Lloyd M. Bentsen, Jr., Papers, 1921-1998, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin
Some material stored offsite. Advance notice required for retrieval. Use of some records may be restricted due to format. Consult archivist.
Photographic Materials from Senator Bentsen's offices include prints, albums, transparencies, motion picture film, and videotape. The subgroup contains two series, Prints and Transparencies, 1930-1994; Motion Picture Film and Videotape, 1970-1994.
The Prints and Transparencies are divided into two subseries, Chronological File, 1971-1994 (gap June 1984-February 1985); Miscellaneous Campaign and Press Photographs, 1970-1990. The Chronological File consists primarily of official photographs stored in Bentsen's Washington, D.C., office. Personal materials from Bentsen's life before his Senate career include photographs from his World War Two service, terms as United States Representative, family photos, and images of his 1970 campaign. The bulk of the chronological files show Bentsen at work, at various official and political functions, and posing with constituents, staff members, colleagues, national political figures, foreign dignitaries, business people, and celebrities. This sub-series was created during processing. It includes personal photographs stored in Bentsen's Houston office, and images created after Bentsen's Senate term. The Miscellaneous Campaign and Press Photographs sub-series includes portraits of Bentsen and his family, and various other images similar to those in the first sub-series. The sub-series includes a limited number of negatives for images in the Chronological File. The Asman studio processed the photos, 1971-1978. Prints in the Chronological file include Asman's project/negative number penciled on the reverse. Negatives in the Miscellaneous subseries are filed by that number.
Motion Picture Film and Videotape series consists primarily of Bentsen's appearances on television news and talk shows and his statements on the Senate floor, recorded in a variety of formats. Bentsen's Press Office maintained most of these materials in Washington. Also included are recordings of Bentsen's television advertisements, both in English and in Spanish, television reports about Bentsen and interviews with him, and tapes of landmark events such as President Bill Clinton's announcement of Bentsen's nomination as Secretary of the Treasury. A number of the tapes in the series document his term as Secretary.
The Campaign Files include videotapes documenting some of Bentsen's campaigns.
Use of transparencies and some motion picture film and videotape may be restricted due to their formats. Consult archivist.
Memorabilia from Bentsen's offices includes artifacts such as plaques, paperweights, clothing, and medals; campaign memorabilia including badges and stickers; sculptures and works of art on paper; and some printed material.
Constituents, colleagues, friends and admirers gave Bentsen gifts and mementos throughout his career as a public figure. This series includes examples of these items.
Lewis L. Gould, Professor, Department of History, the University of Texas at Austin, wrote widely on American politics and the presidency. He undertook an oral history project with Senator Bentsen and interviewed him several times, 1989-1992.
The subgroup includes Gould's research files on Bentsen, which contain clippings and material collected from other repositories. They are a significant source of information concerning Bentsen's career, 1948-1970.
Materials related to Gould's interviews with Bentsen remain closed to researchers until a later date.