New York State Counsel to the Governor Legislative Records

Chronological.

Governor W. Averell Harriman chose Judge Daniel Gutman, President Justice of the Municipal Court of New York, as his counsel. Mr. Gutman, a former Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and an Assistant District Attorney of Kings County, served in the New York State Assembly from 1938 to 1939 and the New York State Senate from 1939 to 1943. In 1943, he was elected as a justice of the Municipal Court and in February 1954, he was appointed President Justice.

The duties of the counsel to the governor included clearing and making recommendations on proposed legislation; acting as liaison between the Governor's Office and the State Legislature; negotiating interstate or international agreements; clearing all contracts, as to content and form, which required the governor's signature (Power Authority contracts, etc.); making recommendations on all appointments to the judiciary; acting as liaison between the governor and all investigative bodies; and making recommendations on applications for executive clemency.

Milton D. Stewart, the Executive Assistant to the Counsel, served on the staff of the United States Bureau of the Budget from 1951 to 1953. He also served as Director of Research of the President's Committee on Civil Rights, as staff consultant to the United State Senate Small Business Committee, and as Director of the Mayor's Committee on Unity in New York City. During the 81st Congress he was Administrative Assistant to a member of the House of Representatives. He served as Executive Assistant to Averell Harriman prior to the governor's election.

This series consists of files of the Counsel to the Governor's office relating to various types of legislation. Records include correspondence, memorandums, recommendations, lists, and copies of bills. Records relate to state legislation, bills recommended by state departments, and program bills designed to implement specific aspects of Governor Harriman's legislative program.

Records document state, departmental, and program legislation from the 1957 Extraordinary Session of the State Legislature and the First Annual Executive Legislative Institute of the same year. Files maintained by the Executive Assistant to the Counsel regarding legislation affecting counties in New York State are also included. Topics of interests include agriculture and markets, mental health, assistance for the elderly, and unemployment insurance.

This series was transferred to Syracuse University by Governor Harriman in 1959, and was transferred to the New York State Archives in 2006. It was accessioned in June 2018.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.