Texas Governor George W. Bush:

An Inventory of Press Office Speech Files at the Texas State Archives, 1986, 1989-2000, undated (bulk 1995-2000)

Agency History

The governor of Texas is the chief executive officer of the state, elected by the citizens every four years. The duties and responsibilities of the governor include serving as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces; convening special sessions of the legislature for specific purposes; delivering to the legislature at the beginning of each regular session a report on the condition of the state, an accounting of all public money under the governor's control, a recommended biennial budget, an estimate of the amounts of money required to be raised by taxation, and any recommendations he deems necessary; signing or vetoing bills passed by the legislature; and executing the laws of the state. The governor can grant reprieves and commutations of punishment and pardons, upon the recommendation of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, and revoke conditional pardons. He appoints numerous state officials (with the consent of the Senate), fills vacancies in state and district offices (except vacancies in the legislature), calls special elections to fill vacancies in the legislature, fills vacancies in the United States Senate until an election can be held, and serves as ex officio member of several state boards.

The office of governor was first established by the Constitution of 1845 and superseded the office of president of the Republic of Texas. The position now exists under authority of Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution of 1876 and Texas Government Code, Chapter 401. To be elected governor, a person must be at least thirty years old, a United States citizen, and a resident of Texas for at least five years preceding the election. In 1972, the term of office was extended from two to four years, effective in 1975. Since 1856 the governor has had the use of the Governor's Mansion.

In 1999 there were 198 full time equivalent employees in the Office of the Governor. Thirteen divisions outside of the Executive Office assist the governor in carrying out his functions: Administration, Appointments, Budget & Planning, Communications, General Counsel, Legislative, Policy, Scheduling, Criminal Justice Division, Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities, Office of Film, Music, Television and Multimedia Industries, Women's Commission, and Texas Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness.

Major responsibilities of the Press Office (also known as Communications) under Governor George W. Bush included issuing press releases and media advisories on the activities and actions of the Governor, as well as First Lady Laura Bush; writing speeches for the Governor and the First Lady; collecting, copying, and distributing copies of newspaper clippings about the Governor and issues of concern to Texans; handling requests for interviews with the Governor; and creating and maintaining the Internet website for the Governor's Office. Karen P. Hughes served as Director of Communications until June 1999, when she became Governor Bush's presidential campaign spokesperson.

George W. Bush Biographical Sketch

George W. Bush served as governor of Texas from January 17, 1995 to December 21, 2000, resigning as governor in the middle of his second term to become president of the United States.

He challenged the incumbent governor, Democrat Ann Richards, running on promises to improve public education and to reform the juvenile justice system, welfare, and the state's tort laws -- the system under which an injured person may sue for damages. During the 74th Legislature in 1995, he worked with the Democrats who controlled both houses of the Texas legislature and managed to get bills passed that dealt with the four issues he had emphasized in his campaign. Bush was seen as pro-business and a consensus-builder.

Bush advocated and signed the two largest tax cuts to date in Texas history, totaling over $3 billion. To pay for the cuts, he sought (unsuccessfully) federal approval of a plan to privatize Texas' social services. Education reform was a priority throughout his terms, with legislation emphasizing local control of schools, higher standards, and a revised curriculum. Controversy has followed, with charter schools mired in financial scandals and protests against one test determining a child's promotion. After winning reelection in 1998, Bush began his bid for the presidency and was not as involved in the 76th Legislature in 1999.

George W. Bush was born July 6, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut and grew up in Midland and Houston, Texas. He graduated from Andover Academy, and received a bachelor's degree from Yale University and a master's from Harvard Business School. He served as a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard. In 1978, Bush was defeated in a run for the U.S. Congress in West Texas. He was involved in energy exploration from the 1970s into the 1980s. From 1989 until his election as governor, Bush worked with the Texas Rangers baseball organization, leading a group of partners in purchasing the team, and then serving as managing general partner. He married Laura Welch in 1977; they have two daughters.

Return to the Table of Contents

Scope and Contents of the Records

Records are speeches, newspaper clippings, audiocassette tapes, videotapes, some photographs, background and biographical information, dating 1986, 1989-2000, undated (bulk 1995-2000), from Texas Governor George W. Bush's Press Office. Files include materials used in preparing speeches, press releases, and other materials, as well as documentation of speeches as they were presented. Bush spoke at commencement ceremonies, chambers of commerce and association meetings, committee meetings, Boys' and Girls' State, and political fund-raisers. Subjects covered in the Press Office speech files include such issues as children's advocacy, juvenile and criminal justice, education, tax relief, relationships with Mexico and other countries, environmental concerns, agriculture, appointments, economy, military, health and human services, and welfare reform. Speeches are mainly text and draft copies maintained by the Press Office, ranging in date from 1994 to 1996 and 1998 with the bulk dating 1995-1996. Major speech information includes newspaper clippings, audiocassette tapes, videocassette tapes, and a few photographs, 1995-1999, covering major speeches presented by Governor Bush. Background information consists of clippings, articles, press releases, printed material, memoranda, correspondence, lists, brochures, charts, proclamations, reports, grant information, speeches, fact sheets, talking points, legislative bills, transcript, plans and proposals, agenda, executive order, drafts, maps, newsletters, resume, forms, studies, an event program, briefing material, and policy statements used in preparing speeches, press releases, and other materials. A small amount of material concerns President George H. W. Bush, father of the governor. Biographical and family information consists of newspaper clippings, magazine articles, biographical sketches, correspondence, memos, lists, a transcript, a birth certificate, introductions, and speeches, used to prepare biographical sketches, introductions to speeches, and responses to correspondents. A small amount of material concerns Barbara Bush and Jeb Bush, mother and brother to the governor.

Return to the Table of Contents

Return to the Table of Contents

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under Public Information Act exceptions, an archivist must review these records before they can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail, fax, or email including enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information requested. If our review reveals information that may be excepted by the Public Information Act, we are obligated to seek an open records decision from the Attorney General on whether the records can be released. The Public Information Act allows the Archives ten working days after receiving a request to make this determination. The Attorney General has 45 working days to render a decision. Alternately, the Archives can inform you of the nature of the potentially excepted information and if you agree, that information can be redacted or removed and you can access the remainder of the records.

Records series described in this finding aid have access restrictions specific to each of them. The terms of access are found following the series' descriptions.

Restrictions on Use

Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).

Technical Requirements

To obtain equipment needed to view the videotapes, or listen to the audiocassettes, please contact the Preservation Officer.

Researchers must wear cotton gloves when handling photographs.

Return to the Table of Contents

Return to the Table of Contents

Related Material

Return to the Table of Contents

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the subseries), Press Office speech files, Records, Texas Governor George W. Bush. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession number: 2002/151

In December 2000, Governor George W. Bush designated the George Bush Presidential Library as the repository for the records from his tenure as Governor of Texas, under authority of Texas Government Code, Section 441.201. Shortly after he left office, the records were shipped to the Bush Library in College Station, Texas. Texas Attorney General John Cornyn ruled the records are state records subject to the Texas Public Information Act and the management of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission even after transfer to a federal facility (Opinion No. JC-0498, May 3, 2002). In July 2002 the records were transferred from the Bush Library to the Texas State Archives in Austin for preparation for research use. In June 2003, a memorandum of understanding signed by representatives of the National Archives and Records Administration, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, and George W. Bush replaced a January 2002 interim memorandum of understanding. The records will be returned to the Bush Library after the project has been completed.

Processing Information

Sherry Severson, October 2003, February 2004

Tonia J. Wood, January 2005

Return to the Table of Contents

Detailed Description of the Records

Return to the Table of Contents

Return to the Table of Contents

Return to the Table of Contents

Return to the Table of Contents