Judiciary Committee and relates to federal court cases and issues. Folder h includes Senator East's resume [1985] . A number of the files relate to voting rights, civil rights, and the regulation of lawyers. It also includes the Senator's personal mail report forms for 1981.
Personal Correspondence Abell - Wyeth; Appointment Books, 1981 - 1985 [Bulk: 1981] . Curators have arranged Subseries 6 in box 9.a – 10.g [2 boxes] . Subseries 6 consists primarily of Senator's East's personal correspondence with members of the Senate and House, officials in the White House and Executive Branch, state, and local governments, primarily in North Carolina, the news media, former colleagues from East Carolina University. Folder 9.h also includes an Illinois State Senate Resolution wishing a happy birthday to Senator East. Box 9 also includes the Senator's daily, weekly, and monthly appointment books [desk calendars] .
Personal Correspondence: Armstrong - Young & Personal Mail Reports, 1971 - 1986 [Bulk: 1982 - 1983] & Old Hold Letters, 1983. Curators have arranged Subseries 7 in boxes 10.h -11.c [2 boxes] . Subseries 7 primarily documents Senator East's correspondence with major public figures as well as personal friends and colleagues, but also includes his personal mail report forms for 1982.
Personal Correspondence: Adams - Zimmerly; Personal Mail Reports; & Old Hold Letters, 1982 – 1983. Curators have arranged Subseries 8 in boxes 11.d - 15.f [5 boxes] . Subseries 8 primarily documents Senator East's personal correspondence with national and state political leaders, Republican Party leaders, and other national cultural, social, academic, and government leaders, 1982 – 1983. It also includes 2 "Old Hold Letters" with Howard O. Greene, Jr., and Sen. Howard Baker, for 1982 – 1983.
Personal Correspondence: Adams - Zschau, 1984. Curators have arranged Subseries 9 in boxes 15.g - 18.l [4 boxes] . Subseries 9 primarily documents Senator East's personal correspondence for 1984 with national and state political leaders, Republican Party leaders, and other national cultural, social, academic, and government leaders.
Invitations Accepted 1985; Personal Correspondence: Abbott - Zagorac & Personal Mail Reports, 1984 – 1986 [Bulk: 1985 - 1986] . Curators have arranged Subseries 10 in boxes 19.a - 24.k [6 boxes] . Subseries 10 primarily documents Invitations to events, programs, meetings, etc. that Senator East accepted. The invitations came mainly from other senators, but also from state political leaders, and educational and cultural leaders, and are filed chronologically, 1985. Subseries 10 also documents Senator East's s personal correspondence, filed alphabetically, 1984 - 1986, with national and state political leaders, Republican Party leaders, and other national cultural, social, academic, and government leaders.
Curators have arranged Series 2 in boxes 26 – 29 [4 boxes] but have not divided the series into subseries. Series 2 documents Senator East's academic and philosophical writings, including his political science articles, books, clippings, printed forms, etc., 1970 - 1986, undated; his political science articles, chapters, & books, 1954 - 1985; also, biographical, and genealogical sketches related to the Senator East and the East family, including recordings, resumes, writings, speeches, and schedules, 1908 - 1986, undated. The collections includes a wide variety of document formats, including audio cassettes, books, periodicals, clippings, correspondence, computer diskettes, filed alphabetically. Also includes material in Arabic language [20.l] .
Curators have arranged Series 3 in box 30.a - j but have not divided the series into subseries. Series 3 documents Senator East's activities in voluntary organizations, including his correspondence and membership materials, filed alphabetically; also materials relating to his leadership positions in organizations and institutions, primarily including the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, 1981; Council for National Policy, 1981 - 1985; Freeman Institute, 1981; Intercollegiate Studies Institute, 1981 - 1985; National Conservative Policy Advisory Council (NCPAC) 1980; and the Philadelphia Society, 1985, including correspondence, brochures, flyers, pamphlets, notes, programs, printed forms typescripts, etc.
Curators have arranged Series 4 in boxes 31.a - 32.o [2 boxes] but have not divided the series into subseries. Series 4 documents Senator East's relationships and contacts with other senators, the Majority Leaders, national Republican leaders, the Senate [Republican] Steering Committee, the White House, Cabinet officers, VIP letters & Senators Thank You's, Recommendations, & Jesse Helms, 1980 - 1986, filed alphabetically. It primarily consists of holograph notes, TLS, Clippings, photocopies, books, etc.; it also includes official voting records of Senator East, 1981 - 1986, and his public financial disclosure file, 1980 - 1985, filed in reverse chronological order.
Curators have arranged Series 5 in boxes 33.a - 34.e [2 boxes] but have not subdivided it into subseries. Series 5 documents Senator East's correspondence with his North Carolina staff and news media, including letters to the editor and staff memoranda between Senator East and his North Carolina state offices. It also including mass mailing reports and North Carolina press ideas, 1981 - 1986, undated, arranged by subject, including typed memoranda signed (TMS), autograph notes signed (ANS), carbon TLS, clippings & periodicals.
Curators have arranged Series 6 in boxes 35.a - 37.d [3 boxes] but have not subdivided it into subseries. Series 6 documents Senator East's relationships with North Carolina organizations, including clubs, businesses, and organizations, 1981 - 1985; his correspondence with the National Congressional Club, including memoranda and notes, filed alphabetically, relating to campaigning finances, the John East Reelection Campaign for 1986, and the Jesse Helms for Senate Campaign, 1984, including TLS, TMS, notes, photographs, clippings, etc.
Curators have arranged Series 7 in box 38.a - m [1 box] but have not subdivided it into subseries. Series 8 documents Senator East's official correspondence with current and former North Carolina state and local elected officials and government administrators, on a wide variety of issues, including federal judgeships, the I-40 highway project, and the 1984 Republican National convention, filed alphabetically, 1981 - 1985. It consists of ALS, AMS, ANS, TLS, photocopies, clippings, etc.
Curators have arranged Series 8 in box 39.a - p [1 box] but have not subdivided it into subseries. Series 8 documents Senator East's correspondence regarding federal projects, operations, and spending in North Carolina, focusing on the clothing industry, budgets cuts, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Indian [Indigenous American] Affairs, military bases, Oregon Inlet, fish hatcheries, Medicaid, Life insurance, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, the textile and tobacco industries, the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Whitaker, NC projects, filed alphabetically by project, 1981 - 1983, undated, including TM, TLS, TN, photocopies, typescripts, broadsides, ephemera, pamphlets, etc.
Curators have arranged Series 9 in boxes 40.a - 48.h [9 boxes] and have subdivided it into 7 subseries. Series 9 primarily documents the operations of Senator East's office regarding legislation, politics, and patronage; also, the activities of his staff, with files arranged alphabetically by subject. It includes materials relating to bills before the Senate, current domestic and foreign issues, federal judicial cases and decisions, but also including Senator East's genealogical and military service records; Office Management Weekly Tickler Reports of Pending Cases; and Mail Logs. It consists of TLS, ANS, Typescripts, Clippings, TM, pamphlets, periodicals, etc.
Senate Office Files: Agriculture - Human Life Bill, 1967 - 1986, undated. Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in boxes 40.a - 41.zm [2 boxes] .
Senate Office Files: Immigration - Lebanon, 1967, 1980 – 1986. Subseries 2 is held in box 42.a - s.
. Office Files: Lame Duck Session - MX [Peacekeeper] Missile, 1979 – 1986. Subseries 3 is held in box 43.a - q.
. Senate Office Files: Nance - Peace Academy, 1973 - 1984, undated. Subseries 4 is held in box 44.a - q.
Senate Office Files: Poliomyelitis - Taiwan, 1977 - 1985, undated. Subseries 5 is held in box 45.a - y.
Senate Office Files: Tax - Youth Employment, 1981 - 1986, undated. Subseries 6 is held in box 46.a - u.
Senator East's Genealogical & Military Service Records; Office Management Weekly Tickler Reports of Pending Cases & Mail Logs, 1977 – 1986. Subseries 7 is held in boxes 47.a - 48.h [2 boxes] .
Curators have arranged Series 10 in boxes 49-53 [5 boxes] . They have arranged Series 10 into 2 subseries, documenting Senator East's major committee assignments, including Agriculture Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Labor Committee, 1968 - 1986; also including his Senator Office Files; Invitations Acceptances / Declines; and Work Procedures, 1980 - 1986.
Senate Agriculture Committee; Armed Services Committee; Energy & Natural Resources Committee; Judiciary & Labor Committees Files, 1968 - 25 June 1986, undated. Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in boxes 49.a - 51.d [3 boxes] . Subseries 1 consists of Senator East's correspondence and memoranda with his administrative assistants and background materials regarding issues before his committees, focusing on the Agriculture and Judiciary committees, including TMS, AM, AMS, clippings, photocopies, periodicals, pamphlets, etc., filed alphabetically by subject.
Senate Office Files; Invitations Acceptances / Declines; Work Procedures, etc., 12 November 1980 – 9 September 1986, undated. Curators have arranged Subseries 2 in boxes 51.e - 53.s [3 boxes] . Subseries 2 consists of Senator East's files on office procedure, committee procedures, Senate procedures, messages from Mrs. East, patronage recommendations, etc., filed alphabetically by subject, including TLS, cards, brochures, AN, TN, notes, ephemera, typescripts, etc.
Curators have arranged Series 11 into 6 Subseries held in boxes 54.a - 85. l. [31 boxes] Series 11 documents Senator East's files relationships with the Senate Republican Policy Committee and related political issues; also, his relationship with the Congressional Club's patronage activities; and with his Administrative Assistants, filed alphabetically by subject. The bulk of Series 11 consists of files on each individual considered for appointment to federal offices, arranged in alphabetical order, including correspondence, resumes, and supporting letters and documentation, including TLS, TMS, typescripts, printed forms, clippings, photocopies, and notes.
Senate Republican Policy Committee & Helms Campaign Events, 1972 - 25 June 1986, undated. Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in box 54.a - t. Subseries 1 documents Senator East's relationship to the Senate Republican Policy Committee and the Helm reelection campaign of 1984, filed alphabetically by subject. Subseries 1 is arranged in alphabetical order by subject.
Congressional Club Patronage Correspondence Files, 1 January 1975 - 1986, undated. Curators have arranged in boxes 55.a -76.zh [22 boxes] . Subseries 2 documents Congressional Club patronage activities and consists primarily of files on individuals nominated for or applying for federal positions, filed alphabetically by name. The files include correspondence, resumes, supporting letters and documents, printed materials, etc.
Congressional Club Administrative Assistants Files, 10 December 1956 - 26 June 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 3 in boxes 77.a - 81.zr [5 boxes] . Subseries 3 documents the activities of Congressional Club administrative assistants Carter Wrenn; Rick Valentine; and G. Palmer Stacy, III; also including recommendations, advice, Senate Committee and Staff resumes & rosters. It also includes clippings mentioning John East, 1982 - 1986, including his proposed 1986 reelection campaign. Subseries 3 is arranged in alphabetical order by subject.
Recommendation Correspondence, Brods - Bu, 8 July 1976 - 1 February 1985, undated. Curators have arranged Subseries 4 in boxes 82.a - 83.u [2 boxes] . Subseries 4 consists of patronage correspondence, A - W, and recommendation correspondence, Bre - Bu, filed alphabetically by name of applicant.
Congratulations on Election & Thank You Correspondence, A - Z, 8 July 1976 - 9 March 1981. Curators have arranged Subseries 5 in boxes 83.v - 84.p [2 boxes] . Subseries 5 consists of correspondence related to Senator East's 1980 election victory and his Thank You correspondence, filed alphabetically.
Calendar / Appointments; Congratulations, Post-Election Correspondence & Form Letters, 1 July 1980 – 7 January 1981. Curators have arranged Subseries 6 in box 85.a - l. Subseries 6 documents Senator East's arrival in Washington, DC after his victory in November 1980, including his first days in the Senate, orientation, calendar and requests for appointments, letters of congratulations, and general post- election correspondence, filed alphabetically by name. Subseries 6 consists primarily of TLS & form letters, photocopies, TMS, notes, etc.
Curators have arranged Series 12 in boxes 86.a - 97.x [12 boxes] Curators have arranged 3 Subseries in general chronological order, with the files in each subseries arranged in alphabetical order by subject. Series 12 consists of clippings, correspondence, printed materials, and research material, etc. that document Senator East's early political campaigns and political activities.
. Political Campaign Files, 7 June 1962 - 18 February 1986, undated. Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in boxes 86-89 [4 boxes] . Subseries 1 documents Senator East's early political career, including his unsuccessful campaigns for Congress (1966) and for Secretary of State (1968) and his political activities leading up to his 1980 Senate campaign.
Publications & Writings by and About John P. East, Spring 1972 - 22 July 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 2 in boxes 90.a - 93.f [4 boxes] . Subseries 2 consists of political writings by and about Senator East arranged in alphabetical order by subject, biographical sketches of John & "Sis" East, and John East's political science books and articles on American conservative philosophers and their philosophical origins, including drafts of political statements on tobacco policies, and audio recordings by American conservatives; also including East's MA Thesis on The Law of Obscenity (1962) and comments by his East Carolina University political science students on his classes (1980-1981).
Issue Subject Files: Abortion – Young, Andrew M., Jr. Clippings, Notes, Typescripts, etc., 1973 - 4 December 1980, undated. Curators have arranged Subseries 3 in boxes 94.a - 97.x [4 boxes] . Subseries 3 consists primarily of Issue Subject Files, compiled by his staff, documenting political issues Senator East and his staff expected to face during the 1980 campaign to prepare him for debates, interviews, and public statements during the campaign and after his assumed office. The files are arranged in alphabetical order by subject, and consist of clippings, notes, typescripts, etc.
[UNPROCESSED SERIES BOXES 98 - 271] Series 13 is arranged in original order using original box labels in boxes 98 -271 [174 boxes] . Series 13 is arranged in 12 subseries consisting of drafts and texts for East's mass mailing letters to his constituents; historical files of letters sent to constituents, paragraph libraries, and paragraph changes based on constituents topic of interest; also fan-fold print-outs of computer address files for the Senate's mail-merge system, including name reports for each constituent and indexes of all constituents contacted in North Carolina on specific dates; and multiple master lists (cumulative) and indexes for all correspondence compiled 19 August 1986, almost two months after Senator East's death. The data base also indicates the particular subject matters in which each constituent had expressed interest, thus providing the senators with useful political information when sorted by voting precinct or ZIP code.
Historical Library; Paragraph Libraries; Paragraph Changes, 1971 – 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in boxes 98 - 127 [30 boxes] .
Mailing Lists: Name Reports - Index Files (Pages 1 - 5512), 5 January 1982. Curators have arranged Subseries 2 in boxes 128-130 [3 boxes] .
Mailing Lists: Name Reports - Index Files (Pages 1 - 8209), 13 January 1983. Curators have arranged Subseries 3 in boxes 131-135 [5 boxes] .
Mailing Lists: Name Reports - Index Files (Pages 1 - 16093), 5 January 1984. Curators have arranged Subseries 4 in boxes 136-148 [13 boxes] .
Mailing Lists: Name Reports - Index Files (Pages 1 - 583), 10 January 1984. Curators have arranged Subseries 5 in box 146.
Mailing Lists: Name Reports - Index Files (Pages 1 - 3026), 29 July 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 6 in boxes 147- 148 [2 boxes] .
Mailing Lists: Name Reports - Index Files (Pages 1 - 54940), 19 August 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 7 in boxes 149-179 [31 boxes]
Mailing Lists: Master All File - East 2nd Master (NC) Part 1 (Pages 1 - 4576), 19 August 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 8 in boxes 180-181 [2 boxes] .
Mailing Lists: Name Reports - Master All File; East 2nd Master (NC), Part 2, 19 August 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 9 in boxes 182-202 [21 boxes] .
Mailing Lists: Master All File - East 2nd Master (NC) Part 3 (Pages 1 - 46169), 19 – 20 August 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 10 in boxes 203-238 [36 boxes] .
Mailing Lists: Master All File - Senator East Mail (NC) Part 1 (Pages 1 - 22190), 19 August 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 11 in boxes 239-354 [16 boxes] .
Mailing Lists: Master All File - Senator East Mail (NC) Part 2 (Pages 1 - 25744), 19 August 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 12 in boxes 255-271 [17 boxes] .
Curators have arranged Series 14 in boxes 272.a - 281.zzt [10 boxes] in alphabetical order by subject. Series 14 is arranged by subject in 4 subseries. Files in Subseries 1 &3 are arranged in alphabetical order by subject; Files in Subseries 2 are arranged in chronological order. Files in Subseries 4 are arranged in numerical order by legislative category and number. Mainly printed materials.
Bills Sponsored and Co-Sponsored, Introduced or Supported by Senator East; Writings of Senator East; and Senate Legislative Information Files, for the 97th - 99th Congresses, 11 January 1964 - 22 July 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in boxes 272.a - 273.h [2 boxes] . Files are arranged in alphabetical order by subject with some exceptions.
Senate Legislative Information File for the 98th - 99th Congresses; Legislative Activities of Senator East, 3 January 1981 - 22 July 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 2 in box 274.a - e. Files are arranged in chronological order.
Library of Congress, Congressional Research Services Info - Pack Background Material Portfolios, 1981 – 12 May 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 3 in boxes 275.a - 276.b [2 boxes] Subseries 3 documents Senator East's use of background materials compiled by the Library of Congress's Congressional Research Services. Files in Subseries 3 are arranged alphabetically by research topic (with some exceptions).
Amendments, Bills & Resolutions Sponsored & Co-Sponsored by Senator East, 5 January 1981 - 4 October 1984. Curators have arranged Subseries 4 in boxes 276.c - 281.zzt [6 boxes] . Subseries 4 consists primarily of printed texts of amendments, bills & resolutions introduced, sponsored or co- sponsored by Senator East. Files in Subseries 4 are arranged in numerical order by legislative category and number. Mainly printed materials.
Curators have arranged series 15 in boxes 282.a - 289.g [8 boxes] . Series 15 is arranged in 2 subseries by topic: including Record Vote Analysis, which includes Past Vote Reports, Topical Index to Record Votes, and Record Vote Analysis, by Congress; and also including: Legislative Activities Subject Files, including materials compiled by the Senate Computer Center, the Senate Republican Policy Committee's Legislative Notice Newsletter; and the Weekly Legislative Report from the Office of Senator John East, 24 January 1977 – 18 June 1986.
Record Vote Analysis, 96th - 99th Congresses; Past Record Vote Reports, 96th - 98th Congresses, 22 January 1980 - 17 April 1986. Subseries 1 is arranged in boxes 282.a -286.e [5 boxes] . Subseries 1 documents Senator East's voting record and includes statistical analyses of his record based on the numerical sequence of votes he made and cumulative analyses, with summary annual reports and indexes for each congressional term.
Legislative Activities Subject Files: Appropriation Bills - Dear Colleagues Letters, 24 January 1977 - 18 June 1986, undated. Arranged by curators in boxes 287.a - 289.g [3 boxes] . Subseries 2 includes Legislative Activities Files arranged in alphabetical order, including reports by the Senate Computer Office on his voting behavior; also including Legislative Notice Newsletter, published by the Senate Republican Policy Committee, and an incomplete run of Senator East's own Weekly Legislative Report for 1983 - 1984.
Curators have arranged Series 16 in boxes 290.a- 303.s [14 boxes] . Series 16 consists of files on cases presented to Senator East by his constituents in North Carolina and submitted to federal agencies or officers for action or response, 1962 – 5 July 1986, without subseries. The files are arranged in alphabetical order by case, or issue, or subject. The subseries includes agency response time statistics, and documents Senator East's response to constituent needs and requests. It also includes files on the Senate's Constituent Mail Service [CMS] and Casework System [CWS] and Office Management Weekly Reports documenting activity on cases and reports of open case.
Curators have arranged Series 17 in boxes 304.a - 324.e [21 boxes] . Subseries 17 is arranged in alphabetical order by subject without subseries. Series 17 contains Press Secretary Jerry Woodruff's research material for mass mailings, including drafts of articles, biographical materials on Senator East, clippings and other source materials mentioning Senator East and his position on issues, press releases and Congressional Record statements by Senator East; also information on Senator East's staff, media contact information, audio and video cassette recordings of the senator's public appearances and statements, inter-office memos, copies of The East Report, a weekly news article by Senator East, distributed in 1981 - 1982. Series 17 also includes Woodruff's own Carolina Clipping Service News Service clippings related to Senator East [Series 17 is, apparently, separate from the Carolina Clipping Service clippings in Series 23] . The clipping files in Series 22 appear to be a continuation of Series 17. Series 17 also includes Mrs. John P. "Sis" [Priscilla] East's Letters sent in response to condolences on the death of Senator East and other correspondence;
Curators have arranged Subseries 18 into 3 subseries in boxes 325-330 [6 boxes] . Series 18 documents Senator East's efforts to inform his constituents about his efforts on their behalf, about current affairs, and to solicit their comments, suggestions, and financial support. Most notably it includes drafts and revisions of The Washington Update Newsletter, Senator East's monthly newsletter to North Carolina constituents.
Contact Lists and Mass Mailing Files, 12 January 1981 - 27 July 1984. Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in box 325.a - i. Subseries 1 contain Press Secretary Jerry Woodruff's research material for mass mailings, including drafts of articles, biographical materials on Senator East, clippings and other source materials mentioning Senator East and his position on issues, press releases and Congressional Record statements by Senator East; also information on Senator East's staff, media contact information, audio-visual recordings of the senator's public appearances and statements, inter-office memos, copies of The East Report, a weekly news article by Senator East, distributed in 1981 - 1982, and major legislative activities of the 97th Congress, ca. July 1982.
Washington Update Newsletter Files, June 1978 -21 April 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 2 in box 325.i - p. Subseries 2 contains rules and procedures for using mailing lists; mailing lists for groups and issues targeted by the Senator, including the Republican Steering Committee administrative assistants, Armed Services contacts, Coalition for Freedom Defense. East Defense Advisory Committee, North Carolina Board of Realtors, Farmers; University of North Carolina alumni; it also includes a Quarterly Report for April - June 1984.
Washington Update Newsletter Files, June 1978 - 21 April 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 3 in boxes 326 - 330 [5 boxes] . Subseries 3 consists, primarily of drafts, revisions, and as- mailed versions of The Washington Update Newsletter, Senator East's regular monthly newsletter to North Carolina constituents sent through the Senate Mailing System and using his mass mailing database. It includes sample newsletters sent by other senators used in designing The Washington Update. It also includes drafts and research material for newsletter subject content, 1981 - 1986the publishing schedule. The mass failing files in Subseries 3 are arranged in alphabetical order; the Washington Update Newsletter files are arranged in chronological order.
Curators have arranged Series 19 into 22 subseries held in boxes 331-366 [36 boxes] . Curators have arranged the subseries in alphabetical order by subject; within each subseries, they have also arranged the files in alphabetical order. Series 19 contains background and research information, correspondence, drafts and texts of legislation, and printed materials related to legislation under consideration by the Senate, 1981 - 1986.
Subject Files: Agriculture: 4H - Witchweed, 3 May 1978 - 24 September 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in boxes 331-338 [8 boxes] .
Subject Files: Budget - Comparable Worth Bill (H. R. 3008) 1981 - 12 March 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries box 339.a - d.
Subject Files: Department of Energy [DOE] - Great Smoky Mountains Wilderness Act [of 1987] 3 March 1981 - 30 April 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries box 339.e - u.
Subject Files: Health Care: Aging - [Health] World Health Organization [WHO] , February 1974 - 20 June 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries boxes 340-345 [6 boxes] .
Subject Files: Heritage Foundation - Interstate Commerce Commission [ICC] 3 March 1974 - 10 June 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries boxes 346.a - 347.j [2 boxes] .
Subject Files: National Defense & Armed Services Policy, 19 October 1977 - 20 December 1985. Curators have arranged Subseries boxes 348.a - 349.e [2 boxes] .
Subject Files: Banking & Finance, 14 December 1982 - 19 August 1985. Curators have arranged Subseries box 349.f - 350.f [2 boxes] .
Subject Files: Budget, 11 February 1983 - 28 April 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries box 350.g - m.
Subject Files: Business and Civil Service, 28 February 1983 – 1985. Curators have arranged Subseries boxes 350.n - 351.c [2 boxes] .
Subject Files: Communications, 6 September 1983 - 16 May 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries box 351.d - g.
Subject Files: Economy and Economic Conditions - Thomas A. Farr Files, 1963 - 4 November 1985. Curators have arranged Subseries boxes 351.h - 352.i [2 boxes] .
Subject Files: Thomas A. Farr Correspondence, 1963 - 29 March 1985. Curators have arranged Subseries box 352.j - m.
Subject Files: Energy and Interior Departments, October 1979 - 8 February 1985. Curators have arranged Subseries box 353.
Subject Files: Judiciary and Justice Department, 1940 - 9 May 1983. Curators have arranged Subseries boxes 354-357 [4 boxes] .
Subject Files: National Home Sewing Month and Women Barbers Day Resolutions, 1981 – 21 October 1985. Curators have arranged Subseries box 358.a - e.
Subject Files: Natural Resources and Environment, 25 May 1977 - 25 April 1985. Curators have arranged Subseries boxes 358.f - 360.b [[3 boxes] .
Subject Files: Nursing, 1983. Curators have arranged Subseries box 360.c - d.
Subject Files: Politics, 27 August 1979 - 19 May 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries box 360.e - q.
Subject Files: Public Housing, 3 January 1983 - 5 February 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries box 360.r - s.
Subject Files: Taxes, 6 March 1982 - 21 May 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries boxes 360.t - 361.y [2 boxes] .
Subject Files: Trade and Economic Development, 11 February 1982 - 9 March 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries boxes 362.a - 364.p [3 boxes]
Subject Files: Transportation and Travel, 4 September 1981 - 2 April 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries boxes 365.a - 366.j [2 boxes] .
Curators have arranged Series 20 into 2 subseries held in boxes 367.a – 368.zg [2 boxes] . Series 20 consists of materials compiled by Senator John P. East during the course of his political science teaching career at East Carolina University, including his correspondence and writing, 25 January 1966 – 8 July 1981; and his teaching files, March 1957 – 16 April 1980, undated.
East Carolina University Political Science Teaching Files: Correspondence and Writings, 25 January 1966 - 8 July 1981. Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in box 367.a - n. Subseries 1 consists of files related to his academic career teaching political science at East Carolina University, including biographical articles, congratulation letters received for awards, publications, service, etc., clippings on political issues, articles he wrote on the state of academia, etc.
East Carolina University Political Science Teaching Files: Course Records, March 1957 - 16 April 1980, undated. Curators have arranged Subseries box 368 in alphabetical order by course title, including syllabi, bibliographies, lecture notes, clippings related to issues discussed in class, readings, and [for a few classes] class lists, exam questions, and library reserve lists.
Curators have arranged Series 23 in boxes 369-372 [4 boxes] in alphabetical order by organization honoring Senator East. The series includes awards, diplomas, certificates, and resolutions granted to Senator East during his college career, his teaching career and his Senate career, 13 June 1959 – 23 June 1986. It includes printed forms and printed form under plastic, on wood and an brass on wood engraved award.
Curators have maintained Series 22 in original order into 2 subseries by format in boxes 373.a. - 378.c [6 boxes] , 5 January 1981 – 11 August 1986. Series 22 consists primarily of clippings that Press Secretary Jerry Woodruff received from the Carolina Clipping Service; it also includes Guest Books that recorded visitors to Senator East's Senate offices.
Carolina Clipping Service Clippings, 6 June 1981 - 21 June 1982. Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in boxes 373a.a - 377.h [5 boxes] . Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in chronological order. Each clipping or photocopy of a clipping is attached to a label indicating the name and place of publisher, date of publication, and page number.
Guest Books, 5 January 1981 - 11 August 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 2 in box 378.a – 378.c. Curators have arranged the 3 guest books in chronological order.
Curators have maintained Series 23 in original order in original mailing envelopes and arranged them in 6 subseries in boxes 379 –537 [159 boxes] . The Carolina Clipping Service provided Jerry Woodruff with clippings or photocopies of clippings from North Carolina media sources that mentioned or concerned Senator East. The newspaper clippings are arranged in both chronological and topical order, including indexes and weekly reports, date reports, and occasional photographs. Descriptions are at the container level; there are no envelope-level descriptions except for box 379 which contains only one envelope.
News Clippings from Trisha Katson, 1981 – 1982. Curators have maintained these files in box 379.
Newspaper Clippings and Indexes, 1973 - 7 December 1981. Curators have maintained these files in boxes 380-389 [10 boxes] .
Carolina Clipping Service Newspaper Clipping Indexes and Weekly Reports, December 1981 - 24 July 1986 (Continued from Box 310). Curators have maintained these files in boxes 390-406 [16 boxes] .
Newspaper Clippings Numbered, December 1981 - 30 June 1986. Curators have maintained these files in boxes 407-508 [101 boxes] .
Newspaper Clippings Unfiled, 1 January 1980 - May 1986. Curators have maintained these files in boxes 509-533 [25 boxes] .
Newspaper Clippings Unfiled, October 1984 - 18 August 1986. Curators have maintained these files in boxes 534-537 [4 boxes] .
Curators have arranged Series 24 into 2 Subseries, chronologically, in boxes 538-540 [3 boxes] . The files in Series 24 document East's Greenville Staff's contacts with constituents, and provide contact information, issues of concern, and actions taken in response, plus staff comments.
Constituent Interview Summary [Daily Logs] 1 January 1981 - 30 June 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 1, chronologically, in box 538.a - n.
Subject Files: Abortion - Yeargin, 14 June 1977 - 13 June 1986, undated. Curators have arranged Subseries 2, alphabetically by subject, in boxes 539.a – 540.y. [2 boxes] .
Series 25 is arranged in 8 subseries in original, numerical, order, in boxes 541.1 – 604 [64 boxes] 22 August 1980 - 21 July 1986, undated. Each microfilmed item is stamped in the lefthand margin with a Senate microfilm number. The reels are marked with the inclusive microfilm numbers they contain and the reels are arranged in this numerical order throughout the series, No. 1 – 604. However, the various kinds of materials contained in the reels area arranged in differing order. The constituent correspondence is arranged chronologically according to date received; the case files are arranged alphabetically according to the name of the county of origin; the personal files are arranged alphabetically; the name index files and name reports are arranged chronologically; the name report cumulative indexes are arranged alphabetically; the topic reports are arranged alphabetically by subject and microfilm format; in several subseries the various types of microfilm records are intermingled. The reels remain in their original Senate Microfilm cardboard cases. The cardboard cases have been rehoused in archival microfilm boxes contains approximately 12 - 15 microfilm reels unless otherwise noted in the inventory, but still in their original order.
Subseries 01: General Files: Constituent Correspondence, Reels #1 - 372. Kodak Imagecapture AHU Microfilm 7460. Note: Duplicate of #515 Series 3, 5 January 1981 - June 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in boxes 541-556 [15 boxes] .
Personal Files, A - E, 1981 - 1984; and Name Index Files, A 1981 - 1983; Case Files and General Files, 1981 – 1986 Kodak Imagecapture AHU Microfilm 7460. Curators have arranged Subseries 2 in boxes 556-567 [12 boxes] .
Topic Reports, A - U. Reels 001 - 030; 001 - 012: document the issue (topic), name, address, and date; indicate whether it is a case, project, or CMS [Constituent Mail Service] reply; aide's initials and if there was "NR" (no response) or "NA" (no address). Clippings are noted at the end of each topic, 21 July 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 3 in boxes 568-570 [3 boxes] .
General Files: Constituent Correspondence Documents #1013023001 - 1041211005, Reels # 001 - 358; Silver Nitrate. Note: Duplicate of #513 Series 25 Subseries 6, 13 January 1981 - 2 April 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 4 in boxes 570-595 [36 boxes] .
Index File of Senator East. Constituent Correspondence: Mail Lists, Silver Nitrate, 15 January 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 5 in boxes 586-597 [12 boxes] .
Name Reports A - Z, 16 mm Vesicular Film, 24 March - 12 April 1983. Curators have arranged Subseries 6 in boxes 597- 598 [2 boxes] .
Index File of Senator East. Constituent Correspondence: Topic Reports, give the issue (topic), name, address, and date; indicate whether it is a case, project, or CMS replay; aide's initials and if there was NR (no response) or NA (no address); Clippings are noted at the end of each topic, 21 July 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 7 in boxes 588-601 [14 boxes] .
Constituent Correspondence: Mail Lists, 16 mm Vesicular film, 10 November 1982 – 15 January 1986. Curators have arranged Subseries 8 in boxes 601-604 [4 boxes] .
Curators have arranged Series 26 in 2 Subseries according to subject and format, in boxes 605.a – 607.f [3 boxes] .
Photographic Prints and Postage Stamp Files: Black and White, 1971 - 1985, undated. Curators have arranged Subseries 1 in chronological order 605.a – 606.zv [2 boxes] .
Photographic Negatives for Senator John East Files: Color, 30 September - 20 June 1986. 139 Negative strips. 2.5" x 2.5" (417 images est.) Materials in Subseries 2 are protected by glassine sleeves and Envelopes. Curators have arranged Subseries 2 in chronological order, in box 607.a - f.
Series 27 consists of 68 oversized items found in the other series of the John Porter East Papers, 1949 – 1986, which when unfolded and flattened would no longer fit into their original folders or containers. Curators therefore transferred them from their original locations in the collection for conservation reasons. Curators have arranged Series 27 in numerical order No. 1 – 68, in 7 oversized folders, each containing 8 – 10 separate items. Curators have described all oversized materials to the item level in the container list. For cross reference purposes the description of each item documents its original box and folder number; and the original folder description also notes that the item was transferred to Oversized Materials. Curators have arranged the oversized items in numerical order according to their original locations in the collection except for items 1 - 18 which arrived in an oversized mailing tube when donated along with clippings, printed materials, photocopies that were subsequently placed in box 381.