Max Cleland Papers, Series X. Audiovisual Materials, 1975-2008

Summary

Creator:
Cleland, Max, 1942-2021
Date:
1975-2008
Extent:
969 item(s)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Max Cleland Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Background

Scope and content:

The Audiovisual Materials series contains video and audio in various formats that document all areas of Max Cleland's career, especially his service as Georgia Secretary of State (1882-1996) and U.S. Senator (1997-2002). Common subjects include public appearances, political campaigns, the military, veterans, small businesses, and the Vietnam War.

Max Cleland Papers, Audiovisual Materials includes 31 betacam videocassettes, 5 betamax videocassettes, 19 CDs, 189 audiocassettes, five DVC Pro videocassettes, 8 DVDs, 2 MiniDV videocassettes, 1 phonodisc, 1 quarter-inch open reel audio tape, three super 8mm films, 62 Umatic videocassettes, 491 VHS videocassettes, one one-inch open reel video tape, and ten 8mm videocassettes.

Biographical / historical:

Max Cleland was born in 1942 in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned a B.A. from Stetson University and a M.A. in history from Emory University in 1968. After one year at Emory, he joined the Army to fight in the Vietnam War, reaching the rank of captain. He served from 1965 to 1968, when he was injured by a grenade and lost both legs and his right arm.

Cleland began a life-long career in politics when he was elected to the Georgia state senate in 1970, the youngest member ever elected. He served as a consultant to Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs (1975-1977) and was appointed head of the Veterans Administration in 1977 by President Carter. He was the first Vietnam veteran to hold that post.

Following the end of Carter's presidential term, Cleland returned to Georgia and was elected as Georgia Secretary of State in 1982. In this position, he was responsible for enforcing regulations related to commerce, industry and licensing in the state, maintaining the state's records, and overseeing elections. He was re-elected for three more terms. He resigned during the fourth term to run for U.S. Senate to replace retiring senator Sam Nunn. Cleland, a Democrat, was elected to the Senate in 1996. Among his contributions were working on campaign finance reform, military policy (including advocating caution with U.S. peacekeeping efforts in the Balkans), taxes, commerce, improved conditions for armed services personnel, maintaining a competitive air travel industry, and voting reform. He was also part of a bipartisan panel that investigated the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. Cleland represented Georgia in the Senate until 2002, when he lost a close race to Saxby Chambliss.

After leaving the Senate, Cleland has remained active in politics, campaigning for Democrats and giving motivational speeches around the country. Since 2009, he has served as Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Source: Grant, Chris. "Max Cleland (b. 1942)." New Georgia Encyclopedia. 26 August 2013. Web. 17 April 2014.

Arrangement:

Max Cleland Papers, Audiovisual Materials is arranged into 9 subseries: A. Campaigns, B. Committees and Hearings, C. Public Appearances, D. Public Service Announcements, E. Georgia Secretary of State, F. United States Veterans Administration, G. Vietnam, H. Political, and I. Personal.

Because of the size of this collection, the remainder of the series are described in separate finding aids. A collection summary, including links to each of these series finding aids, is available online: Max Cleland Papers: Collection Summary.

Access and use restrictions

Restrictions:

Though the collection is open for research, reference copies of the audiovisual recordings are available upon request. Research requests will be filled as soon as possible and will be dependent upon the condition of the recordings.

Terms of access:

It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission to reproduce material for publication. Persons wishing to reproduce materials in the Russell Library collections should consult the Director. Reproduction or quotation of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Preferred citation:

Max Cleland Papers, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.