New York State Assistant Secretary to the Governor James L. Sundquist Personal Correspondence

Alphabetical.

James L. Sundquist served as Assistant Secretary to the Governor from January 1, 1955 to December 1956, at which time he resigned to accept an appointment as legislative assistant to Senator-Elect Joseph S. Clark of Pennsylvania. He was succeeded by Robert L. McManus.

Sundquist served for a number of years on the staff of the United States Bureau of the Budget and as an assistant to the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1953 to 1954. McManus was formerly a political reporter and legislative correspondent for the Binghamton Press, and was appointed in May, 1955 to the position of deputy director of publicity in the New York State Department of Commerce. He served in this position until December 1956.

Sundquist's principal responsibility was to assist Governor Harriman in his role in national politics by establishing and maintaining contacts with party leaders throughout the nation. His past experience with the Democratic National Committee was especially valuable in this respect and especially useful in Governor Harriman's bid to secure the Democratic presidential nomination in 1956. He also assisted the Governor in accumulating background and briefing material for the Governor's speeches and preparing drafts of many of these speeches.

This series consists of letters received and copies of letters sent to James Sundquist relating to non-official affairs. Included are requests for jobs, invitations, congratulation letters for his new position, and political inquiries.

B2325Series B2325, Subject files, contains records created by James L. Sundquist during his tenure as Assistant Secretary to Governor Harriman.

This series was transferred to Syracuse University from Governor Harriman in 1959, and was transferred to the New York State Archives in 2006. It was accessioned in July 2011.

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