39 linear feet, 77 containers

The material in this collection consists of correspondence, reports, photographs, press clippings, press statements, speeches, invitations, handwritten notes, and magazines. The material relates to Max Cleland’s tenure as a Georgia State Senator, Administrator of the Veterans Affairs Agency, and his participation in the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs to improve hospitals. The material reflects his concerns for Vietnam veterans regarding employment, health care, drug abuse, and education. The collection also contains personal correspondence, photographs, and memorabilia

Joseph Maxwell (Max) Cleland was born in Atlanta, Georgia on August 24, 1942. He grew up in Lithonia, Georgia and graduated from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida in 1964. He received a Master’s degree from Emory University in 1968. Cleland served in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of captain from 1965-1968. He was wounded in combat in Vietnam ending his military service. He was of member of the Georgia Senate from 1971-1975, and was an unsuccessful candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1974. In 1975, he served as a consultant to the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and became a professional senate staff member from 1975-1977. He was appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Veterans Administration by President Jimmy Carter in 1977 and served until 1981. He was the Georgia Secretary of State from 1982-1996, and then elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1996. He served as Senator from 1997 to 2003. He was not re-elected in the 2002 election year.

Textual

The records of the Max Cleland Papers are divided into ten series:

Series I: Max Cleland’s State Senate Correspondence Files - NAID 5717281

Scope and Content: Containers 1-7. This series was opened in 2011. This series consists of general correspondence from Georgia constituents. The material also includes summaries of major legislation that passed the House and Senate during the 1974 Georgia General Assembly. In addition, this series contains a draft report of the establishment of the Office of Lieutenant Governor. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Series II: Max Cleland’s Veterans Administration Invitation Files - NAID 5717282

Scope and Content: Containers 8-17. This series was opened in 2011. This series contains invitations received, accepted, and regretted by Max Cleland. Arranged alphabetically by last name.

 

Series III: Max Cleland’s Veterans Administration Subject Files - NAID 5717283

Scope and Content: Containers 18-45. This series was opened in 2011. This series consists of personal and administrative correspondence, reports, studies, news clippings, photographs, and trip files. Most of the correspondence consists of congratulation letters on Cleland’s appointment, thank you letters, and invitations for appearances. Also included are many requests for copies of the Confederate Prayer, greeting cards, a small amount of inner office memorandums and correspondence, and reports from the Task Force on Veteran’s Rehabilitation. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Series IV: Max Cleland’s Personal Subject Files - NAID 5720561

Scope and Content: Containers 46-60. This series was opened in 2011. This series consists of personal correspondence, press clippings, photographs, guest registers, and military medals and honors received. Also included is material from Cleland’s state Senate tenure including speeches and speech material, statements, press releases, press publicity packets, and articles and magazines. A great deal of the state Senate material relates to Vietnam veteran bills, the handicapped, and tuition scholarships for veterans. In addition, this series includes material from the state Senate, Lieutenant Governor, and Secretary of State Campaign races. Cleland’s book drafts, personal biography, college thesis papers, and articles and information relating to veteran issues are also included. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Series V: Max Cleland’s Senate Committee On Veterans Affairs Hospital Inspection Files - NAID 5720562

Scope and Content: Containers 61-70. This series was opened in 2011. This series consists of detailed reports on individual veteran hospitals based on inspections carried out by the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign War personnel. The inspections were part of the Senate Committee’s mission to improve hospital services for veterans. Arranged alphabetically by the city in which the hospital was located.

 

Series VI: Max Cleland’s Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs Subject Files - NAID 5720563

Scope and Content: Containers 71-77. This series was opened in 2011. This series contains publications, reports, evaluations, legislative papers, and photographs related to veteran’s issues regarding employment, education, pardons, medical care, and hospitals. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Series VII: Max Cleland’s Videotape Files - NAID 102774960

Scope and Content: Containers 1-7. This series was opened in 2016. This series contains videotapes of his news interviews, ceremonies attended, and other events such as public service announcements in support of the handicapped and Vietnam veterans. Arranged chronologically.

 

Series VIII: Max Cleland’s Audio Tape Files - NAID 102774960

Scope and Content: Containers 8-10. This series was opened in 2016. This series contains audio tapes of his news interviews, addresses, and speeches all over the country. Arranged chronologically.

 

Series IX: Max Cleland’s Photograph Files - NAID 102774973

Scope and Content: Containers 11-14. This series was opened in 2016. This series mainly contains photographs of Max Cleland’s trips to various Veterans Administration Hospitals and dedications across the country. They also depict his relationship with Jimmy Carter and other prominent politicians of the time. Also included are several photograph albums. Arranged numerically by photo number.

 

Series X: Max Cleland’s Transferred Photograph Files - NAID 102774974

Scope and Content: Containers 1-5. This series was opened in 2011. This series contains many photographs and oversized scrapbooks that were interfiled in the textual series and have been transferred to the Audio Visual Department.

These papers contain documents restricted in accordance with applicable executive order(s), which governs National Security policies, applicable statutes/agency restrictions, and material which has been closed in accordance with the donor’s deed of gift.

Copyright interest in these papers has been donated to the United States Government. Some of the records may be subject to copyright restrictions (i.e. newspapers, publications, etc.). Researchers should contact the publisher for further information.

Jimmy Carter Library and Museum

441 Freedom Parkway NE Atlanta, GA 30307

Veterans

Hospitals

Employment

Education

Drug abuse

Handicapped

Cleland, Joseph Maxwell "Max" (1942-2021)

Veteran’s Administration

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Atlanta (Ga.)

Washington (D.C.)

Vietnam

This collection was opened in March 2011.

1961-1987

Domestic Policy Staff - Kitty Higgins' and William Spring's Subject Files

Max Cleland’s State Senate Correspondence Files

 Container 1

 

 Container 2

 

 Container 3

 

 Container 4

 

 Container 5

 

 Container 6

 

 Container 7

 

Max Cleland’s Veterans Administration Invitation Files

 Container 8

 

 Container 9

 

 Container 10

 

 Container 11

 

 Container 12

 

 Container 13

 

 Container 14

 

 Container 15

 

 Container 16

 

 Container 17

 

Max Cleland’s Veterans Administration Subject Files

 Container 18

 

 Container 19

 

 Container 20

 

 Container 21

 

 Container 22

 

 Container 23

 

 Container 24

 

  Container 25

 

 Container 26

 

 Container 27 

 

 Container 28

 

 Container 29

 

 Container 30

 

 Container 31

 

 Container 32

 

 Container 33

 

 Container 34

 

 Container 35

 

 Container 36

 

 Container 37

 

 Container 38

 

 Container 39

 

 Container 40

 

 Container 41

 

 Container 42

 

 Container 43

 

 Container 44

 

 Container 45

 

Max Cleland’s Personal Subject Files

 Container 46

 

 Container 47

 

 Container 48

 

 Container 49

 

 Container 50

 

 Container 51

 

 Container 52

 

 Container 53

 

 Container 54

 

 Container 55

 

 Container 56

 

 Container 57

 

 Container 58

 

 Container 59

 

 Container 60

 

Max Cleland’s Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Hospital Inspection Files

 Container 61

 

 Container 62

 

 Container 63

 

 Container 64

 

 Container 65

 

 Container 66

 

 Container 67

 

 Container 68

 

 Container 69

 

 Container 70

 

Max Cleland’s Senate Committee on Veteran’s Affairs Files

 Container 71

 

 Container 72

 

 Container 73

 

 Container 74

 

 Container 75

 

 Container 76

 

 Container 77

 

Max Cleland’s Videotape Files

 Container 1

  • Video 1 - Segment #1 - “A Dialogue with Sam Nunn” Local Programming, Atlanta, Georgia, 4/7/77; Segment #2 - “Christian Broadcasting Network Interview,” 4/11/77
  • Video 2 - Segment #1 - “700 Club,” Channel 2, WDCA, 4/26/77; Segment #2 - “Towne Meeting,” Channel 9 TWOP, Washington, D.C.; Segment #3 - “A.M. America,” 6/16/1977
  • Video 3 - Administrator’s Visit to Veteran’s Administration (VA) Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, 8/6/77
  • Video 4 - East Los Angeles Clinic Dedication - News Conference, 3/31/78
  • Video 5 - Messages from Max Cleland, 6/7/78; VA Hospital, Medical Media Production Service, Houston, Texas
  • Video 6 - “America Alive,” 10/23/78
  • Video 7 - NBC “Today Show,” 11/10/78

 

Container 2

  • Video 8 - NBC “Nightly News,” 11/11/78
  • Video 9 - 1978 Marine Corps Birthday Pageant, 12/21/78; Audio Channels 1 and 2
  • Video 10 - KDIN-TV, Des Moines, Iowa, 1978
  • Video 11 - Vietnam Veterans Recognition Program, 5/30/79; VAMC, Richmond, Virginia
  • Video 12 - “Fast Facts,” 5/4/79; Localized version for Atlanta and special Veterans Administration, VACO, Washington, D.C.
  • Video 13 - “Teddy Bart Noon Show” - Interview with Administration WSAL-TV, 8/3/79, Nashville, Tennessee
  • Video 14 - “In Honor of General Omar N. Bradley”

 

 Container 3

  • Video 15 - NBC “Today Show,” 11/12/79
  • Video 16 - “Veterans Challenge,” Office of Public Affairs, 1979
  • Video 17 - “Veterans Challenge”, Office of Public Affairs, 1979 (duplicate)
  • Video 18 - “AM Chicago” with Max Cleland and Michael Skyer, 1/14/80 - Hines VA Hospital
  • Video 19 - “CBS Sunday Morning,” Vietnam Veterans, 3/2/80 (Master Copy)
  • Video 20 - “Vietnam Tablets of the Missing Dedication,” 5/30/80; National Cemetery of the Pacific, MC: Jack Lord; Speaker: Max Cleland
  • Video 21 - “Flag Presentation Ceremony”, 7/21/80 - VACO Bradley Room

 

 Container 4

  • Video 22 - Channel 4 Interview with Max Cleland, 3/21/80 - VA Medical Center, Wood, Wisconsin
  • Video 23 - Harris Poll Press Conference, Part 1, 7/1/80
  • Video 24 - Harris Poll Press Conference, Part 2, 7/1/80
  • Video 25 - “Eye Witness Los Angeles,” - Report on Long Beach VA Hospital, 7/17/80
  • Video 26 - “Spinal Cord Injury” feature from “A New Day,” 8/22/80; Interview with Dr. ElGhatit, Chief of Spinal Cord Unit, VAMC, Channel 4, Wood, Wisconsin
  • Video 27 - “Good Morning America” with Max Cleland, 1/26/80 (Edited Copy)
  • Video 28 - “700 Club” Interview with Max Cleland, 12/1/80 (Dub)

 

 Container 5

  • Video 29 - TV Spots with Roger Staubach, 12/4/80 - Vets Center, Texas
  • Video 30 - Memorial Day Cover, 5/31/81 (Dub)
  • Video 31 - “Good Morning America,” Vietnam Vet, 5/30/81
  • Video 32 - “Agent Orange,” A Search for Answers, 12/12/80
  • Video 33 - “Turning Points,” Interview with Tom Sullivan for ABC, 12/22/80
  • Video 34 - “Face-to-Face” with Max Cleland, Air Edition, 6/7/81
  • Video 35 - “Nightline,” 6/15/81 (Dub)

 

 Container 6

  • Video 36 “Let’s Talk It Over” with Max Cleland, 7/15/81
  • Video 37 - “Georgia from Rabun Gap to Tybee Light, the Semi-quincentenary Seal Relay,” 1983
  • Video 38 - “Ask the Administrator” (Master Copy)
  • Video 39 - “May I Help You?” Veterans Administration 
  • Video 40 - Easter Seal Telethon (Dub from Edited Original)
  • Video 41 - “60 Minutes,” “Lou Grant” Feature, #8511-“Vet” (Editorial Copy)
  • Video 42 - “60 Minutes” with Max Cleland, CBS

 

 Container 7

  • Video 43 - “If I Had Wings” - “Accepting the Challenge”
  • Video 44 - Employee Assistance Program with Translator
  • Video 45 - “Where Ever We Find Them” with Max Cleland Introduction
  • Video 46 - “Foundations for Caring” - Veterans Administration
  • Video 47 – Public Service Announcement (PSA) - “Handicapped Job Fair” and PSA “Dinner for the Disabled”
  • Video 48 - Cleland Intro to “Regional Offices” and “Medical Centers”
  • Video 49 - “Human Goals” - Veterans Administration
  • Video 50 - Captain James Maxwell Cleland’s “Letters Home from Vietnam, 1967-1968,”
  • Presented on Alive Day 1987 at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library

 

Max Cleland’s Audio Tape Files

 Container 8

  • Tape 1 - Presidential Inauguration - Jimmy Carter, 1/20/77
  • Tape 2 - Senate Veterans Affairs - Confirmation Hearing, 2/25/77
  • Tape 3 - Senate Veterans Affairs - Confirmation Hearing, 2/25/77
  • Tape 4 – Cleland’s Speech in New Orleans, 3/18/77
  • Tape 5 – DAV - VA Interview, 4/77
  • Tape 6 – VA Central Office Easter Services, 4/7/77
  • Tape 7 - Central Office Easter Services - Cleland Address, 4/7/77
  • Tape 8 - Administrator’s Radio Show - Little Rock, Arkansas, 4/28/77
  • Tape 9 - VA Cleland’s Media Availability Session, 6/4/77
  • Tape 10 - Max Cleland - Today Show, WSB TV, 5/22/77
  • Tape 11 - Representative Fred Rooney and Max Cleland, 9/15/77
  • Tape 12 - Max Cleland - Decatur Rotary Club, 12/30/77
  • Tape 13 - Max Cleland - First Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia, 1/8/78
  • Tape 14 - Max Cleland - “Out Your Way,” WJLS Radio, 1/20/78
  • Tape 15 - 26th Annual National Prayer Breakfast - President Carter at Washington Hilton, Washington D.C., 2/2/78
  • Tape 16 - Max Cleland Banquet - Holgates Rest, 4/8/78
  • Tape 17 - Max Cleland Banquet - Holgates Rest, 4/8/78
  • Tape 18 - Max Cleland - University of Georgia Law School Commencement, 6/12/78
  • Tape 19 – Max Cleland 20/20 Interview, 12/8/78

 

 Container 9

  • Tape 20 - Armed Forces Day Parade, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 5/18/79
  • Tape 21 - National DAV Convention - Max Cleland’s Address, 7/15/79
  • Tape 22 - National DAV Convention - Max Cleland’s Address, 7/15/79 
  • Tape 23 - Cleland Remarks - Blind Veterans, 8/11/79
  • Tape 24 - Sunday Morning, 8/19/79
  • Tape 25 – VFW in New Orleans, 8/22/79
  • Tape 26 – VFW in New Orleans, 8/22/79
  • Tape 27 – VFW in New Orleans, 8/22/79
  • Tape 28 – VFW in New Orleans, 8/22/79
  • Tape 29 - KMOX/CBS Radio - St. Louis, Missouri, 11:00-12:00 Noon, 9/12/79
  • Tape 30 - Max Cleland - New Orleans, 11/1/79
  • Tape 31 - Boston University - Kutner Lecture - Max Cleland, 1979
  • Tape 32 - University of Georgia - Blue Key, Mr. Cleland, 1979
  • Tape 33 - Max Cleland - Address at World Conference, 12/79
  • Tape 34 - A Veteran’s Viewpoint - KYW Radio, 2/25/80-2/29/80
  • Tape 35 - Freedom Foundation Award, 2/22/80
  • Tape 36 - El Paso Vet Center Dedication, 2/29/80
  • Tape 37 - Leadership Virginia - Tidewater Inn, 4/15/80

 

 Container 10

  • Tape 38 - Vet Center Opening - Laredo, Texas, 4/22/80
  • Tape 39 - Prayer Breakfast - Cleland, San Diego, California, 5/22/80
  • Tape 40 - Max Cleland - American Legion National Convention, Boston, 8/19/80
  • Tape 41 - Max Cleland - American Legion National Convention, Boston, 8/19/80
  • Tape 42 - Max Cleland – JWV in New Orleans, 8/22/80
  • Tape 43 - Max Cleland – Press Conference, New Orleans, 8/22/80
  • Tape 44 - Dallas, Texas, 8/27/80
  • Tape 45 - Cleland Speaking at Memorial Service, Dublin, Georgia, 9/20/80
  • Tape 46 - 700 Club, 11/80
  • Tape 47 – VA - Max Cleland, KMOX/CBS Radio, n.d.
  • Tape 48 - Psychological Readjustment Problems of Vietnam Vets, n.d.
  • Tape 49 - Psychological Readjustment Problems of Vietnam Vets, n.d.

 

Max Cleland’s Photograph Files

 Container 11

  • Folder 001:
  • B&W 8x10 of Max Cleland at Alive Day in 1987 at the Jimmy Carter Library
  • B&W 8x10 & negative of Max Cleland with Dick Russell (signed picture)
  • B&W 8x10 & negative of Max Cleland with Jimmy Carter and others in the White House
  • B&W 8x10 & negative Baby Picture of Max Cleland
  • B&W 8x10 & negative of Max Cleland as a Young Boy
  • B&W 8x10 & negative of Max Cleland at his Desk
  • B&W 8x10 & negative of Jimmy Carter Hugging Max Cleland
  • B&W 8x10 & negative of Max Cleland Playing Basketball with a Boy
  • B&W 8x10 & negative of Max Cleland in front of the Veterans Administration Sign
  • B&W 8x10 & negative and Signed Picture of Jimmy Carter Hugging Max Cleland 
  • Folder 002:
  • (13) Color 4x6 of Max Cleland Speaking at a Hearing
  • Folder 003:
  • B&W 8x10 of Max Cleland and Jimmy Carter Listening to a Veteran
  • B&W 8x10 of Max Cleland and Sam Nunn (signed picture)
  • B&W 8x10 of Max Cleland and Jane Woodall (signed picture)
  • B&W 8x10 of Max Cleland in the Oval Office at his Swearing-In Ceremony
  • B&W 8x10 of Max Cleland in his Veterans Administrator’s Office on the Telephone
  • B&W 8x10 of Max Cleland in Front of the Capitol Building Color 8x10 Posed picture of Max Cleland at a Desk
  • B&W 8x10 of Max Cleland and Dan Rather
  • Folder 004:
  • Framed Color 8x10 of Max Cleland and Jimmy Carter on Stage (Signed Picture)
  • Folder 005:
  • Framed B&W 8x10 of Max Cleland on Stage at a Sports Ceremony
  • Folder 006: (4)
  • Photographs from Scrapbook - Color 8x10 of Max Cleland Receiving Honorary Degree from Stonehill College, North Easton, Massachusetts, 5/20/79
  • Folder 007:
  • (37) Photographs from Scrapbook - B&W 8x10 Dedication of the National Cemetery in Calverton, New York, 9/10/78
  • Folder 008:
  • Scrapbook of Max Cleland’s Years as Veterans Administrator

 

 Container 12

  • Folder 009:
  • Scrapbook of Max Cleland’s Visit to the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Center, 4/14/77
  • Folder 010:
  • Scrapbook of Max Cleland’s Visit to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, 4/15/78
  • Folder 011:
  • Scrapbook of Max Cleland’s Visit to the Veterans Administration Regional Office in Houston, Texas

 

 Container 13

  • Folder 012:
  • Scrapbook of Max Cleland’s Visit to the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, Florida, 11/17/78
  • Folder 013:
  • Scrapbook of Max Cleland’s Visit to Peoria, Illinois for the Dedication of the Peoria Outpatient Clinic, 10/15/80

 

 Container 14

  • Folder 014:
  • Framed Portrait of a Young Max Cleland in Uniform