24 linear feet, 48 containers

The material in this collection consists of correspondence, memorandums, briefing papers, notes, speeches, legal documents, reports, press clippings, contracts, receipts, and miscellaneous printed material. These records relate to Richard Harden's responsibilities as Special Assistant to the President for Information Management. This series also includes material regarding Harden's liaison with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CIPA). In addition, records include Harden's ad hoc projects such as managing the travels of Lillian Carter, securing entertainment contracts for the 1976 inaugural celebrations, and administering the Federal Election Committee and Democratic National Committee finance operations.

Special Assistant to the President for Information Management

The Office of the Special Assistant for Information Management was responsible for introducing new technology to promote White House staff efficiency, record keeping procedures regarding White House correspondence, and restructuring budget and finance procedures. In addition, this office was heavily involved in cutting the size and increasing the efficiency of the Office of Administration; staffing of the Carter White House; and instituting the suggestions and reports from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Richard Harden

Richard Harden was born on September 12, 1944. He received his BBA degree in 1966 from Davidson College in North Carolina and his MBA degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia in 1968. He worked for the accounting firm of Arthur Anderson and Company
from 1968-1972. Harden joined the administration of Governor Jimmy Carter in 1972 to assist in the reorganization study of state government and to serve as Commissioner of Administrative Services, and as Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources.


In 1975, he joined the accounting firm of Seidman and Seidman and then worked in his private accounting practice from 1975-1976. He also served as the Budget and Finance Director of the Carter/Mondale Campaign and Carter transition.


On January 21, 1977, President Carter appointed him as Special Assistant to the President for Information Management, Special Assistant to the President for Budget and Organization. In addition, under the new reorganization plan, he was appointed as Director of the Office of
Administration on December 28, 1977. He continued in both these roles until the end of the Carter administration in 1981.

Textual

The records of the Special Assistant to the President for Information Management are divided into five series:

Richard Harden’s Subject Files

Scope and Content: Containers 1-29. This series was opened in 1996. This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, notes, reports, and miscellaneous printed material. The material relates to topics concerning cutting the size of and increasing the efficiency of the White House Office of Administration through new computer technologies. In addition, this series contains material detailing Harden’s liaison with accountancy firms; staffing the Carter White House; and personnel issues regarding budget and finance information. Also included is material relating to financial information involving the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Federal Election Committee (FEC) during the 1980 campaign; contracts for entertainment services for the 1976 inaugural celebration; and personnel material related to the presidential transition period. This series also includes information relating to Harden’s involvement with the trips of President Carter’s mother, Lillian Carter. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Richard Harden’s Chronological Files

Scope and Content: Container 30. This series was opened in 1996. This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, and reports. The material mainly relates to White House personnel staffing issues, appointments, and staff recommendations within the first year of the Carter Administration. Arranged chronologically.

 

Richard Harden’s Speech Files

Scope and Content: Container 31-33. This series was opened in 1996. This series contains speech drafts, printed speeches, press clippings, and articles. The material relates to Harden’s liaison activities with the business community and public accountants regarding computer information management systems, government accounting, and business information management. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

William Pollak’s Files

Scope and Content: Containers 33-41. This series was opened in 1996. This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, notes, contracts, receipts, tickets, printed samples, and resumes. The material mainly relates to White House personnel recommendations, staffing and budget issues, and the President’s White House Executive Office reorganization. Also included is material concerning entertainment for the 1977 Inaugural celebration. Arranged alphabetically by folder title.

 

Emily Sheketoff’s Files

Scope and Content: Containers 42-48. This series was opened in 1996. This series consists of correspondence, memoranda, notes, itineraries, background briefing reports, schedules, and telegrams. The material relates to Richard Harden’s and Lillian Carter’s trip files including scheduling details concerning appearances and interviews; travel information, expense reporting, responses to invitations, and thank you letters. The trip files cover or detail Lillian’s foreign trips regarding world hunger, and domestic trips while campaigning for the President. 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.

The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum

441 Freedom Parkway NE Atlanta, GA 30307

Information management

Personnel

Technology

Automation

Computer systems

Computers

Office practices

Inaugurations

Government reorganization

Small business

Trips

Harden, Richard (1944- )

Pollak, William

Sketoff, Emily

Carter, Lillian (1898-1983)

1977 Inaugural Committee

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CIPA)

Correspondence

Memorandums

Briefing papers

Notes

Speeches

Speech drafts

Legal documents

Reports

Press clippings

Contracts

Receipts

Printed material

The first series of the collection was opened in 1996. The open dates are indicated in the series descriptions.

1977-1981

Related materials in this repository:

White House Office of Administration; Domestic Policy Staff

Richard Harden’s Subject Files

Container 1

 

Container 2

 

Container 3

 

Container 4

 

Container 5

 

Container 6

 

Container 7

 

Container 8

 

Container 9

 

Container 10

 

Container 11

 

Container 12

 

Container 13

 

Container 14

 

Container 15

 

Container 16

 

Container 17

 

Container 18

 

Container 19

 

Container 20

 

Container 21

 

Container 22

 

Container 23

 

Container 24

 

Container 25

 

Container 26

 

Container 27

 

Container 28

 

Container 29

 

Richard Harden’s Chronological Files

Container 30

 

Richard Harden’s Speech Files

Container 31

 

Container 32

 

Container 33

 

William Pollak’s Files

Container 33

 

Container 34

 

Container 35

 

Container 36

 

Container 37

 

Container 38

 

Container 39

 

Container 40

 

Container 41

 

Emily Sheketoff’s Files

Container 42

 

Container 43

 

Container 44

 

Container 46

 

Container 47

 

Container 48