Elizabeth Hanford Dole U.S. Secretary of Labor Papers, 1989-1990 | Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections

By Alex Adelmund and Raksha Shrestha

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Collection Overview

Title: Elizabeth Hanford Dole U.S. Secretary of Labor Papers, 1989-1990

Predominant Dates:1988-1990

ID: 01/039

Primary Creator: Dole, Elizabeth

Extent: 17.0 Linear Feet

Arrangement:

Series within the Elizabeth Hanford Dole U.S. Secretary of Labor Papers are primarily organized chronologically with some deviations made to increase utility for researchers. The Administrative Records series is divided into sub-series that are organized chronologically, except the Subject Files sub-series, which is organized alphabetically by subject and then by date. The Correspondence series begins with an alphabetical organization with numerous group files based on last name initials then switches to chronological for pre-named files and arranged materials. The Speeches and Newsclippings series are ordered chronologically.

The Elizabeth Hanford Dole U.S. Secretary of Labor Papers arrived with some pre-existing organization with occasional pre-arranged folders, briefing books, and loosely organized materials. The processors retained titles, acronyms, and dates in order to preserve as much original order as possible. When no original order was possible, the processing archivist mirrored the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Papers, having come with more organized original order.

Subjects: Dole, Elizabeth Hanford

Languages: English

Abstract

Elizabeth Hanford Dole served as the 20th United States Secretary of Labor within President George H.W. Bush’s Cabinet from January 25, 1989, to November 23, 1990. Dole’s work as the Secretary of Labor saw progress for American workers and increased incentives for women to enter and lead the workforce.

During her time at the Department of Labor, Dole focused on improving the lives of millions of workers within the United States through landmark reforms and legal cases to settle labor disputes, raise the skills of the average American, and open the workplace to women at all levels. Under Secretary Dole’s administration, the long-lasting Pittston Coal Strike ended through negotiations in which the Department of Labor played a key role as mediator. Dole’s office introduced the Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS), which focused on improving the American education system by evaluating the skills and practical knowledge needed to enter various industries and positions. The Glass Ceiling Initiative highlighted major disadvantages women face in upper management positions and reevaluated the American working world’s relationship with gender.

These accomplishments are only a small selection of activities Secretary Dole engaged in during her tenure, as her office saw many other challenges and changes like international labor reform, child labor, and looking to the future of American labor. The content within this collection covers her time in office and related events to her appointment to her resignation.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Elizabeth Hanford Dole U.S. Secretary of Labor Papers dates from 1980 to 2015 and contains correspondence, newsclippings, briefing books, subject files, and other policy documents like speeches and schedules. Dole’s collection of materials represents her tenure as head of the Department of Labor from 1989 to 1990 within President George H.W. Bush's Cabinet. In addition to Secretary Dole’s appointment, this collection includes materials from her personal life and trips. Her husband, Bob Dole, and his political activities also feature prominently throughout the collection as the two political figures supported each other throughout their careers.

The Elizabeth Hanford Dole U.S. Secretary of Labor Papers covers various developments in United States labor laws and the labor force’s interactions with the Federal Government. Some of the more prevalent topics covered by these papers include child labor, equality, the Employment and Training Administration, and minimum wage. Another important portion of these materials covers the changes to global labor during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reconstruction of labor systems in Eastern Europe and South America. The wide date range found within this collection reflects Secretary Dole’s commitment to improving legacy labor policies and her continued influence on the Department of Labor into the 21st century.

Collection Historical Note

Elizabeth Hanford Dole was born Mary Elizabeth Alexander Hanford on July 29, 1936, in Salisbury, North Carolina. She graduated from Duke University in 1958, earned a master’s degree in education from Harvard in 1960, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1965.

Dole began her career in administration at the age of 29, when she began working for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration and for the Office of Consumer Affairs. She was promoted under the Nixon administration to Executive Director of the President’s Committee for Consumer Interests, and in 1973, appointed to the Federal Trade Commission. On December 6, 1975, she married Senator Bob Dole. The following year, Dole took a leave of absence from the FTC to campaign for her husband, who was running on the Republican presidential ticket with Gerald Ford. She served as a Federal Trade Commissioner until 1979 when she resigned to campaign for Bob Dole’s 1980 presidential bid.

She served as Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison from 1981 to 1983, when she was nominated and confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Dole is the first woman to have served as Cabinet Secretary of two federal departments under two different presidents (Transportation 1983-87, Ronald Reagan; Labor 1989-90, George H.W. Bush). She served as the second female President of the American Red Cross from 1991 to 1998, the first woman to hold the position since founder Clara Barton in 1881.

A presidential candidate herself for the 2000 election, Dole was later elected to the U.S. Senate as the first female Senator for the state of North Carolina in 2002. She served until 2008. In 2012, Dole founded the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, which empowers, supports, and honors America’s military caregivers.

Subject/Index Terms

Dole, Elizabeth Hanford

Administrative Information

Repository: Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collections

Access Restrictions: Some materials within the Dole Archive are restricted because of their sensitive nature or because they contain personal or confidential information. These records are protected by federal laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Examples of restricted records are personnel files, medical records, financial records, and any materials containing personal information such as addresses and social security numbers. Restricted materials are identified at the box and/or folder level within the finding aid. Questions about these materials may be directed to the Senior Archivist of the Dole Archives.

Use Restrictions: Copyright restrictions apply in different ways to different kinds of materials. Many of the documents and other historical materials in the Archive are in the public domain and may be reproduced and used in any way. Senator Dole has not donated her copyright interest in her papers and other historical materials to the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics. Permission to publish must be obtained from her or her designee. There are other materials in the library carrying a copyright interest that must be used according to the provisions of Title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Archive issues a warning concerning copyright restrictions to every researcher who requests copies of documents. Although the copyright law is under constant redefinition in the courts, it is ultimately the responsibility of the researcher to properly use copyrighted materials.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Administrative Records, 1980 - 2006],
[Series 2: Speeches, 1980 - 1991],
[Series 3: Newsclippings, 1987 - 2015],
[Series 4: Correspondence, 1987 - 2001],
[All]

Series 2: Speeches, 1980 - 1991

The Speeches series contains drafts, whole speeches, speech cards, correspondence, programs, itineraries, and press releases. Additionally, handwritten notes, edits, and messages are found throughout the series.

The events the Speeches series often covers includes materials on public announcements, award banquets, floor speeches, embassy visits, union meetings, and international speaking events. The Speeches series also includes materials dedicated to political endorsements and for the Republican Party at public events.

Box 18

Folder 1: Women in the Workforce: A Quiet Revolution An Address by Elizabeth Hanford Dole, Address to the Sales and Marketing Executive Association Women Career Day York, Pennsylvania, 1980 June 6
Folder 2: The 300 Club London, England, 1988 November 22 - 1989 December 6
Folder 3: Meeting of the AFL-CIO Executive Council, Bal Harbour, Florida, 1989 February 20
Folder 4: National Governors' Association Human Resource Committee Washington, D.C., 1989 February 27
Folder 5: The Memorial Tribute to Elizabeth Ducan Koontz, 1989 April 5
Folder 6: Remarks for the New York State United Teachers, New York, 1989 April 14
Folder 7: Remarks for the Building and Construction Trades Department Washington, D.C., 1989 April 18
Folder 8: Statement before the United States Senate Committee on Finance Washington, D.C., 1989 April 19
Folder 9: Statement on the Administrations Child Care Proposal, 1989 April 27
Folder 10: The New United Motor Manufacturing, INC. Fremont, California, 1989 April 29
Folder 11: The Communications Workers of America Los Angeles, California, 1989 May 1
Folder 12: Employment of People with Disabilities Tampa, Florida, 1989 May 10
Folder 13: Subcommittee on Employment and Productivity, 1989 May 11
Folder 14: Participatory Leadership: School and the Workplace, Washington, D.C., 1989 May 11
Folder 15: Senator Strom Thurmond for Labor and Human Resources Reference the Job Training Partnership Act, Washington, D.C., 1989 May 11
Folder 16: Remarks as Prepared for American Women in Radio and Television, 1989 May 12
Folder 17: 25th Convocation of Opportunity Industrialization Centers Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1989 May 24
Folder 18: Department of Labor Awards Ceremony Boston, Massachusetts, 1989 May 24
Folder 19: National Association of State Councils on Vocational Education Washington, D.C., 1989 June 14
Folder 20: International Labor Conference Geneva, Switzerland, 1989 June 16
Folder 21: Statement of Elizabeth Dole Before the Labor Committee on Education and Labor United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C., 1989 June 29
Folder 22: League of United Latin American Citizens Washington, D.C., 1989 July 7
Folder 23: Department of Labor and Department of Veterans Affairs Memorandum of Understanding Singing Ceremony Washington, D.C., 1989 July 17
Folder 24: National Council of La Raza Kansas City, Missouri, 1989 July 19
Folder 25: Rose Garden Job Training Partnership Act Ceremony Washington, D.C., 1989 July 25
Folder 26: Job Training Partnership Act Press Conference Secretary's Office Washington, D.C., 1989 July 25
Folder 27: Job Training Partnership Act/Youth Opportunities Unlimited Press Conference Washington, D.C., 1989 July 25
Folder 28: EHD Talking Points- Poland, 1989 August 28
Folder 29: Workforce Quality Commission Press Conference Chicago, Illinois, 1989 September 1
Folder 30: National Symphony Labor Day Concert Washington, D.C., 1989 September 3
Folder 31: NBC News Meet the Press Washington D.C., 1989 September 3
Folder 32: American Legion National Convention Baltimore, Maryland, 1989 September 6

Box 19

Folder 1: British Embassy Dinner in Honor of Norman Fowler Washington, D.C., 1989 September 12
Folder 2: Minnesota Business Partnership Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1989 September 14
Folder 3: National Alliance of Business Washington, D.C., 1989 October 2
Folder 4: National Federation of Republican Women Baltimore, Maryland, 1989 October 7
Folder 5: York County Republican Dinner York, Pennsylvania, 1989 October 9
Folder 6: Business Week 60th Anniversary Dinner Washington, D.C., 1989 October 12
Folder 7: American Bankers Association Fellowship Gathering Washington, D.C., 1989 October 15
Folder 8: State of the Workforce Address Washington, D.C., 1989 October 26
Folder 9: John Porter Fundraising Dinner Deerfield, Illinois, 1989 October 29
Folder 10: Cook County Republican Dinner Chicago, Illinois, 1989 October 30
Folder 11: AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention Washington, D.C., 1989 November 13
Folder 12: National Academy Foundation Press Conference, 1989 November 13
Folder 13: Draft Remarks for Duke University Founders Day. Durham, North Carolina, 1989 December 7
Folder 14: Project LIFT Opening Ceremony Greetings Washington D.C., 1989
Folder 15: Visit to Armenia, 1989
Folder 16: Settlement of Pittston Coal Company Strike Washington, D.C., 1990 January 1
Folder 17: Elizabeth Dole Introduction, 1990 January 4
Folder 18: DPC Meeting on Immigration, 1990 January 17
Folder 19: Native Sons and Daughters Banquet Topeka, Kansas, 1990 January 26
Folder 20: Women in Leadership Luncheon Dallas Chamber of Commerce Dallas, Texas, 1990 January 30

Box 20

Folder 1: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Washington, D.C., 1990 February 6
Folder 2: National Association of Wholesale Distributors Washington, D.C., 1990 February 7
Folder 3: Elam Hertzler Ceremony McLean, Virginia, 1990 February 11
Folder 4: American Association of School Administrators San Francisco, California, 1990 February 23
Folder 5: Department of Labor Honor Awards Ceremony Washington, D.C., 1990 March 5
Folder 6: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Washington D.C., 1990 March 6
Folder 7: Announcement of Coal Commission Washington D.C., 1990 March 7
Folder 8: Operation Child Watch Press Conference, Washington, D.C., 1990 March 15
Folder 9: National Association of Manufacturers Washington, D.C., 1990 March 15
Folder 10: Labor Policy Association Williamsburg, Virginia, 1990 March 16
Folder 11: Food Marketing Institute Washington, D.C., 1990 March 19
Folder 12: National Association of Counties Legislative Conference Washington, D.C., 1990 March 19
Folder 13: American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association Washington, D.C., 1990 March 19
Folder 14: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Awards Ceremony Washington, D.C., 1990 March 21
Folder 15: National Mentoring Conference Draft Washington, D.C., 1990 March 28
Folder 16: National Mentoring Conference Speech Cards Washington, D.C., 1990 March 28
Folder 17: JTPA Presidential Awards Ceremony, Department of Labor Washington, D.C., 1990 March 29
Folder 18: Building and Construction Trades Department AFL-CIO Washington, D.C., 1990 April 4
Folder 19: OLMS Managers Conference, 1990 April 5
Folder 20: Education Writers Association Chicago, Illinois, 1990 April 5
Folder 21: Arthur Goldberg Memorial Service Washington, D.C., 1990 April 6
Folder 22: American Association of University Women Salisbury, North Carolina, 1990 April 7
Folder 23: National Association of Broadcasters Ceremony, 1990 April 19

Box 21

Folder 1: Workforce Literacy Conference Washington, D.C., 1990 May 1
Folder 2: Arthur Flemming Awards Washington, D.C., 1990 May 3
Folder 3: Wesleyan College Commencement Macon, Georgia, 1990 May 5
Folder 4: Congressmen Fish and Gilman's Women's Luncheon Washington D.C., 1990 May 8
Folder 5: American Society for Training and Development National Conference Orlando, Florida, 1990 May 10
Folder 6: Graduation Speech for the Class of 1990 Clemson University's 94th Commencement, Clemson, South Carolina, 1990 May 11
Folder 7: Graduation Speech for the Class of 1990 at Pfeiffer College Misenheimer, North Carolina, 1990 May 12
Folder 8: Cardinal O'Connor's Committee of the Laity Dinner New York City, New York, 1990 May 18
Folder 9: Society for Human Resource Management Atlanta, Georgia, 1990 June 26
Folder 10: Remarks at the Alexander Family Reunion, North Carolina, 1990 August 4
Folder 11: Job Corps 25th Anniversary Celebration Washington, D.C., 1990 September 13
Folder 12: Financial Executives Institute Chicago, Illinois, 1990 October 3
Folder 13: Massachusetts GOP President's Luncheon Boston, Massachusetts, 1990 October 4
Folder 14: Emery for Congress Press Availability Cape Elizabeth, Maine, 1990 October 12
Folder 15: McKernan Press Availability Portland, Maine, 1990 October 12
Folder 16: Dave Emery for Congress Fundraiser Cape Elizabeth, Maine, 1990 October 12
Folder 17: Joe Malone Fundraiser Boston, Massachusetts, 1990 October 14
Folder 18: South Dakota GOP/ Governor Mickelson "Pre-Election Rally": Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 1990 October 18
Folder 19: Zeuske for State Treasurer Fundraiser Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1990 October 19
Folder 20: Women's Bureau 70th Anniversary/Eve Awards Banquet Washington D.C., 1990 October 23
Folder 21: "Everybody Counts" The Fourth Annual State of the Workforce Address Delivered to the Department of Labor Washington, D.C., 1990 October 24
Folder 22: Bob Hammock Fundraiser Ontario, California, 1990 October 29
Folder 23: National Safety Council Las Vegas, Nevada, 1990 October 29
Folder 24: National Alliance of Business Los Angeles, California, 1990 October 30

Box 22

Folder 1: Scott Morgan for Congress Manhattan, Kansas, 1990 October 31
Folder 2: Alfred M. Landon Lectures on Public Issues "Reflections on the State of the American Workforce" Manhattan, Kansas, 1990 October 31
Folder 3: Reflections on the State of the American Workforce Manhattan, Kansas, 1990 October 31
Folder 4: Iowa Women's Breakfast Des Moines, Iowa, 1991 June 18
Folder 5: Gary Franks for Congress New Haven, Connecticut, Undated
Folder 6: America's Problems of our At-Risk Youths, Washington, D.C., Undated
Folder 7: Elizabeth H. Dole's Resignation Speech to the President Washington, D.C., Undated
Folder 8: Tom Tauke for U.S. Senator Speech, Iowa, Undated
Folder 9: Talking Point: Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Projects, Undated
Folder 10: Thanksgiving Speech Draft, Washington, D.C., Undated
Folder 11: Talking Points for Call to Chair- Designee of SCANS. Washington D.C., Undated

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Administrative Records, 1980 - 2006],
[Series 2: Speeches, 1980 - 1991],
[Series 3: Newsclippings, 1987 - 2015],
[Series 4: Correspondence, 1987 - 2001],
[All]