Collection Description

The Leverett Saltonstall papers document Saltonstall's long career in public service. Early papers consist mainly of scrapbooks and clippings (Series XIII), speeches (Series V), and letterbooks (Series I).

Saltonstall's gubernatorial papers (Series II) document his three terms as governor of Massachusetts, 1939-1945, including his proposed budgetary reforms and other efforts to relieve economic distress in the state at the end of the Depression; his attempts to increase the efficiency of the state government during World War II; and his interest in recording and stemming the rise of anti-Semitism in war-time Massachusetts.

Saltonstall's senatorial papers (Series IV) make up the bulk of this collection. This series consists of topical and legislative files for his four terms in the United States Senate, 1945-1967, including general subject files on matters of special interest to Saltonstall: the Cape Cod National Seashore, the St. Lawrence Seaway, national defense, civilian aviation, public works issues, foreign relations, and many others. Also included in this series are documents related to his official travel, including a trip to war-ravaged Germany in April 1945; legislative files on trade issues, labor, cloture of Congressional debate, civil rights, education, the New England fishing industry, and other subjects; Saltonstall's notes from Republican leadership meetings at the White House, primarily during Eisenhower's second presidential term, 1957-1960; and notes from later meetings with Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson discussing the "missile gap," the Middle East, Cuba, and domestic matters. Other papers in this series include: papers of the Appropriations, Armed Services, and Small Business Committees; materials related to Massachusetts rivers and harbors, employment, veterans' affairs, and the post office; Saltonstall's voting record; and campaign files, including some papers of Charles W. Colson, Saltonstall's administrative assistant and campaign manager, 1956-1961. NOTE: Due to the size of Series IV, its contents are described in two separate collection guides. The first half of the series (Cartons 27-161) is described here. The second half (Cartons 162-317) is described here.

This collection also contains Saltonstall's correspondence with constituents and colleagues, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and Hubert H. Humphrey (Series III); personal and family papers (Series IX); the papers of his wife, Alice W. Saltonstall (Series X); invitations (Series VI) ; guest books and desk calendars (Series XI); books and publications (Series XII); and papers related to the writing of Saltonstall's autobiography, Salty: Recollections of a Yankee in Politics (Series VIII).

Papers dating from after Saltonstall's retirement (Series VII) include speeches and personal correspondence, as well as material related to his service on the Special Railway Board formed by President Johnson to resolve labor disputes; his trip to Plymouth, England, to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower; his interest in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; his continued involvement with the Cape Cod National Seashore; and other subjects.

This collection also contains a large number of motion picture films and audio recordings (Series XIV), including copies of a television interview program Saltonstall hosted from 1959-1960 called Report to Massachusetts. Among the senator's guests were Vice President Richard Nixon, Senators John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, and Admiral Hyman Rickover. The audio recordings primarily consist of disk recordings of speeches from Saltonstall's gubernatorial career.