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Max S. Baucus Papers, 1944-2016 (bulk 1974-2014)

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Baucus, Max S. (Max Sieben), b. 1941
Title
Max S. Baucus Papers
Dates
1944-2016 (bulk 1974-2014) (inclusive)
Quantity
937.4 linear feet, (808 microfilm reels), (21 oversized items), (149 artifacts), (913.66 gigabytes of digital material)
Collection Number
Mss 862
Summary
Max Baucus was a Montana congressman who served in the Montana House of Representatives from 1973 to 1974, the U.S. House of Representatives from 1975 to 1978, and the U.S. Senate from 1978 to 2014, and served as the U.S. Ambassador to China from 2014 to 2016. This collection includes administrative files, constituent correspondence, sponsored and cosponsored bills, floor and hearing statements, committee files, voting records, legislative subject files, press materials, and campaign files and ephemera, as well as some personal material.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula. All files from Max Baucus' terms in the US Senate - with the exception of press clips, press releases, speeches, floor statements, sponsored and cosponsored bills, and photographs - are fully restricted until 2044.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Max Sieben Baucus (born Enke) was born on December 11, 1941 at St. Peter's Hospital in Helena, Montana, to Stephen Enke and Jean Sheriff. His sister, Karen, was born two years later in Stanford, California. The Enkes separated and Jean moved with Max and Karen back to Montana. Jean married John J. Baucus Jr., a former Air Force officer, in March of 1947. Max Baucus spent the remainder of his childhood in Helena, while spending summers and weekends at the Sieben family ranch. Baucus’ first foray into public service took the shape of his participation in the American Legion Montana Boys State in 1958, where he was elected Most Outstanding Citizen. This appointment led to his nomination as one of two Montana representatives to the American Legion Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. in 1959, where he met Senators James Murray and Mike Mansfield, and Representatives Lee Metcalf and LeRoy H. Anderson. After graduating from high school in 1959, Baucus attended Carleton College in Minnesota for one year. He then transferred to Stanford University, where he graduated in 1964 with a B.A. in Economics. During his time at Stanford, Baucus spent a year traveling internationally, a trip which was to significantly shape his world view and spark a desire for a career in public service. He subsequently received an L.L.B. from Stanford University Law School in 1967.

Baucus moved to Washington, D.C. after law school, where he spent three years working as a lawyer for the Securities and Exchange Commission. It was there that he first met with Senator Mike Mansfield to discuss the idea of running for office. He moved to Missoula, Montana in 1971 to practice law. He was a staff member for the Montana Constitutional Convention, first as the Executive Assistant to Leo Graybill, Jr., President of the Constitutional Convention, and then as the Executive Director. Baucus was elected to the Montana House of Representatives in 1972, representing Missoula. He conducted his first Congressional campaign in 1975, beating incumbent Dick Shoup to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Baucus served two terms in the House, from 1975-1978, and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1978.

As the longest-serving U.S. Senator from Montana, Baucus served in the Senate from 1978 to 2014, winning six consecutive elections. During that time, he served nearly 10 years as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, as well as two years as Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee. He also served on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Small Business, and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Significant legislative accomplishments include amendments to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1976; tax reform efforts in the 1980s and 2000s; the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990; the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) of 1998; the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act of 2013; securing federal recognition and support for the asbestos crisis in Libby, Montana; and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010. Baucus was a strong advocate for rural communities throughout his tenure in both the House and Senate, introducing and supporting legislation surrounding rural health care, postal service, and air service. He also worked extensively on trade issues, and was deeply involved in negotiations regarding softwood lumber imports from Canada, beef imports from Japan, and the assignation of China’s Most Favored Nation status. Locally, Baucus founded and facilitated the triennial Montana Economic Development Summit from 2000 to 2013, a jobs summit which brought together Montana residents and renowned business leaders from around the globe.

President Barack Obama nominated Baucus to the post of United States Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China on January 7, 2014. Baucus’ nomination was subsequently confirmed by the Senate on February 6, 2014, and he assumed his ambassadorial duties on March 20, 2014. He served as Ambassador until January 20, 2017. Baucus currently resides in Montana.

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Content Description

This collection, the Max S. Baucus Papers, represents the material sum of Max Baucus’s political career, from his work at the Montana Constitutional Convention to his appointment as the United States Ambassador to China. It includes manuscript materials, artifacts and memorabilia, microfilm, audiovisual material, photographs, and electronic records produced throughout Baucus’s time in the Montana House of Representatives, the United States House of Representatives, the Senate, and ambassadorial service. These records document policy and legislation development, constituent services, Baucus’s committee service, political campaigns, his membership in the Democratic Party, and office administration. Particularly well-represented are Senate legislative materials, as well as constituent correspondence from his time in both the House and the Senate.

The collection also includes some material from Baucus’s personal life which provides a small snapshot of his daily and social activities throughout his time in public service. This material primarily takes the form of photographs, ephemera, miscellaneous correspondence and holiday cards, invitations, and notebooks.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright was not transferred to the University of Montana. The majority of copyright is retained by Max S. Baucus, though some materials may be in the public domain.

Preferred Citation

Max S. Baucus Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection has been arranged into 16 series, many of which contain subseries.

Series I: Personal, 1958-2014 and undated, 7.9 linear feet, 2.9 MB - RESTRICTED

Subseries 1: Personal, 1958-2014, 7.9 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 2: Electronic Files, 1994-2010, 2.9 MB - RESTRICTED

Series II: Montana House of Representatives, 1972-1974, 3.3 linear feet

Series III: U.S. House of Representatives: Office, 1974-1978, 4 linear feet, 1.2 MB

Subseries 1: Administrative Files, 1974-1978, 1.1 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 2: Scheduling Materials, 1975-1978, 2.9 linear feet

Subseries 3: Electronic Files, 1977, 1.2 MB - RESTRICTED

Series IV: U.S. House of Representatives: Press, 1974-1978, 3.9 linear feet, 531.4 MB

Subseries 1: Press Materials, 1974-1978, 0.2 linear feet

Subseries 2: Press Clips and Press Releases, 1974-1978, 2.6 linear feet

Subseries 3: Speeches, 1975-1978, 1.1 linear feet

Subseries 4: Electronic Files, 1975-1978, 531.4 MB

Series V: U.S. House of Representatives: Constituent Correspondence, 1974-1978, 59.3 linear feet, 9 microfilm reels

Series VI: U.S. House of Representatives: Legislative, 1974-1979, 16.2 linear feet, 76.3 MB

Subseries 1: Sponsored/Cosponsored Bills, 1975-1978, 5.6 linear feet

Subseries 2: Floor Statements, 1975-1978, 0.7 linear feet

Subseries 3: Congressional Profile, 1975-1979, 0.8 linear feet

Subseries 4: Committee Files, 1975-1979, 2.8 linear feet

Subseries 5: Subject Files, 1975-1978, 6.3 linear feet

Subseries 6: Electronic Files, 1975-1978, 76.3 MB

Series VII: Senate: Office, 1979-2014, 24.1 linear feet, 2.1 GB - RESTRICTED

Subseries 1: Administrative Files, 1979-2014, 8.7 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 2: Scheduling Materials, 1979-2014, 8.7 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 3: Electronic Files, 2001-2014, 2.1 GB - RESTRICTED

Series VIII: Senate: Press, 1978-2014, 41.4 linear feet, 15.3 GB

Subseries 1: Press Clips, 1978-2014, 23.6 linear feet

Subseries 2: Press Releases, 1979-2014, 11.8 linear feet

Subseries 3: Speeches, 1979-2013, 5.9 linear feet

Subseries 4: Miscellaneous, 1980-2011, 0.1 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 5: Electronic Files, 1978-2014, 15.3 GB

Series IX: Senate: Constituent Correspondence, 1979-2014, 484.4 linear feet, 799 microfilm reels, 89.8 GB - - RESTRICTED

Subseries 1: Constituent Correspondence, 1979-2014, 478.8 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 2: Petitions, 2008-2013, 5.6 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 3: Microfilm, 1979-1988, 799 microfilm reels - RESTRICTED

Subseries 4: Electronic Files, 1979-2014, 89.8 GB - RESTRICTED

Series X: Senate: Legislative, 1975-2014 and undated, 256.1 linear feet, 45.7 GB

Subseries 1: Sponsored and Cosponsored Bills, 1979-2015, 9.5 linear feet

Subseries 2: Floor Statements, 1979-2014, 9.8 linear feet

Subseries 3: Congressional Profile, 1979-2014, 43.6 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 4: Voting Record, 1977-2013, 4.2 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 5: Committee Files, 1979-2014, 8.7 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 6: Subject Files, 1975-2014, 126.3 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 7: Libby Files, 1999-2010, 4.4 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 8: Staff Files, 1979-2014, 49.6 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 9: Electronic Files, 1979-2014, 45.7 GB - RESTRICTED

Series XI: Campaign, 1968-2013 and undated, 5.9 linear feet, 21 oversize items, 290.1 MB - RESTRICTED

Subseries 1: Montana House of Representatives, 1972-circa 1973, 0.1 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 2: U.S. House of Representatives, 1974-1977, 0.7 linear feet, 1 oversized item - RESTRICTED

Subseries 3: Senate, 1968-2013, 5.1 linear feet, 20 oversized items - RESTRICTED

Subseries 4: Audiovisual, 1955-2008, 120 audio recordings, 299 video recordings - RESTRICTED

Subseries 5: Electronic Files, 2000-2002, 290.1 MB - RESTRICTED

Series XII: Political, 1971-2015, 1 linear feet - RESTRICTED

Subseries 1: Political, 1971-2015, 1.0 linear foot - RESTRICTED

Subseries 2: Electronic Files, 1972-2003, 4.7 MB - RESTRICTED

Series XIII: Photographs, 1958-2014 and undated, 26.7 linear feet, 14 negatives boxes, 281.9 GB

Subseries 1: Photographs, 1959-2013, 25.7 linear feet

Subseries 2: Accession 2017-042, 1962-2008, 0.3 linear feet

Subseries 3: Accession 2018-043, 1978-2008, 0.4 linear feet

Subseries 4: Photographic Negatives,1982-2003, 3.2 linear feet

Subseries 5: Electronic Files, 1958-2014, 282 GB

Sub-Subseries 1: U.S. House of Representatives, 1975-1978, 2.40 GB

Sub-Subseries 2: Senate, 1958-2014, 279.0 GB

Sub-Subseries 3: Accession 2019-033, 2007-2011, 565.7 MB

Series XIV: Audiovisual, 1955-2014 and undated, 959 audio and video recordings, 475.1 GB - RESTRICTED

Subseries 1: Audio Recordings, 1978-2008, 203 audio recordings - RESTRICTED

Subseries 2: Video Recordings, 1955-2014, 756 video recordings - RESTRICTED

Subseries 3: Electronic Files, 1976-2014, 475.1 GB - RESTRICTED

Series XV: Memorabilia, 1974-2014, 99 objects, 1.8 GB - RESTRICTED

Subseries 1: Artifacts, 1974-2012, 99 objects

Subseries 2: Electronic Files, 1975-2014, 1.8 GB - RESTRICTED

Series XVI: Ambassadorial, 2013-2017, 1.1 GB - RESTRICTED

Custodial History

Materials in this collection were transferred to the Archives by Max Baucus and various staffers, the majority of which were shipped to the Archives from storage at the Washington National Records Center in Suitland, Maryland. The transfer of some electronic records was also facilitated by the Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate.

Acquisition Information

This collection was deposited at the University of Montana Archives and Special Collections by the creator, Max S. Baucus, in April 2014. Subsequent accessions were added to the collection in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Processing Note

The collection was processed between December 2014 and August 2018. Series determinations loosely followed the original organizational schema of the material, and folders within subseries are arranged in either alphabetical or chronological order. Staff files are the exception, where folders are first arranged alphabetically by staffer name and original order is maintained therein. Duplicates, case files, published works by authors other than Max Baucus, unsuccessful academy applications, job and internship applications, sampled petitions, and non-essential memorabilia have not been retained. Original folders were kept where possible, though most were disposed of due to their acidic nature; all material has been rehoused in archival-grade boxes.

Electronic records were obtained via network transfer and conversion of physical media—including external hard drives, CDs, DVDs, thumb drives, and floppy disks—and consist of both born-digital and digitized materials. These records are arranged by series, though some series do not contain electronic records. Original file names have been retained, excluding files which were not organized or described.

Related Materials

A series of oral history interviews were conducted with Max Baucus in 2017 and 2018, and are housed in the Archives and Special Collections at the Mansfield Library (OH 456).

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Diplomatic and consular service, American--China.
  • United States--Politics and government--20th century.

Personal Names

  • Baucus, Max S. (Max Sieben)--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Montana. Legislative Assembly. House of Representatives.
  • United States. Congress. House.
  • United States. Congress. Senate.

Geographical Names

  • Montana--Politics and government--20th century.
  • United States--Foreign relations--China.

Occupations

  • Ambassadors--United States
  • Diplomatic and consular service, American--China
  • Legislators--United States

Finding aid prepared by Natalie Bond
2018

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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