Collection ID: MPP 4
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Hamilton, Lee Herbert
Abstract:
The collection consists of appointment books, key speeches, documentation of several of the commissions on which Hamilton served subsequent to his retirement from Congress, extensive files of clippings on international affairs and major U.S. policy issues, his personal working notes, and his born-digital Commentaries.
Extent:
23 linear feet (18 cartons)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[item and date], [folder], [Subseries, if any], [Series], Lee Hamilton Post-Congressional Papers, Modern Political Papers Collection, Indiana University Libraries, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

Following his retirement in 1999 from 34 years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the 9th district of Indiana, Lee Hamilton was asked to direct the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC, where he could apply his considerable experience in international affairs and consensus building to bringing policy makers and scholars from all over the world together to gain from one another's perspectives and insights.

As he had done during his congressional career, he reviewed daily the most respected periodical publications in English, building a research base for the work which he would be called upon to do as vice chair of the 9/11 Commission, as co-chair of the Iraq Study Group, as a member of various other commissions, and as a consultant and advisor on national security and international affairs. These clippings and his working notes form the bulk of this collection and provide the backdrop for his post-congressional career in national and international public service in matters of foreign affairs and national security.

An integral part of that career was the dissemination of his Commentaries on Congress and Commentaries on Foreign Policy, which, continuing the tradition of his Washington Reports and Foreign Affairs Newsletters, were sent to the news media and then with the burgeoning digital age made available online through the Center on Congress at Indiana University and through its successor, the Center on Representative Government. They are included in this collection and will eventually be available in digital form through this finding aid. As of February 2022 these can only be accessed through a prior version of this finding aid.

Scope and Content:

The Lee H. Hamilton Post-Congressional Papers consist of appointment books, key speeches, documentation of several of the commissions on which he served subsequent to his retirement from Congress, his personal working notes, extensive files of clippings compiled and organized at Hamilton's direction for his consultation in matters of international affairs and major U.S. policy issues, and his semi-weekly commentaries on Congress and on foreign policy. The collection does not document his work as director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University nor as Director and President of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, with the exception of a few files contributed by Michael Van Dusen of the Wilson Center staff. Hamilton's personal working papers as vice-chair of the 9/11 Commission and as co-chair of the Iraq Study Group comprise separate collections.

Acquisition information:
Acquisition of the collection began with two cartons received in January 2007. Additions were one carton received August 31, 2007; two cartons received October 23, 2007; five cartons received July 24, 2008; two cartons received January 14, 2009; three cartons received in December 2010, and one box received from former staff member Michael Van Dusen in April 2019.
Processing information:

Processed by Maggie Eichenlaub, Kate Cruikshank, and Amanda Hunt.

Completed in 2011.

Arrangement:

There are nine series in the collection: Center on Congress at Indiana University, Clippings (divided into three subseries), Commentaries, Commissions and Panels, Office Files, Speeches, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Working Notes I, and Working Notes II. A complete folder list is included in this guide, with informational notes on specific portions of the collection. The folder lists may be accessed by clicking on the "+" in front of the text, the informational notes by clicking on the text itself.

Accruals:

The born-digital Commentaries through December 2019 were added as of that date. They continue to be received via email, converted to Word documents, and added periodically to the collection..

Online content

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Prior arrangement is necessary to use these materials, as they are stored offsite.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

Copyright restrictions may apply. Hamilton retains literary rights to all his writings, thus it is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission from him for any use beyond limited academic quotation and citation.

Photocopying or digital reproduction is possible with permission.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[item and date], [folder], [Subseries, if any], [Series], Lee Hamilton Post-Congressional Papers, Modern Political Papers Collection, Indiana University Libraries, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-1538
congpprs@indiana.edu