Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Pullman, WA 99164-5610 USA
(509) 335-6691
https://libraries.wsu.edu/masc/
mascref@wsu.edu
Cage 802
Bird, Kenton, 1954-
Kenton Bird Papers
1950s-2003
1995-1997
6 Linear feet of shelf space
12 Boxes
This collection consists of papers related to Kenton Bird's
research on Thomas S. Foley, Representative from the Fifth Congressional District of
Washington State from 1964 to 1994, and Speaker of the House from 1989 to 1995. Most
materials are research files, notes, and drafts related to Bird's 1999 Ph.D. dissertation,
"The Speaker from Spokane: The Rise and Fall of Tom Foley as a Congressional Leader"
(Washington State University).
Collection materials are in English.
Journalism educator, reporter, and editor Robert Kenton Bird earned a bachelor's degree in
journalism from the University of Idaho, where he edited the student newspaper, the
Argonaut. He attended the University of Wales on a Rotary fellowship, earning a master's
degree in journalism history, and continued his graduate work at Washington State
University, earning a Ph.D. in American Studies. His doctoral dissertation is a political
biography of Tom Foley, speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1989 to
1995.
During a 15-year career as a reporter and editor, Bird worked for newspapers in Moscow,
Lewiston, Sandpoint and Kellogg, Idaho, and spent a summer at The Washington Post. In 1989,
he was a congressional fellow of the American Political Science Association, assigned as a
congressional staff member in Washington, D.C. He spent three years on the faculty at
Colorado State University before returning to the University of Idaho in 1999. In 2003, he
was appointed director of the University of Idaho School of Journalism and Mass Media.
This collection consists of papers related to Kenton Bird's Ph.D. dissertation, "The
Speaker from Spokane: The Rise and Fall of Tom Foley as a Congressional Leader" (Washington
State University, 1999). It includes planning and research notes, drafts, collected primary
and secondary sources (mainly reproductions), interview records including audio recordings
and notes, and video recordings (compilations of 1994 campaign advertising for Foley and his
opponent, George Nethercutt).
Series 1: Research files: Chronological - This file sequence follows the chronology of Tom
Foley's career, from the 1950s to 1997. It includes collected research material (mainly
reproductions), as well as correspondence.
Series 2: Research files: Subject - This file sequence consists of research materials
arranged by topic. It includes collected research material (mainly reproductions and
clippings).
Series 3: Other research files - This series contains additional Foley research files, and
consists of notes and collected research material (mainly reproductions and clippings).
Series 4: Dissertation drafts, outlines, notes, and additional research material.
Series 5: Manuscript for "Tom Foley: The Man in the Middle" - This series includes a
complete manuscript of the book as well as production notes, interview transcripts, and
other related materials.
Series 6: Other Foley projects by Kenton Bird - This series includes book proposals,
publications, and presentations.
Series 7: Interview documentation and audiovisual media - This series consists of audio
recordings (microcassettes) of interviews conducted by Bird, interview documentation
including notes and a name and topic index, and video recordings (VHS cassettes) of campaign
advertising for Foley and his opponent, George Nethercutt.
This collection is arranged in seven series.
Audio recordings in this collection were digitized in January 2021. The audio files are
retained both as unedited wav files and as speed-corrected mp3 files in MASC’s archival
digital storage. Contact the repository for access information.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions apply.
[Item Description]
Kenton Bird Papers, circa 1950s-2003 (Cage 802)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections,
Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Kenton Bird donated these papers to the Washington State University Libraries in two
installments, in 2005 and 2012 (MS.2005.29, MS.2012.22)
Cheryl Gunselman processed this collection in 2013.
Thomas S. Foley Congressional Papers, 1964-1997 (Cage 655)
Thomas S. Foley Photographs, 1905-1995 (PC 111)
Thomas S. Foley Papers, 1962-2001 (MSSM.073)
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
Foley, Thomas S. -- Archives
United States. Congress. House -- Speaker -- Biography
Legislators -- Washington (State) -- Spokane -- Biography
Laws and Legislation
Politics and Politicians
circa 1950s-1997
Series 1: Research files: Chronological
1-4
1-71
circa 1950s-1997
Research files: Chronological
Series 2: Research files: Subject
4
72
1989
John Barry, 1989, The Ambition and the Power (J. Wright)
4
73
1994
Election overviews
4
74
undated
Gun control-NRA
4
75
1980-1989
Tribune clips
4
76
undated
Judge Ralph Foley (father), Helen Higgins Foley (mother)
4
77
undated
Heather Foley
4
78
undated
Clarice Privette
4
79
undated
Medicare
4
80
undated
Grand Coulee Dam
4
81
1966
Civil rights, fair housing
4
82
undated
District 5, pork barrel projects
4
83
1991
Term limits I (I-553, 1991)
4
84
1992
Term limits II (I-573, 1992)
4
85
1993-1995
Term limits III (lawsuit)
4
86
undated
Term limits (miscellaneous)
5
87
undated
Term limits
5
88
1991
Term limits, opposition
5
89
1991-1992
House bank scandal
5
90
undated
Bank, Post Office
5
91
undated
Post Office
5
92
1994
Internet, NFIB
5
93
undated
Pay and perks
5
94
undated
Campaign finance
5
95
1986-1988
Congress, Contra aid
5
96
undated
Foreign policy
5
97
1995
Congressional reforms, Hamilton committee
5
98
undated
First Amendment, free press, FOIA, flag
5
99
undated
Rivers and dams
5
100
1995 December
The Ragged Edge (S-R series)
6
101
undated
Great Divide--Spokane vs. Seattle
6
102
undated
J. Wright, K. Olsen (miscellaneous Foley notes)
6
103
undated
Farmers, agricultural issues
6
104
undated
Forests, logging, ESA
6
105
1995
Legislators, Leading, and Lawmaking (Sinclair)
6
106
1995
Remaking Congress
6
107
undated
LBJ Papers, University of Texas
6
108
l996
Senators on the Campaign Trail (Fenno)
6
109
undated
Former members of Congress, Northwest
6
110
undated
Henry Jackson Papers, UW
6
111
undated
Foley Papers at WSU
6
112
undated
Foley Institute, WSU
6
113
1989, 1994
Tony Coelho (1989 resignation, 1994 rehabilitation)
6
114
undated
Newt Gingrich
6
115
undated
Lee Hamilton
7
116
undated
George Nethercutt
7
117
1998-1999
Nethercutt--term limits
7
118
undated
John Sonneland
7
119
undated
Agriculture
7
120
circa 1970s
Student unrest
7
121
1967-1970
Vietnam--student protests
7
122
1966-1994
Voter pamphlet profiles
7
123
undated
Jim Wright, gun control
7
124
1988-1990
Campaign (miscellaneous)
7
125
undated
Expo 74
7
126
1976-1996
FEC reports
7
127
undated
Miscellaneous brochures and newsletters
Series 3: Other Research files
7
128
undated
Foley research (contact information)
7
129
1995 June
D.C. trip
7
130
undated
To read, write on D.C. trip
7
131
1997
D.C. trip
7
132
1997 May
D.C. trip
7
133
undated
Biographical/research strategies
7
134
undated
Official biographies of TSF
7
135-136
undated
Profiles (newspapers, magazines)
8
137
undated
Fifth District: geography, economics, population
8
138
undated
Demographics, migration
8
139
undated
Pacific Northwest politics (overviews)
8
140
1964-1988
Abstracts of votes, Fifth District
8
141
undated
State general elections (official returns and abstracts)
8
142
1996
Syllabus for course at American University (Congress and the Executive)
8
143
undated
Research notes, Foley Papers
8
144
undated
TSF schedules
8
145
undated
Foley Papers (copies from the collection at WSU)
8
146
1996
The System (Broder and Johnson)
8
147
undated
Jeff Biggs (manuscript)
8
148
undated
McCormack Institute, UMass
8
149
undated
O'Brien (2)
8
150
undated
Mike Mansfield biography (excerpt)
Series 4: Dissertation drafts, outlines, notes, and additional research material
8-10
154-162
undated
Dissertation drafts
10
163
undated
Bibliographic essay
10
164-167
undated
WSU dissertation and thesis guidelines; planning, notes, proposals, advisor questions
10
168-173
undated
Comments and corrections
10
174-175
undated
Unlabeled drafts
Series 5: Manuscript for "Tom Foley: The Man in the Middle"
11
176
2021
Front matter
11
177
2021
Chapter 1: Man in the Middle
11
178
2021
Chapter 3: A Bipartisan Speaker
11
179
2021
Chapter 4: The Political Landscape
11
180
2021
Chapter 5: Holding the Center
11
181
2021
Chapter 6: Pinnacle of Power
11
182
2021
Chapter 7: Defending the House
11
183
2021
Chapter 8: The Perfect Storm
11
184
2021
Chapter 9: Conclusion
11
185
2021
Bibliography
11
186
2021
Epilogue (folder 1)
11
187
1997-2004
Epilogue (folder 2)
11
188
2021-2022
Lewiston Tribune Photos
11
189
1994-2020, undated
Health Care
11
190
2021
Production notes and editor's comments
11
191
1947-2022
Military record / FBI files (selected)
11
192
2020, undated
Interview indices and transcripts
Series 6: Other Foley projects by Kenton Bird
12
193
1999
Book proposal, UW Press
12
194
undated
Books/query letters
12
195
1997 January 30
Research presentation
12
196
1997
Foley Institute Report article
12
197
2003
PNQ (Pacific Northwest Quarterly), volume 95, number 1. Contains Bird's article "Tom Foley's Last Campaign: Why Eastern Washington Voters Ousted the Speaker of the House."
12
197-199
undated
PNQ article (manuscripts, revisions, proofs, correspondence)
Series 7: Interview documentation and audiovisual media
12
200
undated
Interview consent forms
12
201
undated
Interviews (from unlabeled binder). Includes detailed notes and an index to names and topics.
12
202
undated
Interviews
12
203
1994
Video recordings (VHS). Compilations of campaign advertising for Foley and his opponent, George Nethercutt
13
204
1995-1997
Interview notebooks (5 items)
1995-1998
Audio recordings (microcassettes, 22 items) conducted by Kenton Bird.
13
Tape 1
July 1997
Duane Alton; Ken Casanant
13
Tape 2
20 February 1998
Tim Wirth
13
Tape 3
8 July 1997
Side A: Marilyn Cornell
Side B: Sherwin Broadhead
13
Tape 4
July 1997
Joel Prichard
Side B: Pat Gregg / Walla Walla Democrats
13
Tape 5
1997
Side A: Lloyd Meads and Joseph Moakley (May 1997)
Side B: James McClure (23 March 1997)
13
Tape 6
August 1996
Side A: Ken Degerness (1 August 1996)
Side B: John Sonneland (13 August 1996)
13
Tape 7
8 July 1996
Side A: Rick Eskill
Side B: Phyllis Pulfur
13
Tape 8
28 June 1996
Side A: Mike Lowery; Wilfred Woods and Jim Davenport
Side B: Wilfred Woods and Jim Davenport (continued)
13
Tape 9
April 1996
Foley Institute panel discussion
13
Tape 10
May 1996
Side A: R. Larson (27 May 1996)
Side B: Sid Morrison (29 May 1996)
13
Tape 11
1996
Side A: James Fallows (23 April 1996); Scott Lukins (23 May 1996)
Side B: Scott Lukins (continued)
13
Tape 12
22 March 1996
Side A: Werner Brandtt
Side B: Werner Brandtt (continued)
13
Tape 13
March 1996
Side A: Lee Hamilton (21 March 1996)
Side B: David Bonior (22 March 1996)
13
Tape 14
21 March 1996
Side A: Larry LaRocco
Side B: Larry LaRocco
13
Tape 15
May 1997
Side A: Tom Foley (19 May 1997)
Side B: Tom Foley (continued 20 May 1997)
13
Tape 16
20 March 1996
Side A: Tom Foley (continued)
Side B: Barney Frank and Al Swift
13
Tape 17
20 March 1996
Side A: Tom Foley (continued)
(Side B blank)
13
Tape 18
20 June 1995
Side A: Tom Foley
Side B: Tom Foley (continued)
13
Tape 19
27 April 1995
Side A: Les Aspin
(Side B blank)
13
Tape 20
20 March 1996
Side A: Al Swift
Side B: Al Swift (continued)
13
Tape 21
1996
Side A: Jim McDermott and Patty Murray (22 March 1996)
Side B: R. Larsen (27 May 1996)
13
Tape 22
13 August 1995
Side A: Herb Legg
(Side B blank)