Public Affairs Department, 1944-2012
Part of collection: National Association of Manufacturers records (1411)
Dates
- Creation: 1944-2012
Historical Note
The Public Affairs Department’s beginnings are a little cloudy. There was no official department or division until 1963 when a NAM employee sought clarification, at which time NAM president W. P. Gullander (1908-2000) signed off on the new department. However, public affairs activities took place before the formal creation of the department. The first Public Affairs Conference was held on January 13, 1959, in Washington, DC.
In 1975, the department was moved under the Field and Public Affairs Division from the Program/Policy Division. The following year, the department merged with the Legislative and Political Affairs Department, but retained its name as the Public Affairs Department. Ken Feltman (1942-) was named Assistant Vice President, serving 1977 through 1981, at which he left to take over the Southern Division and was succeeded by Helena Hutton (1951-).
In 1994, the Public Affairs Department went through some changes. It once again moved divisions, from the Field Membership Division to the Policy and Public Affairs Division. The department’s focus was “to heighten NAM’s political clout, increase NAM membership, and solidify NAM’s position as the preeminent national business association.” In addition, the department was to oversee the public affairs and grassroot program and develop and carry out strategies to achieve NAM’s policy objectives. An emphasis was placed on NAM members and their needs - providing timely information, focusing on hot issues, and bringing Congress and members together. In 1999, the division was merged with another to become the Policy, Communications, and Public Affairs Division.
Scope and Contents
The Public Affairs Department series includes material related to the Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence from its inception in 1998; planning and papers related to the award and welcome receptions for Congress; information related to Congressional staff tours; workshops using Congressional Insight; issue briefing breakfasts, a monthly breakfast meeting with a government official speaker; and public affairs conferences and National Public Affairs Steering Committee (NPASC) conferences, which were often held concurrently. In 1999 and again in 2001, NAM held A Manufacturers’ Week in Washington: 72 Hours to Educate and Celebrate. This event gave manufacturers the opportunity to meet with members of Congress, as well as attend special events organized by NAM.
For twenty-five years, the NAM provided companies, associations, civic groups, and government entities with a political education program, Congressional Insight. In a 2.5-3 hour interactive session, the non-partisan computer simulation allowed participants to experience the range of issues and choices that face a member of Congress over a two-year period. In January 2012, the NAM made the decision to sell the rights to the program to NAM member American Petroleum Institute.
Extent
From the Collection: 1100 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Additional Description
Access Restrictions
Records subject to 25-year time seal. Litigators may not view the collection without approval.
Related Names
Creator
- From the Collection: National Association of Manufacturers (U.S.) (Organization)
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
