McClory

Robert McClory, 1908-1988

Watergate Files, 1973-74. 14 boxes (19.3 linear feet of material). Deposited by Robert McClory, 1983

Congressman (R-IL) Robert MeGlory's Watergate Papers and Files, 1973-74

BIOGRAPHICAL

Congressman Robert McClory (January 31, 1908-July 24, 1988) represented Illinois' 13th Congressional District, including Lake Forest and the College, from 1963 to 1983, and was instrumental in Lake Forest College being designated as a partial federal documents depository in 1964, just prior to the completion of Donnelley Library. Alumni among his children and grandchildren include Beatrice McClory Etienne ('60) and her children, Ann (`92) and Michael ('85), as well as Robert L. McClory ('91). The McClorys were long-time residents of Lake Bluff and later Lake Forest, with the Congressman's second spouse Doris, still maintaining a residence in Lake Forest, though residing most of the year in the Washington area.

Born in Riverside, Illinois, according to Who Was Who (v. 9), McClory's undergraduate studies spanned periods in Switzerland and at Dartmouth (1925-28), and he received his law degree from Chicago-Kent School of Law in 1932. He practiced in Chicago and Waukegan until 1962. In 1950-51 the future Republican Congressman served in the Illinois General Assembly in Springfield, and then served in the Illinois Senate from 1952 to 1962. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1963 to 1983 (Bio. Direc. of US. Cong. 1774-1989), and by 1973-74 was the second-ranking Republican on the Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee, when it conducted its hearings into the impeachment of President Richard Nixon.

MCCLORY AND WATERGATE

A key opinion leader and Republican Party loyalist, McClory's expressed concerns about Nixon's role in the Watergate affair, at the climax of the impeachment hearings in July and August of 1974, were thought to have led to the "end game" preceding the President's unprecedented resignation. The July 29, 1974 issue of Time, with McClory pictured on the cover with two other G.O.P. leaders, refers to McClory as "the most anguished member of the Judiciary Committee" (9), and then gives a sketch of McClory's positions, of the divisions on the question in his Illinois district, and of his wrestling with the issue. The sentiment in his district is reported as divided, but with the Nixon faithful in the more rural sections while the mostly Republican suburbanites from Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, where he had lived most of his life, like the Congressman himself coming to grips with the possibility of impeachment. The coverage of McClory's role continues in the next, August 5, 1974 issue of Time, following the Committee's vote for impeachment. Again McClory is pictured (17) and his moderate, and would-be moderating, role is outlined, between the Democrats and the die-hard G.O.P. core loyalists (16- 18).

McClory's Congressional seat was eliminated following the 1980 census redistricting; it was suggested that the long-time party stalwart's role in the impeachment had led to party discipline. Until his death in 1988 McClory continued to reside most of the year in Washington, serving in an of-counsel role with Baker & McKenzie, his son-in-law's firm, and working among his papers at the Library of Congress.

This Watergate material was deposited in the Lake Forest College library in 1983. The Watergate files include his copies of volumes of Judiciary Committee documents--along with his marginal notes and underlinings reflecting his thorough review of the voluminous material. Also, there are his penciled notes from the Committee hearings, some Committee official documents, signed, and a significant body of letters (thousands) he received and to which he replied, especially in late June and early August of 1974.

SUBJECT HEADINGS

Colby, William Egan, 1920-1996

Colson, Charles W.

Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006

Jenner, Albert E.

McClory, Robert, 1908-1988

Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994

Watergate Affair, 1972-1974.

THE PAPERS

The collection basically has been organized as shipped by Congressman McClory and his Staff from his Capitol Hill office in 1983. The papers and files are arranged in five series as follows:

OVERVIEW

Series Summary.

Judiciary committee, staff prepared summary information for Series I and II and misc.

(Box: Series Summary)

Series I. House Judiciary Committee Impeachment working notebooks (Boxes 1-6)

Series II. Committee notebook supplements and related documents (Boxes 7-9)

Notebooks (Boxes 7-8)
Related Material (Box 9)

Series III. Committee Minutes and Reports (Box 10)

Series IV. Watergate Correspondence; constituent, form, and national mail. Some replies included. (Boxes 11-13)

DETAILED OUTLINE

A further description of the McClory collection, in greater detail, is as follows:

Series Summary. Judiciary Committee, staff prepared contents listing and summaries collected for Series I and II and some misc. (Box: Series Summary)

Series I. House Judiciary Committee Impeachment working notebooks (Boxes 1-6) -Summary volume (two copies; one by library) (See Box "Series Summary") -Books I through VIII, 31 loose-leaf three-ring notebooks.

Series II. Committee notebook supplements and related documents (Boxes 7-9).

A. Notebooks (Boxes 7-8)

•12 loose-leaf three-ring notebooks

Notebooks volumes I-IV "Supplemental presentation of information on behalf of the President"
Two notebooks entitled "Books I through Books V, Statement of information" and "Book VI through Book IX, Statement of information"

-"Index to investigative files" -"Draft Articles of Impeachment" 1.1 – 1.6, Proposed Articles I

2.1 – 2.14, Article II, HI, IV, V, VI

3.1 – 3.11, Proposed Articles I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII

4.1 – 4.15, Articles 1-7 5.1 – 5.12, Articles 1-5

-"Issues and Answers T.V. Show" [Briefing Book]

-"Statements of William Colby and Gerald Ford"

Statement of President Ford October 17, 1974

-Facts and circumstances based for Nixon's pardon

Resolution House of Representatives September 16, 1974
Memorandum (copy) from Henry Ruth to Leon Jaworski

September 3, 1974 about Richard Nixon

Letter (copy) to Philip Buchen (counsel to Nixon) from Jaworski (Prosecutor)
Resolution House of Representatives September 17, 1974
Biography on Colby
Statement by Colby August 4, 1974
Brief description of U.S. Intelligence (CIA, NSA)

Budget Cycle for U.S. Intelligence
NSA Act 1947
Executive Order 11460 (established Foreign Intelligence Advisory)
Executive Order 11652 (National Security Information)
Articles on Intelligence Community
Organization Structure of Foreign Intelligence Community
Reorganization of U.S. Intelligence Community
Outlined issues about Intelligence Community
"Statement of Information concerning the bombing of Cambodia"
"Supplemental Submission Concerning the Bombing of Cambodia"

B. Related Material (Box 9).

-7 expandable file-folders

(Note: for folders 1, 2, and 3 an underlined listing indicates sections where McClory has made significant personal notes.)

File 1: "Summary Information"

1. Unsigned, undated typed document, 3 pages "Resignation Should be a very attractive option, if offered without delay."

2. Typed letter sent (copy), 2 pages, McClory to Mrs. James W. English Sleepy Hollow, IL, August 2, 1974

3. Typed document, 25 pages with underlining passim, beginning "February 27, 1973-Apri130 30, 1973"

4. "Facts Favorable to the President" typed document, 20 pages underlining passim

5. Offprint, long record July 25, 1974 "Congressman McClory talks on Impeachment" double-sided

6. McClory's handwritten notes, unsigned, undated, 3 legal-pad papers

7. Typed, undated, unsigned draft yellow 2 pages, "Article 1, is premised on the assumption that the President directed and managed the Watergate cover-up"

8. Unsigned, undated, typed white document, 2 pages, "First, let us deal with the question of the President's actions with respect to the White House's to have CIA pressure the FBI ..."

9. Typed document, 306 pages, "Summary of Information" July 19, 1974 contents:

Watergate
Abuse of Presidential powers

Refusal of President to comply with Subpoena

IV. Willful tax evasion

10. Typed document Brief on Behalf of the President Richard Nixon 151 pages July 19, 1974

File 2: "[Charles] Colson Material" transcripts and notes of Colson interview. 1.Typed memorandum, Copy written by John Ehrlichman 1 page May 5, 1971
Binder on Watergate
Binder on Plumbers
Binder on Dairy Fund
Binder on Colson Interview July 3, 1974
CIA Reports
WNBC interview with Colson

Personal notes of McClory handwritten on hearing on July 15, 1974, 5 pages
Information on Colson interview, July 4, 1974; June 28, 1974; June 25, 1974
Statement by Colson to Committee to Re-Elect President Nixon
Testimonial notes typed on Colson
Handwritten notes by McClory on summary of testimony given by Colson, 2 pages

-File 3: "Article III"

"Notes on Article III" Offered by McClory, typed 3 pages.
Newspaper clipping from New York Times July 7, 1974
Enforcement of Alternatives to Congressional Subpoenas
"Article III" typed by McClory, 1 page
Typed document Articles collected
Article II Specification Information on taping system June 16, 1974
Amendment to Article Offered by McClory and Mr. Thornton, 1 page
Excerpts from Oval Argument in U.S. v. Nixon
Documents pertaining to Article HI and Article II
Hearings before the committee May-June 1974
Typed document about impeaching evidence by McClory, 2 pages
Definition of evidence as it functions in a trial
Definition of Impeachment and the Procedure for it
Copy of hearing U.S. v. Nixon
Transcript for the Impeachment staff meeting
2 pages, Article by Mr. Mezvinsky on Impeachment
President's Response to Committee Subpoenas
Letter from Duke University School of Law
Arguments for President's behalf relating Government expenditures
Tax deduction for gift of Papers 9 pages
Letter to President Nixon from Judiciary Committee (copy)
Handwritten personal notes about proceedings written by McClory, 4 pages
Response to Committee Subpoenas
Letter to Committee chairman typed by McClory, 7 pages
More notes by McClory, handwritten, 6 pages

-File 4: "Bert [Albert] Jenner"

News clipping on Albert Jenner July 1974
Typed document signed by House Judiciary Committee voting in Samuel Garrison July 16, 1974
Copies of letter sent to Edward Hutchinson by McClory, typed 1 page July 19, 1974
Copy of Editorial taken from New York Times July 23, 1974, 4 pages about Jenner removal
Copy Article from Washington-Star-Times page A-I about Jenner's removal -File 5: "[Henry] Petersen Material"
Typed document of possible questions to ask Henry Petersen by Edward Szukelewicz
Memorandum on a Summary of Henry E. Petersen Interview
Evidence documents on Petersen Exhibit 1,2,3,4
Newspaper clipping on Petersen, Washington Star-News Sat. July 13, 1974
Volume 27 "Executive Session Report Proceedings" Stenographic minutes Report of proceedings with Petersen July 12, 1974

-File 6: "Article V and Personal Finance"

Letter to McClory from Edward Mezvinsky (attached) is evidence of tax evasion
Folder containing summaries of President Nixon's tax evasion
Additional information against Nixon provided by Jack Brooks
Binder of material about Nixon's personal finances

-File 7: "Subpoenas" inside main folder file entitled "Judiciary Committee Subpoenas"

Initial Subpoena sent to President Nixon April 11, 1974
Presidential Diary Subpoena May 15, 1974
Additional Tapes Subpoena May 15, 1974
Watergate and Aftermath Subpoena May 30, 1974
1 folder entitled "Impeachment of Richard Nixon" containing; copies of articles/clippings, general impeachment information and procedures. •1 envelope entitled "[William] Dixon Memoranda"

•1 soft cover volume entitled "The September 15th White House Conversation. Prepared by Charles Morgan, Jr."

Series III. Committee Minutes and Reports (Box 10)

14 Stenographic Minutes [books], "House of Representatives U.S., Report Proceedings, Hearing held before Committees on the Judiciary, Impeachment Inquiry."
Volumes 22-33 "Executive Session Report Proceedings" dating from July 3, 1974 July 20, 1974. (for Volume 27 regarding Henry Petersen see Series II B)
Vol. 22. July 3, 1974. "O'Brien and Lame I"
Vol. 23. July 8, 1974. "Lame II
Vol. 24. July 9, 1974. "Bittman, Mitchell I"

-Vol. 25. July 10, 1974. "Mitchell II"

-Vol. 26. July 11, 1974. "Dean's Testimony"

Vol. 27. July 12, 1974. "Petersen" [see Series II B]

-Vol. 28. July 15, 1974. "Colson I"

Vol. 29. July 16, 1974. "Colson II and Kalmback I"
Vol. 30. July 17, 1974. "Kalmback II"
Vol. 31. July 18, 1974. "St. Clair Summation"

-Vol. 32. July 19, 1974. "Doar Jenner Summation"

-Vol. 33. July 20, 1974. "Doar Jenner Summation Continued"

-Volume 1 "Committee Business" July 23, 1974

Volume 1 "Business Session" July 24, 1974
Volume 2 "Business Session" Morning July 25, 1974
Soft bound Report to Congress on Title 1, Presidential Recordings and

Materials Preservation Act P.L. 93-56 March 1975

•Second softbound report with same title (Report to Congress on Title 1 Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act P.L. 93-56 March 1975), but this copy has a cover letter from Arthur Sampson attached.

Watergate: Chronology of a Crisis Vol. I by Congressional Quarterly.
Watergate Special Prosecution Force Final Report, June 1977

Series IV. Watergate Correspondence; constituent, form, and national mail. Some replies included. (Boxes 11-13)

27 large U.S. House of Representatives' Public Document Official Business envelopes of letters inside (Box 11). Labeled envelopes for individual and groups of dates ranging from July 14 - August 12. Additionally, there are envelopes labeled "anti, "anti-for letter," and "Anti no date."

-Four large U.S. House of Representatives' Public Document Official Business envelopes of letters inside (Box 12).

Labeled as:

-"Impeach #1" -"Impeach #2" -"Impeach #3"

"Impeach – Forms & Pro-Jenner, Congrats, Anti Impeach"

'Letters divided into four sections (Box 13).

Sections labeled:

-"Judiciary / Impeachment" -contains typed responses to correspondence with attachments, some formal and some informal, all written by McClory

"Impeachment (Against) After Committee Decision 8/2/74" –containstyped letter responses to correspondence against impeachment process with original correspondence attached

-"Impeachment (Support) After Committee Decision 8/2/74"contains typed letter responses to correspondence for a decision to impeach

"Judiciary- Impeachment (Special Prosecutor)"–contains typed letter responses to correspondence for Hungate bill and outcome

Sharon Milroy ('03) and

Arthur Miller

Archives and Special Collections

Donnelley and Lee Library

Lake Forest College

amiller@lakeforest.edu

July 22, 2001; edited September 28, 2009