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Contact information: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/mss.contact
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/mm84061779
Collection material in English
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
The papers of Michael Pertschuk, lawyer, federal trade commissioner, and lobbyist, were given to the Library of Congress by Pertschuk in 1984. Several additions were given by Pertschuk between 1989 and 2003.
The Pertschuk Papers were processed in 1992 by Connie Cartledge with the assistance of Allyson H. Jackson and Patrick Kerwin and revised and expanded in 2003 by Laura J. Kells.
Sound recordings of interviews and a video recording have been transferred to the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division where they are identified as part of these papers.
Copyright in the unpublished writings of Michael Pertschuk in these papers and in other collections of papers in the custody of the Library of Congress has been dedicated to the public.
Restrictions apply governing the use, photoduplication, or publication of items in this collection. Consult a reference librarian in the Manuscript Division for information concerning these restrictions.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, Michael Pertschuk Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
The papers of Michael Pertschuk (1933-1922) span the years 1949-2002, with the majority of the papers concentrated from 1977 through 2001. They focus on Pertschuk's work in the arena of consumer protection and consist of two parts processed at different times. Part I relates primarily to Pertschuk's career in the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Part II focuses primarily on his writing projects and his work in the field of public interest lobbying and as a tobacco control advocate in the years following his departure from the Federal Trade Commission.
The bulk of the papers in Part I documents Pertschuk's career as chairman and commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission. This part consists of four series: Federal Trade Commission; Scheduling File; Speeches, Statements, and Writings File; and Miscellany. Many of the files contain photocopies rather than original items.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) series (1970-1984) constitutes more than half of Part I. Papers in this series are divided into three subseries: Correspondence, Subject File, and the James Clifford Miller File . The Correspondence subseries (1977-1984) is divided into five sections: chronological correspondence, congressional correspondence, federal agencies correspondence, personal correspondence, and the public interest and complaint file. The majority of the correspondence pertains to questions about the commission's regulatory investigations, policies, and hearings. Also included are complaints by the public and government officials requesting inquiries into the practices of various businesses and corporations. Correspondence in later years focused on Congress's attempts to limit the FTC's power and the commission's less aggressive role in the regulation of antitrust cases, advertising, and other consumer issues. The Personal Correspondence subseries includes letters of a more personal nature and provides a glimpse of the private Pertschuk.
Papers in the Subject File subseries document Pertschuk's efforts to make the FTC more active in regulating antitrust and consumer issues in four broad areas: energy, food, health, and transportation. Under his chairmanship, consumer initiatives included efforts to regulate children's advertising, food advertising, the automobile industry, funeral parlors, and professional groups. After his election as president, Ronald Reagan named a new FTC chairman, James Clifford Miller, and Pertschuk became one of the seven commissioners. Also interfiled in this subseries are a few items pertaining to Pertschuk's duties while commissioner under Miller. Files relating to the John D. Dingell report, written by Pertschuk at Congressman Dingell's request, detailed the commissioner's assessment of the Reagan administration's attitude toward regulation. Further evidence of the differing philosophies of Pertschuk and Miller is documented in the James Clifford Miller File. This subseries pertains to Pertschuk's tenure as a commissioner at the FTC during Miller's chairmanship, 1981-1984. Major topics include advertising substantiation, antitrust enforcement, and deception.
The Scheduling File contains correspondence, memoranda, appointment books, calendars, and invitations relating to Pertschuk's duties as chairman and commissioner of the FTC. Most of the invitations are requests for him to speak about consumer issues. Also included are scheduling papers pertaining to his career as chief counsel for the United States Senate Commerce Committee.
Papers in the Speeches, Statements, and Writings File relate primarily to Pertschuk's articles, books, and speeches on consumer topics. More than half of the series is comprised of papers pertaining to two of Pertschuk's books,
The final series in Part I, Miscellany, consists primarily of biographical material about Pertschuk and papers relating to his career with the Senate. Other files chronicle his trip to China in 1976.
Among Pertschuk's correspondents are Jack Anderson, Patricia P. Bailey, David Brinkley, Jimmy Carter, David Cohen, John D. Dingell, James Florio, Lewis H. Goldfarb, David Horowitz, George W. Koch, Warren G. Magnuson, Colman McCarthy, James Clifford Miller, Walter Mondale, Edmund S. Muskie, Ralph Nader, Victor S. Navasky, Esther Peterson, Robert Pitofsky, Alan A. Ransom, Ronald Reagan, David A. Rice, Warren B. Rudman, Alan Simpson, Philip M. Stern, Robert S. Strauss, Jack H. Watson, Jr., and Caspar W. Weinberger.
Part II of the Michael Pertschuk Papers is comprised of two series: Book Files and Miscellany. The general theme in these files is public interest activism with a concentration on the issue of tobacco control.
Book Files constitute the major portion of the addition, the largest of which relates to his book
The Miscellany series relates to the Advocacy Institute, a nonprofit organization co-founded by Pertschuk. Much of the material concerns tobacco control efforts. Other items include his speeches and writings on consumer issues and the tobacco movement.
The collection is arranged in six series:
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/mm84061779
Incoming and outgoing correspondence with the president, White House staff, members of Congress, government officials, FTC staff, friends, acquaintances, and the general public with appended material such as clippings and pamphlets pertaining to Pertschuk's duties as FTC chairman and commissioner.
Arranged alphabetically by type of correspondence and therein alphabetically by name, organization, or topic or chronologically.
Correspondence, memoranda, briefing books, reports, charts, minutes of meetings, bills, motions, orders, petitions, speeches and statements, notes, photographs, clippings, and printed matter relating to Pertschuk's activities at the FTC.
Arranged alphabetically by type or subject of material and thereunder chronologically.
Correspondence, memoranda, reports, bills, motions, orders, petitions, speeches and statements, notes, clippings, and printed matter relating to Pertschuk's tenure as a commissioner under chairman James Clifford Miller.
Arranged alphabetically by type or subject of material and thereunder chronologically.
Correspondence, memoranda, appointments books, calendars, and invitations consisting primarily of speech requests and invitations to Pertschuk while commissioner and chairman at the FTC. Also includes material relating to Pertschuk's career with the United States Senate.
Arranged by type of material and therein chronologically.
Correspondence, memoranda, speeches and speech notes, articles, book drafts and notes, poetry, notebooks, research material, and printed matter.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and therein chronologically.
Correspondence, memoranda, military orders, notes, biographical material, photographs, clippings, and printed matter relating chiefly to Pertschuk's military career, Senate career, and trip to China.
Arranged alphabetically by type or topic of material and thereunder chronologically.
Correspondence, memoranda, printed email, book drafts, notes, interview transcripts, research material, and book reviews.
Arranged alphabetically by book title, then by type of material, and therein chronologically.
Correspondence, memoranda, printed email, biographical material, speeches, writings, interview transcripts, reports, and printed matter.
Arranged alphabetically by type or topic of material and thereunder chronologically.