Thomas Corcoran Papers (Ottawa), 1977-1984 | Northern Illinois University

Collection Overview

Title: Thomas Corcoran Papers (Ottawa), 1977-1984

ID: RHC/RC/234

Extent: 14.75 Linear Feet

Arrangement:

The collection is divided into eight series: Personal Files, Legislative/Bill Files, Subject Files, Committee Files, Constituent Correspondence, County Grants and Projects, News Secretary Files, and District Office Files.

The first series, Personal Files, is divided into five subseries: Biographic, Voting and Attendance Records, Briefing Files, Subject Files, and Correspondence. Legislative/Bill Files, the second series, are arranged alphabetically by topic or by the title of the bill. Series three, the Subject Files, contains topically arranged material that cannot be directly connected to a specific bill or committee.

The fourth series, Committee Files, contains a subseries for each of the four committees. The first subseries is for the Energy and Commerce Committee, the second is for the Government Operations committee, the third is for the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee and the fourth is the Post Office and Civil Service Committee.

The seventh series, News Secretary Files, is divided into four subseries: press releases, TV/radio material (cassettes and a 16 mm color film of Corcoran), subject files, and speeches.

District Office Files, the eighth and last series, is arranged by office with two subseries: The Geneva office and the Ottawa office.

Date Acquired: 12/18/1984

Subjects: Agriculture, Corcoran, Thomas, Energy, Illinois and Michigan Canal (Ill.), Legislators, Nuclear energy., Ottawa (Ill.), Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ), United States--Politics and government

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Thomas Corcoran Congressional Papers document his career as an U.S. Representative. The material in the collection spans his four terms in Congress, beginning in January 1977 and ending in the fall of 1984. The collection is divided into eight series: Personal Files, Legislative/Bill Files, Subject Files, Committee Files, Constituent Correspondence, County Grants and Projects, News Secretary Files, and District Office Files.

The first series, Personal Files, is divided into five subseries. The first subseries contains sparse biographical information on Corcoran. The second subseries consists of published voting and attendance records. The third includes briefing memos and floor briefs on pending legislative issues. The fourth, subject files, contains information on Energy Tours and statements and memos on various topics. The fifth subseries includes correspondence to and from Corcoran and his colleagues in Congress and lobbyists.

The Legislative/Bill Files Series usually include a copy of the bill, committee reports, staff memos, and correspondence to illustrate the bill’s introduction and movement through Congress. Only bills sponsored and cosponsored by Corcoran are included in this series and may duplicate Committee Files.

Series three, the Subject Files, includes published reports, correspondence and newspaper clippings. Patrons should crosscheck subjects in the Legislative/Bill Files for related information.

The fourth series, Committee Files, includes bills, hearings, testimony, memos, minutes, agendas, and correspondence that document the committee’s work and decisions. There is a subseries for each of the four committees. The first subseries is for the Energy and Commerce Committee which replaced the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee in 1980. The second is for the Government Operations committee but the information here is extremely sparse. These files may duplicate bills found in the Legislative/Bill Files.

Constituent Correspondence, series five, contains LOMAX model letters, dead form letters, issue mail indexes, mail counts, and directories.

The seventh series, News Secretary Files, is divided into four subseries: press releases, TV/radio material (cassettes and a 16 mm color film of Corcoran), subject files, and speeches.

District Office Files, the eighth and last series, is arranged by office. The Geneva office is the first subseries and contains questionnaire results and press releases. The Ottawa office subseries contains subject files, travel schedules, and the records of Corcoran’s Congressional Advisory Committee.

Collection Historical Note

Thomas Joseph Corcoran was born on the family farm near Ottawa, Illinois on May 23, 1939. After his primary and secondary education in LaSalle County schools, he went on to graduate from the University of Notre Dame with his B.A. in 1961. He continued his education at the University of Illinois (1961-1962), University of Chicago (1962-1963), and Northwestern University (1966-1968). From 1963-1966 he served in the Army as an artillery officer. Corcoran married Helenmarie Anderson and the Corcorans have five children.

Corcoran began his political career as a legislative assistant to Illinois State Senate President Pro Tempore, W. Russell Arrington (1966-1969). After leaving this position he served as Director of the State of Illinois office in Washington, D.C. (1969-1972). Corcoran then became Staff Director for William C. Harris, President of the Illinois State Senate (1972-1974). After failing to win the Republican nomination for the 15th Congressional District in the spring of 1973, Corcoran entered the private sector to become Vice President of the Chicago Northwestern Transportation Company from 1974-1976. In November of 1976, Corcoran again ran for the 15th Congressional District Seat on the Republican ticket and defeated incumbent Democrat Tim Hall by nearly 15,000 votes. He served in that office from the 95th through the 98th Congresses (1977-1984).

While in the House of Representatives, Corcoran served on four committees: Post Office and Civil Service (1977-1984); Government Operations (1977-1978); Interstate and Foreign Commerce (1979-1980); and Energy and Commerce (1981-1984). His Energy Committee assignments reflect his legislative interests in issues such as nuclear waste, acid rain, natural gas decontrol, the Synthetic Fuels Corporation, the emergency preparedness act, and the electric vehicle act. Since his district includes several community colleges and Northern Illinois University, he also involved himself in the tuition tax credit bill. His rural constituents and his own family background of farming guide his interest in government farm policy.

In March 1984, near the end of Corcoran’s fourth term in Congress, Corcoran challenged incumbent Charles Percy in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate and lost. After losing his bid to Percy, Corcoran was appointed by President Reagan to the Synthetic Fuels Board then worked as an independent consultant to various corporations. In 1991 he became full general partner in the law firm of O’Connor and Hannan.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

Corcoran served on four committees during his term as U.S. Representative. His appointment to the Post Office and Civil Service Committee spanned his tenure (1977-1984). This committee is concerned with legislation relating to the postal service, the civil service and the census. Within this committee, Corcoran was a member of the subcommittees on Postal Operations and Services, Compensation and Employee Benefits, and Human Resources. As a freshman representative, Corcoran was a member of the Government Operations Committee (1977-1979) which reviewed legislation relating to budgeting, relations among government branches, and governmental branches and governmental operations. His subcommittee assignment was Legislation and National Security. In 1979 Corcoran began his service on the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee to oversee legislation relating to interstate commerce, communications and transportation. He was on the Energy and Power Subcommittee and the Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee. In 1980 this committee was renamed the Energy and Commerce Committee and its duties were expanded to cover energy legislation. His subcommittee assignments changed to include the Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee and the Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee. Corcoran continued to serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee until he left office in 1984.

Subject/Index Terms

Agriculture
Corcoran, Thomas
Energy
Illinois and Michigan Canal (Ill.)
Legislators
Nuclear energy.
Ottawa (Ill.)
Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )
United States--Politics and government

Administrative Information

Repository: Northern Illinois University

Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Use Restrictions: Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Acquisition Source: Thomas Corcoran

Acquisition Method: Thomas Corcoran of Ottawa, Illinois donated his congressional papers to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on December 18, 1984.

Related Materials: Researchers interested in other congressional collections held by the Center should consult Center’s Guide to Resources.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series I.: Personal Files],
[Series II.: Legislative/Bill Files],
[Series III.: Subject Files],
[Series IV.: Committee Files],
[Series V.: Constituent Correspondence],
[Series VI.: County Grants and Projects],
[Series VII.: News Secretary Files],
[Series VIII.: District Office Files],
[All]

Series IV.: Committee Files

Sub-Series A.: Energy and Commerce Committee

Box 7

Folder 42-43: Committee Meeting Memos, 1981-1983
Folder 44: Conrail, 1983

Box 8

Folder 1: Legislation Agenda, 1980-1981
Folder 2: Organization, 1981-1984
Folder 3: Staff Responsibilities, 1981-1982
Folder 4: Subcommittee Assignments, 1980-1981
Folder 5: Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee: Alcohol Fuels Transfer Act of 1981, H.R. 3057, 1980-1981
Folder 6: Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee: Construction Work in Progress Policy Act of 1983, H.R. 555, 1983
Folder 7: Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee: Nuclear Waste Media Report, 1982
Folder 8-9: Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee: Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, H.R. 6598, June-August 1982
Folder 10: Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee: Nuclear Waste Storage, Morris, Illinois Facility, 1980-1982
Folder 11: Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee: Nuclear Waste Transportation Safety Act, H.R. 4850, 1984
Folder 12-13: Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee: Public Utility Financial Reform Act (PUHCA Amend), H.R. 5220, 1981-1982
Folder 14-16: Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee: Public Utility Holding Company Act Repeal, 1981-1983
Folder 17: Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act Amend (PURPA), H.R. 6500, 1982
Folder 18: Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee: Subcommittee Members, 1981
Folder 19: Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee: Subcommittee Organizational Meeting and Agenda, 1981
Folder 20: Energy Conservation and Power Subcommittee: Three Mile Island-Nuclear Powerplant Decontamination Act of 1982, H.R. 5963, 1982
Folder 21: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System Private Financing Act, H.R. 4980, 1981-1983
Folder 22: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System Waiver Expiration, H.J.R. 467, 1982
Folder 23: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System Waiver-Metzenbaum Legislation, 1981-1982
Folder 24-28: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System Waiver Proposal, H.R. 341, 1980-1982
Folder 29: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Canadian Electricity Exports, 1983-1984
Folder 30: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Coal Severance Tax Limitation, H.R. 4841, 1981-1983
Folder 31: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Crude Oil Windfall Profits Tax Exemption, H.R. 6206, 1980-1981
Folder 32: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Energy Emergency Preparedness Act, 1982-1983
Folder 33: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Energy Emergency Preparedness Hearing, 1984
Folder 34: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Energy Policy and Conservation Act Extension, H.R. 4197, 1983-1984
Folder 35: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Energy Preparedness-International Energy Assoc., 1975-1984
Folder 36: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Low Income Energy Assistance, 1984
Folder 37: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Methanol Transportation Fuel, H.R. 4895; H.R., 5075, 1983-1984
Folder 38: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: National Petroleum Supply Evaluation Act of 1981, H.R. 4930, 1981
Folder 39: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Natural Gas Consumer Regulatory Reform Amendment of 1983, H.R. 1760, 1983
Folder 40: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Natural Gas Contract Carriage, H.R. 3565, April-May 1983
Folder 41: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Natural Gas Import Policy Act of 1982, H.R. 7379, 1982
Folder 42: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Natural Gas Issues-Hearings, 1982
Folder 43: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Natural Gas Legislative Status, 1981-1983
Folder 44: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Natural Gas Market Policy Act of 1984, H.R. 4277, 1983-1984
Folder 45: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Natural Gas Outdoor Lighting, H.R. 1464, 1981
Folder 46: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Natural Gas Pending Legislation-Hodel Statement, 1983
Folder 47: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Natural Gas Policy-Corcoran's Chemical Mfg. Assoc. Speech, 1982
Folder 48: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Natural Gas Price Decontrol, 1983
Folder 49: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Natural Gas-Subcommittee Memos, 1982-1983
Folder 50: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Natural Gas Utilization Act, H.R. 3305, 1981
Folder 51: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Oil Pipeline Rate Deregulation, H.R. 4488; H.R. 6815, 1981-1982
Folder 52: Fossil and Synthetic Fuels Subcommittee: Petroleum Marketing Practices Act Amendment, H.R. 5023, 1984

Box 9

Folder 1: Health and the Environment Subcommittee: Acid Rain-Administration Position, 1981-1984
Folder 2: Health and the Environment Subcommittee: Acid Rain-Canadian Position, 1979-1984
Folder 3: Health and the Environment Subcommittee: Acid Rain-Illinois, 1981-1984
Folder 4: Health and the Environment Subcommittee: Acidic Disposition Study and Ecosystem Mitigation Act, H.R. 1405, 1983
Folder 5-9: Health and the Environment Subcommittee: Clean Air Act-Illinois, 1977-1982

Sub-Series B.: Government Operations Committee

Box 9

Folder 10: Legislation and National Security Subcommittee: Department of Education, 1978

Sub-Series C.: Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee

Box 9

Folder 11: Subcommittee Budgets, 1979-1980
Folder 12: Energy and Power Subcommittee: Alternate Transportation Systems, H.R. 3718, 1979
Folder 13: Energy and Power Subcommittee: Budget Meetings, 1979-1980
Folder 14: Energy and Power Subcommittee: Coal Severance Tax Limitations, H.R. 6625, 1979-1980
Folder 15: Energy and Power Subcommittee: Corporate Automobile Fuel Efficiency Legislation, 1980
Folder 16: Energy and Power Subcommittee: Department of Energy Authorization Act, FY 81-82-Civilian Applications, H.R. 6627, March
Folder 17: Energy and Power Subcommittee: Department of Energy Support Services Contract, H.R. 8714, 1980
Folder 18-19: Energy and Power Subcommittee: Domestic Energy Policy Act of 1979, H.R. 5282, 1979-1980
Folder 20-21: Energy and Power Subcommittee: Electric Vehicle Act of 1979, H.R. 3718, 1979-1980
Folder 22: Energy and Power Subcommittee: Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, H.R. 7590, 1980
Folder 23: Energy and Power Subcommittee: Natural Gas Outdoor Lighting, H.R. 4576, 1979-1980
Folder 24: Energy and Power Subcommittee: Nuclear Regulatory Commission Budget Authorization, FY81, 1980
Folder 25: Energy and Power Subcommittee: Subcommittee Meeting Memos, 1979
Folder 26-27: Health and the Environmental Subcommittee: Coal Utilization Incentives Act of 1980, H.R. 8269, 1980
Folder 28: Health and the Environmental Subcommittee: Health Planning and Resource Development Amendments Act of 1979, H.R. 3917, 1977-1980
Folder 29: Health and the Environmental Subcommittee: Hospital Cost Containment and Reporting Act of 1979, H.R. 2626; H.R. 5635, 1979
Folder 30: Health and the Environmental Subcommittee: National Digestive Diseases Prevention, Cure and Control, H.R. 1650, 1979
Folder 31: Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee: Acid Rain Hearing, 1980
Folder 32: Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee: "Gas Bubble" (Natural Gas Surplus) Hearing, 1979
Folder 33-34: Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee: Hazardous Waste Hearings, 1979-1980
Folder 35: Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee: Infant Formula Hearing, 1979
Folder 36: Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee: Low-Level Radiation Health Effects Hearing, 1979
Folder 37-38: Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee: PCB-Contamination, Storage, and Disposal Hearings, 1979-1980
Folder 39: Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee: Subpoenas, 1980

Sub-Series D.: Post Office and Civil Service Committee

Box 9

Folder 40: Air Traffic Controllers, H.R. 7292, 1977-1978
Folder 41: Bills Sponsored and Cosponsored, 1978
Folder 42: Civil Service Reform Conference, 1978
Folder 43-46: Civil Service Reform and Reorganization, 1978-1980
Folder 47-48: Civil Service Reform and Reorganization, Right to Work Amendment, H.R. 11280, 1978
Folder 49: Code of Ethics Distribution, H.R. 5997, 1979-1980
Folder 50-53: Committee Budget, FY80-84, 1979-1983
Folder 54: Committee Budget Reconciliation, 1980
Folder 55: Contracting Out/A-76, 1977-1983
Folder 56: Federal Labor-Management Bill, H.R. 13; H.R. 9094, 1977
Folder 57: Franked Mail, H.R. 3355; H.R. 3777, 1979-1981
Folder 58: Full Postal Committee Meetings, 1977
Folder 59: Hatch Act, 1977
Folder 60: Junket Legislation, 1977-1979

Box 10

Folder 1: Legislation 96th/97th Congress, 1980-1981
Folder 2: Postal Workers Union Seminar and NRLC Speech, 1979-1981
Folder 3: Right to Representative Pre-termination Alliance, 1978
Folder 4: Census and Population Subcommittee: 1980 Census, 1978-1979
Folder 5: Census and Population Subcommittee: Ag Census-DeKalb Meeting, 1981-1983
Folder 6: Census and Population Subcommittee: Apportionment, 1980-1981
Folder 7: Census and Population Subcommittee: Census and Population, 1978
Folder 8: Census and Population Subcommittee: Census Review Bill, H.R. 1019, 1980-1981
Folder 9: Census and Population Subcommittee: Congressional Disapproval of Census Questions, H.R. 7894, 1980
Folder 10: Civil Service Subcommittee: Air Traffic Controllers/PATCO Strike, 1978-1982
Folder 11: Civil Service Subcommittee: Air Traffic Control Revitalization Act, H.R. 5038, 1982
Folder 12: Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee: BIA Early Retirement, H.R. 1885, 1979
Folder 13: Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee: Charge Coast of Retirement Appeals, H.R. 5837, 1980
Folder 14: Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee: COLA Bill, H.R. 987, 1979
Folder 15: Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee: Federal Firefighters-Law Enforcement Retirement, 1977
Folder 16: Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee: Federal Pay Comparability, 1977-1978
Folder 17: Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee: Illegitimate Childrens' Survivors Benefits, H.R. 2584, 1979
Folder 18: Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee: Member of Congress COLA and Benefits, 1982
Folder 19: Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee: Military Leaves/Benefits, 1980
Folder 20: Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee: Military Unionization, 1978
Folder 21: Compensation and Employee Benefits Subcommittee: Voluntary Withholding State Income Tax from Civil Service Employees, 1980
Folder 22: Employee Ethics and Utilization Subcommittee: Part Time and Flex-Time Employment, 1977-1978
Folder 23: Employee Ethics and Utilization Subcommittee: Veterans Preference, 1978
Folder 24: Human Resources Subcommittee: National Labor Relations Board Negotiations, 1981
Folder 25: Human Resources Subcommittee: Productivity, H.R. 2735, 1979
Folder 26: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Changes in Postal Service, H.R. 1300; H.R. 171, 1979-1981
Folder 27: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Changes in Postal Service, H.R. 2679, 1979-1980
Folder 28: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Citizens Postal Rate Relief Act, 1978
Folder 29: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Editorial, 1979
Folder 30: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Electric Vehicles and Energy Conservation, 1979
Folder 31: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: LaSalle Illinois Post Office Mail Processing Transfer, 1979-1980
Folder 32: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Legislative Outlook, 1983
Folder 33: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Postal Accountability, 1979
Folder 34: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Postal Appropriations, 1979
Folder 35: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Postal Policy Issues, 1981
Folder 36-37: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Postal Reorganization of 1977, H.R. 7700, 1977-1978
Folder 38: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Postal Service Act, H.R. 79, 1979
Folder 39: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Postal Service Board of Governors and Postmaster General, H.R. 2817; H.R. 174, 1981
Folder 40: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Six Day Mail System, 1977-1978
Folder 41: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Six Day Mail Delivery, H.R. 172; H.R. 2492, 1981
Folder 42: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Statement before Senate Subcommittee on Energy, Nuclear Proliferation and Federal Services, S. 3229-Postal Reform, 1978
Folder 43: Postal Operations and Services Subcommittee: Treasury/Postal Appropriations Fiscal 1981, 1980
Folder 44: Postal Personnel and Modernization Subcommittee: Mail Fraud Bill, 1978