Please contact the contributing institution: The Lilly Library or Indiana University Digital Library Program
Papers, 1962-1980, of Birch Bayh at the Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
Electronic finding aid encoded by Beth Benda.
Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana © 2003
Repository:
Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
Indiana University
1200 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, IN 47405-5500
Phone: 812-855-2452
Fax: 812-855-3143
Email: liblilly@indiana.edu
http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly
Creator:
Bayh, Birch, 1928-
Title:
Bayh mss.,1962-1980
Collection number:
LMC 1074
Extent:
794 boxes.
Language:
Materials are in English.
Abstract:
The Bayh mss., ca. 1962-1980, consist
of papers generated and received by the office of Senator Birch Evans Bayh during
his three terms in the United States Senate representing the state of Indiana.
Access Restrictions:
The collection is undergoing further processing, and some portions of the
collection may be temporarily unavailable. Researchers can be accommodated with
advance consultation.
Acquisition Information:
Gift, 1980-1981.
Usage Restrictions:
Patrons are encouraged to communicate with the Library in advance of their visits
to ascertain availability of materials.
Photocopying permitted only with permission of the Curator of Manuscripts, Lilly Library.
Preferred Citation:
[Item], Bayh mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Biographical Note:
Birch Evans Bayh was born January 22, 1928 in Terre Haute, Indiana, son of Birch
E. and Leah Ward (Hollingsworth) Bayh. He attended public schools in Indiana;
served in the United States Army, stationed in Germany, from 1946-1948; and
after Army service attended Purdue University, graduating with a B.S. in 1951.
Following graduation he married Marvella Hern in August 1952, and attended
Indiana State University in Terre Haute for two years while also running the
family farm. In 1954 he was elected to the Indiana State Assembly, serving there
until his election to the United States Senate in 1962. Meanwhile he entered
Indiana University, Bloomington’s School of Law in 1957, receiving his J.D.,
awarded with distinction, in 1960. While a law student he continued as a state
representative and served as Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives in
1959.
In 1962 Bayh ran as a Democrat for the office of United States Senator, defeating incumbent Republican Senator Homer Capehart. Just as his deposed predecessor, Bayh would work eighteen years serving Indiana in the Senate and then be defeated for re-election by a candidate from the opposite party.
Although a junior senator, Bayh was active immediately in the legislative processes and participated in the drafting of three amendments to the United States Constitution. Less than a year in office he became the chair of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments, following the unexpected death of previous chair Estes Kefauver, August 10, 1963. Kefauver had begun hearings on the matter of presidential succession and disability, and Bayh more than ably picked up the ball and ran with it. The result was the passage and ratification, of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, of which Bayh was the principal author, in 1967. In his book, One Heartbeat Away (Bobbs-Merrill, 1968), Bayh explains in detail the difficulties involved in preparing the Amendment, the reasons and historical experiences as to why it was needed, and the seemingly endless rounds of open hearings and discussions before it was finally ratified.
Birch Bayh was also prominent in drafting the Twenty-Sixth Amendment which set the voting age at eighteen rather than the previous twenty-one. His active and significant involvement in a third amendment proposal, the defeated Equal Rights Amendment, and his efforts to reform the Electoral College in U.S. presidential elections are further highlights of Bayh’s work, expertise, and profound interest in the United States Constitution.
Bayh sponsored and co-authored Title IX of the Higher Education Act. Title IX is the section that pertains to equal opportunity for women in all programs and activities, including sports, in educational institutions that receive federal funding. He was chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence from 1977 through 1980. As a member of the Judiciary Committee’s Juvenile Delinquency Subcommittee, he was the chief architect of the Juvenile Justice Act. He was closely involved in the efforts seeking District of Columbia representation in Congress and played an important role in reforming laws pertaining to patent, antitrust, and alternative energy development. He served on the Senate Public Works Subcommittee on the Environment for a decade, participating in decisions that led to federal criteria for clean air and clean water regulations. He also provided leadership within Congress in forming programs for the assistance of disabled citizens and the mentally ill. Throughout his professional career he championed causes relating to senior citizens, the handicapped, women, and all minorities. He has worked strenuously to increase cancer research and has served as chairman of AIDS Action Council.
Upon leaving the Senate in 1981, Bayh formed a law firm in Washington, D.C., served as Chairman of the Institute Against Prejudice and Violence from 1984 through 1994, and was appointed to the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board by President Clinton in 1995. Birch Bayh continues to practice law in Washington as a partner with the firm Venable, Baetjer, Howard, and Civiletti, and undoubtedly enjoys the presence of his son, Evan, there as the present junior senator from Indiana.
| January 22, 1928 | Born in Terre Haute, Vigo County |
| 1946-1948 | Served in the United States Army, 1946-1948 |
| 1951 | Graduated from Purdue University School of Agriculture, Lafayette, Ind. |
| 1952-1953 | Attended Indiana State University, Terre Haute |
| 1954-1962 | Member, Indiana State House of Representatives, serving as minority leader in 1957 and 1961, and as speaker in 1959. |
| 1960 | Received J.D. from Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington. |
| 1961 | Admitted to Indiana bar and began practice in Terre Haute. |
| 1962 | Elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate. |
| 1963 | Named by U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce as one of America's ten outstanding young men. |
| 1964 | National Chairman of the Young Citizens for Johnson-Humphrey. |
| 1968, 1974 | Reelected to U.S. Senate. |
| 1976 | Unsuccessful candidate for Democratic Party presidential nomination. |
| 1977 | Served as Chairman, Select Committee on Intelligence (through 1980). |
| 1981 | Founded law firm of Bayh, Connaughton & Malone, P.C. |
| 1984 | Served as Chairman, Institute Against Prejudice and Violence (through 1994). |
| 1995 | Appointed to Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board by President Clinton. |
| 2003 | Practices law in Washington, D.C. at Venable, Baetjer, Howard & Civiletti, LLP. |
The Bayh mss., ca. 1962-1980, consist of papers generated and received by the office of Senator Birch Evans Bayh during his three terms in the United States Senate representing the state of Indiana. Present are the following categories of materials: constituent / issue mail; files of legislative and office assistants, usually accessible by name of assistant; Bayh’s roll call votes and voting records; campaign files for all three senatorial elections as well as for his unsuccessful attempt for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976; press files including copies of Bayhlines (newsletter), press releases and speeches; committee files including the Judicial Committee, the Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments, the Rules Committee, et al.; and audio visual materials including photographs, audio and video tapes, and films. Also present are two cartons of drafts, research notes and page proofs for A Heartbeat Away, published by Bobbs-Merrill in 1968; awards; and personal files relating to Marvella Bayh’s death of breast cancer at age 46 in 1979, and condolences received, as well as other family, colleague, and correspondence from friends.
Assistants files present include Chris Aldridge, Jay Berman, Bob Blaemire, Lew Borman, Joni Buck, Larry Conrad, Larry Cummings, Geoff Grodna, Bob Keefe, Steve Lesher, Greg McManus, Tim Minor, Clark Norton, Howard Pastor, Darry Sragow, Jay Townsend, Bill Wise, and Office Manager, (Mrs. K.) Alice Koutsoumpas
A box inventory is available in the Lilly Library.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in IUCAT , the IU Libraries' online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the catalog using these terms.
