Muskie presidential campaign circa 1970-1972

File — Box: 34-48, 118-121

Identifier: MC105.16

Staff Only

Scope and Contents note

Boxes 36, 37, 120, 121 contact prints only. Boxes 34, 35 Jane Muskie during campaign. Boxes 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 118 images by or likely to be by Burton Berinsky. Although he did not officially declare his candidacy for the Democratic Party nomination for the presidency until 1972, Muskie began an organized campaign for the presidency in 1969 or 1970. It is difficult to delineate what of Muskie’s activities from this time period constituted campaigning, but in general these images include events where he spoke to or interacted with large numbers of people, including at fundraisers. It is also difficult to delineate what activities were part of his 1970 campaign for senate reelection and what were part of his 1972 presidential bid; both are likely represented in these images. In 1970 or 1971, freelance photographer Burton Berinsky was requested by a national news organization to “stay close to Muskie”. Berinsky accompanied Muskie on many trips both nationally and internationally, and was granted significant behind-the-scenes access to the Senator and his staff throughout the campaign. The over 500 prints and proof sheets in this collection are the most complete visual documentation of the campaign.

Dates

circa 1890-2005

Access Restrictions

Five categories of materials are restricted in the Muskie papers, all of which are noted in container lists, internal database records and physically on the affected boxes and folders. In many cases, restricted material comprises only a portion of a restricted folder. Researchers may request access to a restricted folder, in which case archives staff may review the folder and provide access to any materials that should not be restricted.

1. Student academic records: Restricted for 75 years from date of creation. Contained in Series I; will be open without restriction in 2011 (box 11) and 2064 (box 13). Information about a particular student may be released to that student.

2. Materials restricted to protect personal privacy: Restricted for 75 years from date of creation. Occurs in Series II, V.A.1, V.A.3-V.A.12, V.B and V.C; will be open without restriction on a rolling basis from 2032-2055. Includes case files, personnel files and items bearing Social Security Numbers. Case files and personnel files may be released to the individuals about whom the files were created, or to others if the individual about whom the file was created is deceased and releasing the file is unlikely to significantly impinge upon the personal privacy of a living individual. Redacted copies of items bearing Social Security Numbers may be released upon request.

3. Confidential Congressional committee reports: Restricted for 50 years from date of creation. Occurs in Series V.C; will be open without restriction around 2018. Reports restricted per consultation with NARA Center for Legislative Archives.

4. Susan Harrigan’s diaries: Restricted per donor agreement; access requires written permission of donor until April 5, 2024 or death of donor. Occurs in Series VI.F and XVII.A.

5. Potentially attorney-client privileged and/or proprietary materials: Closed until further notice. Occurs in Series VII, Boxes 120-141 and several unprocessed boxes of materials received from Jane Muskie’s estate. Includes records from Chadbourne, Parke, Whiteside & Wolf that likely contain attorney-client privileged and/or proprietary information intermingled with non-attorney-client-privileged material documenting Muskie’s professional work from 1980-1996.