Scope and Contents note "I received a March 1975 phone call at home from Attorney General Levi [who] asked if I wished to be considered for the post of Assistant Attorney General in Washington ... While it was hard to give up a post in my home town of Pittsburgh, I simply could not pass up the challenging opportunity to assist in the rehabilitation of the Justice Department in the post-Watergate era" ("Evidence" draft, p. 210). Thornburgh was sworn in as Assistant Attorney General on July 8, 1975, to head the Criminal Division. The Criminal Division was made up of sections that dealt with organized crime and racketeering, fraud, government regulation, narcotics, internal security, management and labor, and general crimes. Jim Seif and Jay Waldman, two men who worked in Thornburgh's U.S. Attorney's Office and continued later to work with Thornburgh during his governorship, joined Thornburgh as special assistants.
In addition to personnel changes, the structure of the Division was modified as well to reflect new priorities. "To support a stepped-up effort against public corruption, we ... created a Public Integrity Section that could take charge of corruption cases that a U.S. attorney was unable or unwilling to handle. I considered the creation of this section the most important contribution of my tenure at the Criminal Division" (Evidence, p. 64).
An ongoing project to which Thornburgh attached himself was the recodification of federal criminal law, but the "central task of comprehensive reform remains unfinished today" (Evidence, p. 67). Thornburgh's keen interest in promoting reform continues into his "Ongoing Career," and is evidenced in the online speeches and op-eds.
"In 1976, Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford in the presidential election, and my tenure at the department drew to a close" (Evidence, p. 71). When Carter was inaugurated Thornburgh was "the most senior remaining member of Attorney General Levi's team to remain in office. Because of a delay in the confirmation of President Carter's choice for attorney general, Griffin Bell, I became the Acting Attorney General at 12 noon on January 20, 1977 and remained in that position for the next five days ... I reverted back to acting deputy attorney general when Judge Bell arrived" ("Evidence" draft, p.254).
Thornburgh resigned as assistant attorney general effective March 12, 1977, and in an accompanying letter to President Carter's new Attorney General, Griffin Bell, he identified areas of concern for the department as "white collar crime, official corruption, organized crime and trafficking in narcotics and dangerous drugs" ("Evidence" draft p.255), tasks beyond the reach of state and local law enforcement agencies. In closing the letter he states: "There is not, and never has been, anything necessarily inconsistent between a forceful and aggressive law enforcement effort and the absolute observance of the civil rights and civil liberties of all of our citizens ... So, in the final analysis, it is an important part of our professional responsibilities to ensure that such is not the case" ("Evidence" draft, p. 257).
"Long before I left Washington in March of 1977 to return to Pittsburgh, there had been widespread speculation that I would seek the Pennsylvania governor's office in the following year's election. This had been fueled, in part, by Governor Shapp's charges of 'political' prosecutions against his administration. But the most potent argument for my prospective candidacy derived from public concern about corruption and mismanagement in state government and the widely-acknowledged need to 'clean up Harrisburg'" ("Evidence" draft, p. 259).
Subseries 1. Speeches Scope and Contents note Information listed on the folders includes: speech title (if known), group or event to which it was delivered, and location. Relevant additional information can be found in the "Events" Section which follows. The folders contain final copies of the speeches and drafts (when available). The speeches are available here online and can be searched for topics of particular interest.
List of Speeches and Testimony Given by Richard L. Thornburgh, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division , July 1975 - February 1977 Containers box 47 , folder 1 File 1. Graduating Class Career Prosecutor Course, National College of District Attorneys, Bates College of Law, University of Texas, Houston, TX , July 25, 1975 Containers box 47 , folder 2 File 2. "Challenges to Law Enforcement," Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, Inc., Rhinelander, WI , August 19, 1975 Containers box 47 , folder 3 File 3. Graduating Class Advanced International Drug Enforcement School #12, Washington, D.C. , August 29, 1975 Containers box 47 , folder 4 File 4. Excerpts, Pitt Law Alumni Dinner, Pittsburgh, PA , September 26, 1975 Containers box 47 , folder 5 File 5. Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Committee on the Judiciary, United States House of Representatives Concerning Bills to Provide for Compensation to Victims of Crime, Washington, D.C. , November 18, 1975 Containers box 47 , folder 6 File 6. "Organized Crime - A Community Concern," Annual Conference of the National Association of Citizens' Crime Commissions, Biloxi, MS , December 1, 1975 Containers box 47 , folder 7 File 7. "Criminal Collections - A New Slant," Eastern Region Collections Conference for United States Attorneys, Providence, RI , December 2, 1975 Containers box 47 , folder 8 File 8. Fourth Controlled Substance Unit Conference, New Orleans, LA , December 9, 1975 Containers box 47 , folder 9 File 9. Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Tampa, FL , December 19, 1975 Containers box 47 , folder 10 File 10. "The Federal Role in Law Enforcement," Annual Jaycee Week Banquet of the Hanover Jaycees, Hanover, PA , January 22, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 11 File 11. "The Justice Department's View of the Bank Protection Act," Seventh National Conference on Bank Security, New Orleans, LA , January 26, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 12 File 12. House Committee on Ways and Means on Legislation Concerning Tax Return Confidentiality, Washington, D.C. , January 28, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 13 File 13. Pittsburgh Jaycees Man of the Year Award, Pittsburgh, PA , February 1, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 14 File 14. "White Collar Crime," United States Department of Commerce, California Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles, CA , February 3, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 15 File 15. Attorneys of the Criminal Division, Washington, D.C. , February 12, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 16 File 16. "Lawyers and Public Integrity," Philadelphia Bar Association, Philadelphia, PA , March 11, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 17 File 17. "Crime and the Business Community," Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Harrisburg Area, New Cumberland, PA , March 26, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 18 File 18. "Partners in Crime Prevention and Enforcement, " National Cargo Security Conference, Washington, D.C. , March 31, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 19 File 19. "Prevention and Enforcement - a Dual Response to the Rise in Crime," National Crime Prevention Association, Chicago, IL , April 8, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 20 File 20. "Law Day, 1976 - A Government of Laws, Not of Men," San Antonio Bar Association, San Antonio, TX , April 27, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 21 File 21. "Law Day, 1976 - A Government of Laws, Not of Men," Montgomery County Bar Association and Montgomery Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL , April 29, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 22 File 22. "Law Day, 1976 - A Government of Laws, Not of Men," Allegheny County Bar Association, Pittsburgh, PA , April 30, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 23 File 23. "The Effort to Contain Organized Crime - an Overview," Institute on Organized Crime, Philadelphia, PA , May 4, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 24 File 24. "Crime and Prevention: A Balance Sheet Approach," Pennsylvania Bankers Association, Atlantic City, New Jersey , May 25, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 25 File 25. "A Professional Approach to the Professional Criminal," Conference for a Safe Ohio, Columbus, OH , May 27, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 26 File 26. "Fair Trial-Free Press Issues," Judicial Conference of the District of Columbia, Hershey, PA , May 28, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 27 File 27. "To the Graduate: a Plea for the Healthy Skeptic," Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA , May 29, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 28 File 28. "Toward the Assurance of Public Integrity," Cleveland Chapter, Federal Bar Association, Bar Association of Greater Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Bar Association, Cleveland, OH , June 8, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 29 File 29. Draft Findings and Recommendations of the Federal Advisory Committee on False Identification, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. , June 14, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 30 File 30. Senate Bill 1343 the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1973, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Washington, D.C. , June 17, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 31 File 31. "The Prosecutor's Role in the Search for 'The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth,' " The Criminal Law Section State Bar of Wisconsin, Fontana, WI , June 18, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 32 File 32. "A New Partnership in Crime Prevention," Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, Albuquerque, NM , July 20, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 33 File 33. "The Prosecutor and Drug Abuse," Fifth Controlled Substances Conspiracy Conference, Minneapolis, MN , July 22, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 34 File 34. Activities of the Interagency Committee on Auto Theft Prevention, Washington, D.C. , August 4, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 35 File 35. "New Limitations to Combat Corruption in Government," Better Government Association, Chicago, IL , August 6, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 36 File 36. "New Challenges Under the Speedy Trial Act of 1974," Judicial Administration Division American Bar Association, Atlanta, GA , August 7, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 37 File 37. "White Collar Crime - An Overview," Federal Bar Association, Washington, D.C. , September 16, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 38 File 38. "Priorities in Federal Law Enforcement," Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board, Pittsburgh, PA , September 24, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 39 File 39. Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. , September 28, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 40 File 40. "The Challenges of Crime," National Institute of Municipal Law Offices, Las Vegas, NV , October 12, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 41 File 41. "Federal Role in Law Enforcement," Annual Federal Law Enforcement Dinner, Western District of Michigan, Grand Rapids, MI , October 21, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 42 File 42. "Federal Initiatives Against Public Corruption," Public Contract Law Sections of the American Bar Association, Federal Bar Association and Unified District of Columbia Bar Association, Washington, D.C. , November 1, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 43 File 43. "The Federal Role in Law Enforcement," Blair County Bar Association, Hollidaysburg, PA , November 5, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 44 File 44. "Cargo Security and the Justice Department," American Tracking Association, Inc. Security Council Meeting, Arlington, VA , December 7, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 45 File 45. "The War on Organized Crime: New Directions and New Priorities," Federal Law Enforcement Association, New Orleans, LA , December 9, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 46 File 46. "Some Thoughts about Criminal Justice ... and the Criminal Division," Rotary Club of Manassas, Manassas, VA , December 15, 1976 Containers box 47 , folder 47 File 47. "Federal Assistance to State Prosecutors," Prosecutor's Institute of the DE Law School of Widener College, Wilmington, DE , January 11, 1977 Containers box 47 , folder 48 File 48. "Cooperation in Crime Prevention, Is there any Alternative?" Securities Industry Association Forum on Lost Securities, New York, NY , January 14, 1977 Containers box 47 , folder 49 File 49. House Subcommittee on Appropriations, Washington, D.C. , February 9, 1977 Containers box 47 , folder 50 File 50. Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Committee on the Judiciary, United States House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. , February 23, 1977 Containers box 47 , folder 51 File 51. "Program Fraud - a Continuing Challenge," Joint Department of Justice, Department of Housing and Urban Development Training Seminar, Quantico, VA , March 2, 1977 Containers box 47 , folder 52 Various Undated Speech Drafts , 1975-1977 Containers box 47 , folder 53 Subseries 2. News Releases Scope and Contents note Folders of releases are arranged chronologically. These news releases were issued by the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice and deal with all major topics involving the department, including its criminal investigations. The releases are available here online and may be searched for topics of particular interest.
October, 1975-February, 1977 Containers box 47 , folder 54 Item 1. Attorney General, Edward H. Levi, announced new internal procedures authorizing civil suits against any bank, savings and loan, or credit union that violates physical security regulations , October 7, 1975 Item 2. Federal Grand Jury indictment charged Blue Sea Line with paying illegal rebates to importer , November 7, 1975 Item 3. Creation of a Public Integrity Section within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice , January 14, 1976 Item 4. Appointment of three section chiefs in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice , March 2, 1976 Item 5. Japanese prosecutors in the Lockheed investigation met with representatives of the Criminal Division , April 9, 1976 Item 6. Information in the possession of the Criminal Division relating to Lockheed Corporation was transmitted to the Netherlands Government , April 14, 1976 Item 7. Documents provided to Italian law enforcement in the Lockheed matter may have been improperly disposed , April 24, 1976 Item 8. Appointment of William R. Robertson as the head of the U.S. Justice Department's Organized Crime Strike Force in Newark , July 12, 1976 Item 9. Creation of a new Special Prosecutions Unit within the Attorney General's office , August 20, 1976 Item 10. Reassignment of two officials in the division: Kurt Muellenberg to head Organized Crime and Racketeering Section and William S. Lynch to become Chief of the Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Section , October 13, 1976 Item 11. Formation of a task force to investigate allegations of corporate payments to foreign nationals , October 14, 1976 Item 12. Attorney General announced that U.S. Attorneys will keep their offices open on election day , October 26, 1976 Item 13. Thornburgh announced that Department of Justice Crime Strike Force offices in St. Louis and New Orleans will be closed within thirty days , October 27, 1976 Item 14. Thornburgh announced Department of Justice Strike Force in the southern district of New York will merge into the U.S. Attorney's office in that district , November 23, 1976 Item 15. Criminal use of false identification has become a national problem costing billions of dollars annually , December 7, 1976 Item 16. Thornburgh announced the Department has petitioned five regulatory agencies for new sets of regulations governing physical security and procedures , December 12, 1976 Item 17. Federal Grand Jury indicted State Representative Herbert Fineman on criminal charges , January 21, 1977 Item 18. Federal prosecutions of those involved in public corruption offenses reached a new high , February 10, 1977 Subseries 3. Events Scope and Contents note Folders here are arranged chronologically and the information listed includes event name and location. There is a depth of material available, for example: invitations, correspondence, schedules, background memos, personal notes of Thornburgh's and ephemera. Additionally there may be remarks of a more informal nature which are not included in the online speech files.
Commission on Review of National Policy Toward Gambling, Philadelphia, PA , May 29, 1975 Containers box 47 , folder 55 Commission on Review of National Policy Toward Gambling, Philadelphia, PA , May 29, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 1 Teacher Training Institute, Fairfax, VA , July 9, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 2 Federal Bar Association, Philadelphia, PA , July 21, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 3 National College of District Attorneys, University of Houston, Career Prosecutor Course Graduation, Houston, TX , July 25, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 4 Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, Inc., Rhinelander, WI , August 19, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 5 Advanced International Drug Enforcement School #12 Graduation, Washington, D.C. , August 29, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 6 White House Conference on Domestic and Economic Affairs, St. Louis, MO , September 12, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 7-8 PA Tavern Association 22nd Annual Convention, Harrisburg, PA , September 22, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 9 "Marie Torre Show", Pittsburgh, PA , September 23, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 10 First Baptist Church, Pittsburgh, PA , September 23, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 11 Pitt Law Alumni Dinner, Pittsburgh, PA , September 26, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 12 Third Collection Conference for Assistant United States Attorneys, Paraprofessionals and Clerks, Attorney General's Institute, Atlanta, GA , September 30, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 13 National Conference on Organized Crime, Washington, D.C. , October 1, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 14 Omnibus Hearing Demonstration Program, Jacksonville, FL , October 2-3, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 15 Conference for Business Executives on Federal Government Operations, Brookings Institute, Washington, D.C. , October 7, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 16 Justice Wives Club, Tour of the Justice Building, Washington, D.C. , October 20, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 17 53rd Convention of the Pennsylvania Council of Republican Women, Pittsburgh, PA , October 21,1975 Containers box 48 , folder 18 Attorney General's Senior Executives Seminar, Quantico, VA , October 30, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 19 Central Pennsylvania Pitt Club Alumni Association, Harrisburg, PA , November 7, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 20 Wheeling Bureau of Police, Wheeling, WV , November 12, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 21 Scripps-Howard Newspapers Debate on Editorial Policy, Washington, D.C. , November 13, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 22 United States Attorneys' Conference, Tucson, AZ , November 19, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 23 Annual Conference of the National Association of Citizens Crime Commissions, Biloxi, MS , December 1, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 24 Controlled Substance Conspiracy Conference, New Orleans, LA , December 9, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 25 Attorney General's 26th Annual Awards Ceremony, Washington, D.C. , December 11, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 26 Criminal Division, Organized Crime and Racketeering Section Chief's Meeting, Washington, D.C. , December 17, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 27 Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce "Forecast '76 - Finance," Tampa, FL , December 19, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 28 Meeting with Paul Marcus Concerning the Crime of Conspiracy, Washington, D.C. , December 29, 1975 Containers box 48 , folder 29 Purchasing Management Association of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA , January 20, 1976 Containers box 48 , folder 30 Annual Hanover Area Jaycees Bosses Night Banquet, Hanover, PA , January 22, 1976 Containers box 48 , folder 31 National Conference on Bank Security, New Orleans, LA , January 26, 1976 Containers box 48 , folder 32 Pittsburgh Jaycees Dinner: Thornburgh Man of the Year, Pittsburgh, PA , February 1, 1976 Containers box 48 , folder 33 Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce "Crimes Against Business" Seminar, Los Angeles, CA , February 3, 1976 Containers box 48 , folder 34 Drug Enforcement Administration Conference of Domestic and Foreign Directors, Washington, D.C. , February 24, 1976 Containers box 48 , folder 35 Harrisburg Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, Harrisburg, PA , March 5, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 1 Philadelphia Bar Association, Philadelphia, PA , March 11, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 2 Annual Dinner of the Radio and Television Correspondents Association, Washington, D.C. , March 25, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 3 Villanova Law School Student Bar Association, Villanova, PA , March 31, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 4 Mercersburg Academy Magazine Interview, Mercersburg, PA , April 7, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 5 National Crime Prevention Association, Chicago, IL , April 8, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 6 Federal Criminal Investigators Association Law Enforcement Seminar, Arlington, VA , April 24, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 7 San Antonio Bar Association Law Day Luncheon, San Antonio, TX , April 27, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 8 Joint Montgomery City and County Bar Association Dinner, Montgomery, AL , April 29, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 9 Allegheny County Bar Association Law Day U.S.A. Luncheon, Pittsburgh, PA , April 30, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 10 Citizens Crime Commission of Philadelphia, Institute on Organized Crime, Philadelphia, PA , May 4, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 11 School of Law, University of Pittsburgh Graduation, Pittsburgh, PA , May 8, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 12 PA Bar Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA , May 14, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 13 Pittsburgh Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Bicentennial Luncheon, Pittsburgh, PA , May 15, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 14 Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, Atlantic City, NJ , May 25, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 15 Conference for a Safe Ohio, Columbus, OH , May 27, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 16 Annual Judicial Conference of the District of Columbia Circuit, Hershey, PA , May 28, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 17 Washington and Jefferson College Commencement, Washington, PA , May 29, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 18 Robert Morris College Commencement, Coraopolis, PA , June 6, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 19 Cleveland Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Cleveland, OH , June 8, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 20 Crime Prevention/Preservation of Order Luncheon, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD , June 9, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 21 Criminal Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Fontana, WI , June 18, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 22 Virginia State Bar, Alexandria, VA , July 9, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 23 Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce General Membership Meeting, Albuquerque, NM , July 20, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 24 Controlled Substance Conspiracy Conference, Minneapolis, MN , July 22, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 25 "Good Morning America" Appearance, New York, NY , July 26, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 26 Better Government Association Membership Luncheon, Chicago, IL , August 6, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 27 American Bar Association Judicial Administration Division's Joint Luncheon, Atlanta, GA , August 7, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 28 Federal Bar Association Annual Conference, Washington, D.C. , September 16, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 29 Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board Luncheon, Pittsburgh, PA , September 24, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 30 National Institute of Municipal Law Officers Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV , October 12, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 31 Annual Federal Law Enforcement Dinner, Grand Rapids, MI , October 21, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 32 "America Remembers," Veterans Day, Arlington National Cemetery, VA , October 25, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 33 Yale Law School Advisory Conference on White Collar Crime, Mt. Kisco, NY , October 29, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 34 American Bar Association Luncheon, Washington, D.C. , November 1, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 35 Blair County Bar Association, Hollidaysburg, PA , November 5, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 36 Allegheny County League of Women Voters Luncheon "Man of the Year Award" to Judge Maurice B. Cohill, Pittsburgh, PA , November 12, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 37 Conference Board's International Council, New York, NY , December 2, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 38 WJAC "Viewpoint" Discussion of "Effective Law Enforcement," Johnstown, PA , December 3, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 39 American Trucking Associations, Inc., Security Council, Arlington, VA , December 7, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 40 Federal Law Enforcement Association, New Orleans, LA , December 9, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 41 Pennsylvania Society Annual Dinner, New York, NY , December 11, 1976 Containers box 49 , folder 42 Attorney General's Annual Awards Ceremony, Washington, D.C. , December 14, 1976 Containers box 50 , folder 1 Manassas Rotary Club, Manassas, VA , December 15, 1976 Containers box 50 , folder 2 Prosecutor's Institute DE Law School of Widener College, Wilmington, DE , January 11, 1977 Containers box 50 , folder 3 Securities Industry Association, New York, NY , January 14, 1977 Containers box 50 , folder 4 President's Commission on Whitehouse Fellowships, Washington, D.C. , January 18, 1977 Containers box 50 , folder 5 Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Justice Seminar on Program Abuse, Quantico, VA , March 2, 1977 Containers box 50 , folder 6 National Flexible Packaging Association, West Palm Beach, FL , March 25, 1977 Containers box 50 , folder 7 Invitations to Events , 1975 - 1977 Containers box 50 , folder 8 Subseries 4. Correspondence Scope and Contents note Folders are arranged chronologically although some folders contain correspondence that is arranged in reverse chronological order. Of special note is one folder of Thornburgh's correspondence as Acting Deputy Attorney General (February 8, 1977-March 11, 1977).
Correspondence Regarding Appointment as Assistant Attorney General , 1975-1977 Containers box 50 , folder 9-13 Correspondence from Thornburgh , July 14, 1975-February 11, 1977 Containers box 50 , folder 14-17 A-D , July, 1975-March, 1977 Containers box 50 , folder 18 E-H , July, 1975-March, 1977 Containers box 50 , folder 19 I-L , July, 1975-March, 1977 Containers box 51 , folder 1 M-P , July, 1975-March, 1977 Containers box 51 , folder 2 Q-S , July, 1975-March, 1977 Containers box 51 , folder 3 T-V , July, 1975-March, 1977 Containers box 51 , folder 4 W-Z , July, 1975-March, 1977 Containers box 51 , folder 5 Correspondence with American Civil Liberties Union regarding Grand Jury Interrogation by the FBI , April, 1976 Containers box 51 , folder 6 Correspondence as Acting Deputy Attorney General , February 14, 1977-March 11, 1977 Containers box 51 , folder 7 Correspondence Regarding Wire Tap Authorization , October 17, 1977 Containers box 51 , folder 8 Subseries 5. Jim Seif's Files Scope and Contents note These are Seif's "reading files," consisting of correspondence and memoranda to and from Jim Seif, Special Assistant to AAG Thornburgh, as well as a few files to and from Thornburgh himself. These reading files are arranged chronologically. There is also a folder containing FBI-related materials, such as booklets, pamphlets and other relevant articles, including one about J. Edgar Hoover. The Criminal Division Report by Seif and Waldman will be found in the AAG's files, dated November 18, 1975.
Correspondence and memoranda to and from Seif and AAG Thornburgh , July, 1975-April, 1977 Containers box 51 , folder 9-11 Memoranda and notes, U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division , 1975-1976 Containers box 51 , folder 12 FBI articles, booklets, magazines, and FBI Director Clarence M. Kelley speech, "Perspectives of Power" , 1973-June, 1976 Containers box 51 , folder 13 Subseries 6. Assistant Attorney General Thornburgh's Files Scope and Contents note These chronological files consist of a variety of Criminal Division files that the Assistant Attorney General kept for convenience and reference. The folders begin with Thornburgh's appointment as Assistant Attorney General and extend to his brief time as Acting Deputy Attorney General, and even Acting Attorney General, in February and March of 1977. Notably, within these files, are: Thornburgh's work on the Criminal Division Strike Forces, Thornburgh's Criminal Division Reports to the Attorney General and Thornburgh's invaluable staff and personal notes.
Appointment as Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division , 1975 Containers box 51 , folder 14 Thornburgh Bios and one for Ginny Thornburgh , 1975 Containers box 51 , folder 15 The United States Senate Report of Proceedings Hearing held Before the Committee on the Judiciary: Nomination of Richard L. Thornburgh to be Assistant Attorney General, volumes 1 and 2, Washington, D.C. , June 12, 1975 Containers box 51 , folder 16 "Criminal Division," by James Seif and Jay Waldman , November 18, 1975 Containers box 51 , folder 17 Thornburgh Notes on Criminal Division Topics and To Do Lists , 1975-1976 Containers box 51 , folder 18 Schedules of Department Activities , 1975-1977 Containers box 51 , folder 19 Structural organization of the Criminal Division , 1975-1977 Containers box 51 , folder 20 Report to the President by the Commission on CIA Activities within the United States , June, 1975 Containers box 51 , folder 21 Criminal Division Reports to the Attorney General , December 16, 1975-January 28, 1977 Containers box 51 , folder 22 Pennsylvania Crime Commission, Department of Justice, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Report: A Study of the Quality of Law Enforcement in Liberty Borough , 1975 Containers box 52 , folder 1 Remarks of the President to the California State Legislature (annotated) , September 5, 1975 Containers box 52 , folder 2 Supreme Court of the United States Briefs nos. 75-313 (Mazzei) and 75-6521 (Abney) , October, 1975 and October, 1976 Containers box 52 , folder 3 Thornburgh's Investigation into the Testimony of Mr. Kearns regarding Insider Trading , October, 1975 Containers box 52 , folder 4 Pennsylvania Bar Association , 1975-1976 Containers box 52 , folder 5 Federal Bar Association , 1975 Containers box 52 , folder 6 American Bar Association , 1975-1976 Containers box 52 , folder 7 American Bar Foundation , 1975-1976 Containers box 52 , folder 8 Public Integrity Section , 1975-1977 Containers box 52 , folder 9 Western District of Pennsylvania , 1975-1977 Containers box 52 , folder 10 Judiciary Committee Research on Grand Jury Reform (S.3274) , 1975-1977 Containers box 52 , folder 11 Tax Reform , 1975-1977 Containers box 52 , folder 12-13 Guidelines for Prosecutors on Prosecutorial Discretion , 1975-1977 Containers box 52 , folder 14 Field Circuit Units , 1975-1977 Containers box 52 , folder 15 Materials Regarding the Department of Justice's purported targeting of Mayor Frank Rizzo , 1976 Containers box 52 , folder 16 United States Department of Justice Legal Activities (annotated) , 1976 Containers box 52 , folder 17 Criminal Division: Major Fraud Section Activities , December, 1976 Containers box 52 , folder 18 Materials Regarding the Testimony of Sidney T. Walker before the Federal Power Commission Judge , 1976 Containers box 52 , folder 19 Report of the Department of Justice Task Force to review the FBI's Martin Luther King, Jr., Security and Assassination Investigations , January 11, 1977 Containers box 52 , folder 20 State Department Luncheon regarding Mexico , February, 1977 Containers box 52 , folder 21 "White Collar Crime: Nuts and Bolts," unpublished Op. Ed submitted to the New York Times , February-March, 1977 Containers box 52 , folder 22 Reports of the Accomplishments of the Criminal Division , 1977 Containers box 52 , folder 23 Assistant Attorney General's resignation , 1977 Containers box 53 , folder 1 Acting Deputy Attorney General , 1977 Containers box 53 , folder 2 Affidavit regarding Nicholas Gage New York Times Article , May, 1977 Containers box 53 , folder 3 Magazine Articles regarding the Supreme Court (annotated) , 1967-1977 Containers box 53 , folder 4 Memoranda , July 14-December 31, 1975 Containers box 53 , folder 5 Justice Department clippings and articles , 1975-1977 Containers box 53 , folder 6 Investigation of Former Office of Management and Budget Director, Bert Lance , 1976-1979 Containers box 53 , folder 7 Subseries 7. Memoranda Scope and Contents note Folders here are arranged chronologically. The memoranda primarily are from Thornburgh to other members of the Department of Justice. The remainder are to Thornburgh from his staff members. Two files of note are: "Review of the Criminal Division" and one of memoranda from Thornburgh as Acting Deputy Attorney General (February 8-March 11, 1977).
Memoranda from Thornburgh , January 1, 1976-February 11, 1977 Containers box 53 , folder 8-10 Memoranda to Thornburgh , 1975-1977 Containers box 53 , folder 11 Memoranda from Thornburgh to Criminal Division , 1975-1977 Containers box 53 , folder 12 Memoranda from Thornburgh to Attorney General , 1975-1977 Containers box 53 , folder 13 Review of the Criminal Division to Jay Waldman and Jim Seif from Thornburgh , November 18, 1975 Containers box 53 , folder 14 Memoranda as Acting Deputy Attorney General , February 14-March 11, 1977 Containers box 53 , folder 15 Subseries 8. Articles and Newspaper Clippings Scope and Contents note Folders are arranged chronologically and contain articles and newspaper clippings from 1975-1977, many of which Thornburgh underlined and annotated. These articles and clippings are maintained in three categories: political, criminal justice, and crime and corruption.
Article on politics (annotated) , 1975-1977 Containers box 53 , folder 16 Criminal Justice Issue Clippings (annotated) , 1975-1977 Containers box 53 , folder 17 Clippings and Articles on Crime and Corruption (annotated) , 1975 - 1977 Containers box 53 , folder 18-19 Subseries 9. Calendars and Telephone Logs Scope and Contents note The calendar folders are chronological and consist of the pages from Thornburgh's office page-a-day calendar. Entries include professional, social and family obligations. The telephone logs are spiral bound notebooks that record incoming and outgoing telephone calls made from the Assistant Attorney General's office. Information included in the logs is: the time of call, with whom Thornburgh spoke and whether it was an incoming or outgoing call. Also included is the Acting Deputy Attorney General's telephone log. The telephone memos consist of Thornburgh's outline of topics covered during phone conversations as well as the time, date and with whom he spoke.
Daily Calendar Pages , 1975-1977 Containers box 53 , folder 20-21 Telephone Logs from Thornburgh as Assistant Attorney General , July, 1975-February, 1977 Containers box 54 , folder 1-2 Telephone Log from Thornburgh as Deputy Attorney General , February 11, 1977 - March 11, 1977 Containers box 54 , folder 3 Thornburgh's Notes of Telephone Conversations , 1975-1977 Containers box 54 , folder 4-6 Subseries 10 Court Cases Scope and Contents note Folders are arranged chronologically and contain court opinions and final judgments from court cases. As Assistant Attorney General, Thornburgh kept tabs on situations and investigations with which he had interest from his time as the United States Attorney of Western Pennsylvania.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit: United States vs. Frank Mazzei, Western PA , May 8, 1975 Containers box 54 , folder 7 United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit: United States vs. Frank C. Hilton, Western PA , 1975 Containers box 54 , folder 8 United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit: United States vs. Joseph Sica, Western PA , April 6, 1976 Containers box 54 , folder 9 United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania: United States vs. George J. Mowod , 1976 Containers box 54 , folder 10 United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division: United States vs. Jack Payner , 1976-1977 Containers box 54 , folder 11 United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit: United States vs. Cameron David Bishop, CO , May, 1977 Containers box 54 , folder 12 Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County, PA: Robert E.S. Curran vs. The Philadelphia Inquirer , 1977 Containers box 54 , folder 13 Subseries 11. Department of Justice Files Scope and Contents note Folders are arranged chronologically and include materials about: Blair A. Griffith, U.S. Attorney of Western Pennsylvania, Attorney General Edward H. Levi and Attorney General Griffith Bell. The two Annual Reports of the Attorney General included in this subseries are in book form.
Press Releases: Blair A. Griffith, U.S. Attorney for Western PA , July, 1975-April, 1976 Containers box 54 , folder 14 Annual Report of the Attorney General of the United States , 1975-1976 Containers box 54 , folder 15-16 Articles and Speeches: Attorney General Edward H. Levi , 1975-1977 Containers box 54 , folder 17 Articles and Speeches: Attorney General Griffin Bell , 1977 Containers box 54 , folder 18 Interim Report of the Attorney General's White Collar Crime Committee , 1977 Containers box 54 , folder 19 Subseries 12. Strike Forces Scope and Contents note These files serve as an interesting follow-up to those on the subject in the U.S. Attorney section. The folders include correspondence, memoranda, newspaper clippings, notes and reports. Notably, these files contain the critique by the General Accounting Office of the necessity of Strike Forces and the subsequent correspondence regarding that opinion. This is not the last time there will be strike force files in this archive as the issue persists during his years as Attorney General of the United States.
Correspondence from Thornburgh , 1975-1977 Containers box 55 , folder 1 Memoranda to and from Thornburgh , 1975-1977 Containers box 55 , folder 2 General Accounting Office, Correspondence , 1976-1977 Containers box 55 , folder 3 General Accounting Office, Memoranda , March, 1976-January, 1977 Containers box 55 , folder 4-5 Thornburgh's notes regarding the General Accounting Office , 1976 Containers box 55 , folder 6 Pittsburgh Strike Force , 1974-1976 Containers box 55 , folder 7 Clark Mollenhoff's Articles regarding Thornburgh and Strike Forces , 1976 Containers box 55 , folder 9 "War on Organized Crime Faltering: Federal Strike Forces Not Getting the Job Done," Report to the Congress by the Comptroller of the United States , March 17, 1977 Containers box 55 , folder 10 Subseries 13. Issue References Scope and Contents note These files represent topics of interest to Thornburgh including published reports kept for reference. The folders are listed by topic and are followed by reports that are in chronological order. All items contain the familiar underlining and/or annotations by Thornburgh.
Watergate , 1973-1976 Containers box 55 , folder 11 People in Politics , 1975-1977 Containers box 55 , folder 12 Oil/Energy , 1975-1976 Containers box 55 , folder 13 FBI , 1972-1977 Containers box 55 , folder 14 Legal Rights , 1975-1976 Containers box 55 , folder 15 Speeches by President Gerald Ford , 1975 Containers box 55 , folder 16 Bertram Zweibon et al., v. John N. Mitchell, Attorney General of the United States , June 23, 1975 Containers box 55 , folder 17 Law and the American Future, American Assembly on Law and the Changing Society II, Palo Alto, CA , June 26-29, 1975 Containers box 55 , folder 18 "A Report on the Pennsylvania Crime Commission," by the Pennsylvania Association of Bailbond Underwriters , December 31, 1975 Containers box 55 , folder 19 "The Criminal Use of False Identification," report of the Federal Advisory Committee on False Identification, DOJ , November, 1976 Containers box 55 , folder 20 "Evaluation of the Special Prosecutor's Office of Philadelphia," by Samuel Dash and Charles H. Rogovin , February 10, 1977 Containers box 55 , folder 21 News Clippings, Memos and Notes , 1975-1977 Containers box 55 , folder 8