34 linear feet, 86 containers

The material in this collection consists of correspondence, memoranda, reports, notes, speech drafts, schedules, newspapers clippings, and other printed material relating to the function of the Office of the Assistant to the President for Communication and the various responsibilities of Assistant Deputy Greg Schneider. The material relates to Gerald Rafshoon’s “long-range” attempts to clarify and reinforce the “themes of the Presidency” in the public mind. The collection also contains material from Greg Schneider’s Special Projects Office.

Office of the Assistant to the President for Communication Gerald Rafshoon was Assistant to the President for Communications from July 1, 1978 to August 1979. His role in this capacity included responsibilities in three areas: speechwriting, press advance work, and radio and television liaison. These areas were formerly handled by the Press Secretary’s Office. While Rafshoon had a staff of only six, he dealt with two important areas: "long-range" attempts to clarify and reinforce the "themes of the Presidency" in the public mind; and the coordination of "communications plans" to promote administration initiatives in such areas as energy, civil service reform, and strategic arms limitation. 

Greg Schneider served on the White House staff from January 1977 to August 1979. From January 1977 to June 1978, Schneider served as Director of White House Projects. In his role as Director of Special Projects, Schneider’s duties were wide-ranging and included drafting reorganization plans for disaster assistance and civil defense; coordinating both the federal disaster aid program and the President’s youth program; organizing the White House correspondence project; and dealing with issues such as energy, inflation, and the passage of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). He was re-assigned to the Communication’s Office in 1978 and served as Assistant Deputy to Gerald Rafshoon. Schneider retained many of his Project Office files that were interfiled with the material he created while working in the Communications Office. As Assistant Deputy, Schneider continued to work on disaster assistance, civil defense, and youth programs as well as promoting major programs of the administration through the media. He was also involved in political issues such as President Carter’s energy program and the Constitutional Convention movement.

Biographical information on key office personnel is located at the end of the finding aid.

Textual

The records of the Office of the Assistant to the President from Communication are divided into nine series:

Gerald Rafshoon’s Subject Files

Scope and Content: Containers 1-7. This series was opened in October 1982. This series includes correspondence, reports, briefing papers, notes, speeches, press material, news clippings, and other printed material. This material relates to policies that Gerald Rafshoon promoted for the Carter Administration. Main topics include energy, civil service reform, national health insurance, SALT II, and the Panama Canal treaty. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Gerald Rafshoon’s Press Events Files

Scope and Content: Containers 8-19. This series was opened in October 1982. This series includes speeches, schedules, interviews, briefing papers, and guest lists. The material relates to press events that emphasized the Carter Administration’s accomplishments. Some of the press event topics included energy, the federal budget, SALT II, environment, foreign affairs, campaign trips, and popular culture. Arranged chronologically by date of event.

 

Gerald Rafshoon’s Personal Files

Scope and Content: Containers 20-21. This series was opened in October 1982. This series includes correspondence pertaining to invitations that were accepted or rejected. This series consists of presidential and personal invitations and some information on presidential interviews. Arranged by folder title.

 

Greg Schneiders’ Current Office Files

Scope and Content: Containers 22-35. This series was opened in October 1982. This series includes correspondence, memorandums, reports, briefing papers, notes, speeches, press materials, clippings, and schedules from Schneider’s office “work” files. Topics include the State of Union Address, the Panama Canal treaty, Rafshoon memos relating to “presidential styles,” administration’s accomplishments, the President’s trip to Mexico, and material related to appointments and invitations. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Greg Schneiders’ Retired Office Files

Scope and Content: Containers 36-67. This series was opened in October 1982. This series includes correspondence, reports, briefing papers, notes, speeches, press material, clippings, and schedules related to his position as Special Projects Director. Some of the topics include energy conservation and the youth program, inflation, energy, Medal of Freedom ceremonies, SALT II, the White House Correspondence project, and use of Federal Information Centers. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Greg Schneider’s Federal Emergency Preparedness and Response Reorganization Project Files

Scope and Content: Containers 68-74. This series was opened in October 1982. This series includes correspondence, notes, reports, and clippings. Topics include civil defense, reorganization plans for disaster assistance, and other materials related to Schneiders’ role as Director of White House Projects. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Greg Schneider’s President’s Youth Energy Program Files

Scope and Content: Containers 75-80. This series was opened in October 1982. This series includes correspondence, memorandum, clippings, and notes. Topics include energy, conservation, youth leadership, and the environment. The material relates to Schneider’s role as Director of White House Projects. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Greg Schneider’s White House Projects Emergency Situations Files

Scope and Content: Containers 81-84. This series was opened in October 1982. This series includes reports, recommendations, notes, and correspondence concerning disasters within the United States. One of the predominant disasters covered is the Johnstown Flood in Pennsylvania. Arranged chronologically by date of disaster.

 

Greg Schneider’s White House Projects Disaster Assistance Files

Scope and Content: Containers 85-86. This series was opened in October 1982. This series includes correspondence, memoranda, clippings, notes, and reports concerning federal disaster assistance. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

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

Natural disasters

Civil defense

Energy

Civil service reform

Strategic arms limitations

Disaster relief

Constitutional convention

Press/media events

Advertising

Polls

Inflation

Youth programs

Presidential trips

Panama Canal

Rafshoon, Gerald M. (1934- )

Schneiders, Gregory (1947-2024)

Democratic National Committee (DNC)

Federal Disaster Assistance Administration

President’s Youth Energy Program

The first series of the collection was opened in October 1982. The open dates are indicated in the series descriptions.

1978-1979

Related materials in this repository:

Gerald Rafshoon’s Subject Files

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Gerald Rafshoon’s Press Events Files

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Gerald Rafshoon’s Personal Files

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Greg Schneiders’ Current Office Files

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Greg Schneiders’ Retired Office Files

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Greg Schneiders’ Federal Emergency Preparedness and Response Reorganization Project Files

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Greg Schneiders’ Presidents Youth Energy Program Files (PYEP)

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Greg Schneiders’ White House Projects Emergency Situations Files

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Container 84 

 

Greg Schneiders’ White House Projects Disaster Assistance Files 

 Container 85

 

 Container 86

 

Biographical Information

Gerald Rafshoon

Gerald Rafshoon was born in New York, New York in 1934. In 1955, he received a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Texas in Austin. Rafshoon was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1956-1959. After leaving the Navy, he became the National Advertising Manager for 20th Century Fox in New York, from 1959-1962. In 1963, Rafshoon became Founder and President of Gerald Rafshoon Advertising Incorporated in Atlanta, Georgia. He was advisor for Jimmy Carter’s campaign for Governor in 1966 and 1970, and from 1975-1976, Rafshoon was Media Director and Adviser for the 1976 Carter Presidential Campaign. From 1978-1979, he served as Assistant to the President for Communication.

 

Gregory Schneider

Gregory Schneider was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1947. He attended Georgetown University, Washington D.C., from 1965-1969. From 1969-1975, Schneider was a restaurant entrepreneur in Washington DC. He served as an Administrative Assistant to the Carter presidential campaign from 1975-1976. He became Director of White House Special Projects in 1977, and continued in this role until 1978. He also served as Deputy to the Assistant to the President for Communications from 1978-1979.