Press, Media, and Speeches, 1996 - 2009

The Press, Media, and Speeches series is 19.3 feet (19 cartons plus one smaller box) of material from Senator Chuck Hagel's office in the U.S. Senate from 1997 to 2009. Unless otherwise specified the materials are arranged within each subseries in chronological order. The fourteen subseries range in size from one folder to multiple boxes. Key subseries are described below.

The Interviews subseries is one foot (one carton) of material related to Hagel's interviews with press and media outlets. The most common type of document is the "Media Interview Request" form filled out by staff members when a newspaper, television, radio station, or journalist wanted an interview with, or appearance by, Hagel. The forms specified who, what, when, where, how long, the topic to be discussed and any additional information. These were then routed to appropriate senior staff and the Senator himself for further notes and approval. Similarly, the series consists of email correspondence with media outlets detailing the nature of the requested interviews. Files also contain extensive notes taken during interviews, as well as selected transcripts of interviews.

The Media Conference Calls subseries is 1.75 feet (almost two cartons) of material and consists of transcripts, talking points, press releases and call lists from Hagel's regular conference calls with media between June 1998 and February 2008. Transcripts appear to be complete transcriptions of conference calls. Most files dated before 2000 are transcripts. Talking points were prepared by Hagel staff and listed important topics and events for Hagel to reference during conference calls. Supplementary memorandums, clippings, letters and press releases were often attached to the talking point files. Handwritten notes are common on these documents. Most files dated after 2000 are talking points. Press releases announced upcoming media conference calls. Call lists contained contact information for journalists at national and Nebraska-based news organizations. Revised drafts of call lists are sometimes attached to the final copy.

The Op-Eds and Articles subseries is one foot (one carton) and contains opinion editorials and articles written or co-written by Hagel, with assistance from Hagel staff members, between February 1997 and July 2007. These articles appeared in newspapers, magazines, organization newsletters, and trade publications. Common publications include but are not limited to The Washington Post, New York Times, Omaha World Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, and the Daily Record. Files include related drafts, staff memorandums, correspondence, other articles used for reference, and clippings of the final article as they appeared in these publications. Some articles were never been published or were released ultimately as newsletter articles for Nebraska constituents. The most common topic was foreign relations.

The Press Conferences subseries is .25 feet (one quarter of a carton) of material and contains documents pertaining to Hagel's scheduled press conferences between January 1997 and September 2007. There is a gap in material from 1998 to 2000. Common file types include press releases, transcripts, Hagel staff notes and memorandums, talking point lists with supplemental material, and correspondence with press conference hosts.

The Press Correspondence subseries is .25 feet (one quarter of a carton) of material and contains incoming and outgoing correspondence between Hagel and members of the press from March 1997 to April 2006. This correspondence is generally personal (e.g., congratulatory notes, "thank you" letters, etc.) and separated between incoming and outgoing correspondence. The majority of files are outgoing.

The Press Releases subseries is 3.25 feet (over three cartons) of material and contains press releases issued by Hagel's office from November 15, 1996 (following his election, but before taking office) to December 1, 2008. Press releases covered a wide variety of national and Nebraska issues and news of pending legislation in the U.S. Senate. Files also contain press release drafts and related staff memorandums.

The Speeches subseries is 5 feet (across six cartons) of material and contains speech scripts and drafts, speaking requests, correspondence about speaking events, and various other material related to the speeches. The speeches touch on a wide variety of topics, including: the importance of diplomacy, the challenges of foreign policy in the 21st century, veterans, and the Iraq War. File dates range from August 9, 1996 to October 12, 2008.