Access and Provenance Biographical Sketch Scope and Content Note Box and Folder Listing

A Finding Aid to the Edward Sanders Papers Manuscript Collection No. 727 1968-1997. 8.8 Linear ft.

ACCESS AND PROVENANCE

The Edward Sanders Papers were donated to the American Jewish Archives by Edward Sanders in December 2003. All property rights are assigned to the American Jewish Archives. Literary rights to materials authored by Mr. Sanders are held by him. Literary rights to materials authored by others are held by the individual author or his/her heirs. Questions concerning rights should be addressed to the Director of the American Jewish Archives.

The Edward Sanders Papers are open to all users and available in the reading room of the American Jewish Archives

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH top

Edward Sanders was born in 1922 in New York City and moved with his family to Los Angeles at age 8. He obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and after returning from service in World War II as a Captain in the U.S. Army, received his law degree from the University of Southern California in 1950. In 1951, Sanders joined the law firm of Irell & Manella where he remained until 1978. In 1980, he was one of the founders of the firm Sanders, Barnet, Goldman, Simons & Mosk. Sanders' practice includes business and corporate matters with an emphasis on the settlement of disputes through mediation and arbitration.

Sanders has a long and distinguished record of civic and political involvement. He served as Senior Advisor to the President and the Secretary of State on Middle East Affairs during the Carter Administration from 1978 to 1980. He was involved in the Camp David agenda in September 1978, and then accompanied President Carter to Egypt and Israel in March 1979, participating as one of the senior White House staffers to help wrap up unresolved issues before the signing of the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. During his time at the White House, Sanders also served as a liaison between the Carter Administration and the American Jewish community.

Edward Sanders' prominent record of civic and communal service includes membership on the U.S. Holocaust Commission (1980-1987), Chair of the UCLA Chancellor's Community Advisory Commission (1991-1993), Chairmen of the Los Angeles Urban League (1981-1983), Presiding Officer of the National Conference of Christians and Jews (1988-1989), President of the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles (1973-1974), Chairmen of the United Jewish Fund (1970-1971), and President of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (1975-1976).

His political involvement with the Democratic Party includes being a California delegate to the Democratic National Convention (1968 and 1972), Deputy National Campaign Director of the Carter-Mondale campaign (1976), Honorary Chairman of Tom Bradley's re-election campaign (1977), and Co-chair of the National Jewish Leadership Council for Dukakis-Bentsen (1988).

He was married to Rose Eisen Sanders. They have two children: Susan Sanders Witkow of Westport, Connecticut, and Michael Sanders of Los Angeles.

Edward Sanders passed away on 7 December 2009 at the age of 87.

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE top

The Edward Sanders Papers (1968-1997) consist of correspondence, reports, nearprint, clippings, memos, and working papers that reflect Sanders' service as Senior Advisor to the President and the Secretary of State on Middle East Affairs during the Carter Administration, his extensive political work with the Democratic Party as well as his organizational work with the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles and the President's Commission on the Holocaust.

The collection falls into five series as follow:

SERIES A: SUBJECT/ISSUE FILES
SERIES B: WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENCE
SERIES C: POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
SERIES D: JEWISH FEDERATION COUNCIL OF GREATER LOS ANGELES
SERIES E: PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON THE HOLOCAUST

The SUBJECT/ISSUE FILES of Series A include memos, correspondence, clippings, press releases, notes and working papers associated with Edward Sanders' service in the Carter Administration as both a Senior Advisor on Middle East Affairs and as a liaison with the American Jewish community. Of special note in this series are files associated with the Camp David Accords (1978) and President Carter's Middle Eastern trip to finalize the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty (1979). Other significant subjects covered in the files include Black-Jewish relations, human rights, Soviet Jewry, settlements in the Israeli occupied territories, Israeli-Saudi relations, and Carter and the American Jewish community. Files are arranged alphabetically with the bulk of materials spanning the years 1978-1980.

Series B, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENCE, consists of memos and correspondence written to and from Sanders during his tenure in the White House from 1978-1980. The files are arranged alphabetically by correspondent and give insight into the range of Sanders' daily activities and involvements. Correspondents include U. S. Congressmen and Senators, members of the American Jewish community, as well as various political, legal, and personal associates.

Series C, POLITICAL ACTIVITIES, documents Sanders' involvement with Democratic Party politics both locally and nationally. Included is correspondence, nearprint, reports, clippings, press releases, notes, and political literature. Materials cover the presidential races of Robert Kennedy, George McGovern, Jimmy Carter, Michael Dukakis, and Bill Clinton as well as the Los Angeles mayoral races of Tom Bradley and Dick Riordan. There is additional material covering political activities during the Carter Administration that give insight into President Carter's relationship with the Jewish community. Files are arranged alphabetically and span dates are 1968-1994 with the bulk of materials falling in the 1970's.

Series D, JEWISH FEDERATION COUNCIL OF GREATER LOS ANGELES and Series E, PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON THE HOLOCAUST document Sanders' role in the activities of these two organizations. Records include minutes, reports, correspondence, clippings and nearprint. Of particular interest in Series D are materials documenting a controversy that erupted when the Standard Oil Company of California issued a statement during the 1973 energy crisis calling for the U.S. government to support the aspirations of the Arab people in efforts towards peace in the Middle East. The Jewish community led by the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles responded with a strong campaign ultimately resulting in Standard Oil's retraction of the statement. Files in both series are arranged alphabetically and spans dates are 1973-1997.

BOX AND FOLDER LIST top

Box	Folder	Contents

SERIES A: SUBJECT/ISSUES FILES
Arrangement: Alphabetical

1	1	Abzug, Bella. 1979.
	2	Administration accomplishments. 1978-1979.
	3	Affirmative action. 1979.
	4	American Israel Public Affairs Committee. 1977-1981.
	5	American Jewish Committee. 1978-1980.
	6	American Jewish Congress. 1979-1980.
	7	Anderson, John. 1980.
	8	Anti-inflation. 1978.
	9	Arab newspapers re: autonomy talks. 1979.
	10	Archives. 1979.
	11	Autonomy talks. 1979.
	12	Beaman, Marty. 1979.
	13	Begin, Menachem. 1978-1980.
	14	Black/Jewish relations. 1979.
	15	Blum, Yehuda. 1979.
	16	B'nai B'rith ADL. 1978-1979.
	17	B'nai B'rith ADL. 1979-1980.

2	1	Bolten, Seymour. 1979.
	2	Briefing Book: President's Carter's Record of Achievement on Issues of Concern to the Jewish 
		Community.  1980.
	3	Burnett, Scott. 1978-1979.
	4	Butler, Landen. 1978-1979.
	5	Camp David meeting. 1979.
	6	Califano, Joseph. 1979.
	7	Carter and the American Jewish community. 1978-1980.
	8	Carter and Israel - support endorsements. 1980.
	9	Carter, Billy. 1979.
	10	Carter, Jimmy (general). 1979.
	11	Carter, Rosalynn. 1978-1979.
	12	Carter/Mondale campaign. 1980.
	13	Carter/Mondale schedules. 1980.
	14	Center for Strategic Studies, Tel Aviv. 1979-1980.
	15	CCAR. 1978-1979.

3	1	Clippings after peace treaty signing. 1980.
	2	Clough, Susan. 1979.
	3	Conference of Presidents. 1978-1979.
	4	Congressional letters. 1978-1979.
	5	Coolidge, Eliska. 1978-1979.
	6	Council of Jewish Federations. 1978-1979.
	7	Democratic National Committee. 1974-1980.
	8	Egypt. 1978-1979.
	9	Egypt visit. July, 1979.
	10	Egypt, Israel, Middle East trip. March, 1979.
	11	Egypt/Israel peace treaty. 1979.
	12	Egypt/Israel peace treaty lists. 1979.
	13	Egypt/Israel relations. 1979.
	14	Egypt/Israel visit. March, 1979.

4	1	Eisenstadt, Stu. 1978-1980.
	2	Energy. 1978-1979.
	3	Feuerwerger, Marvin. 1978-1980.
	4	Funeral (Goldia Meir). 1978.
	5	General Correspondence. April, 1979.
	6	Harden, Richard. 1979.
	7	Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. 1979.
	8	Helsinki. 1978.
	9	Hospital cost containment. 1978.
	10	Human rights. 1978-1979.

5	1	Immigration/refugees. 1979.
	2	International Human Rights Award. 1979.
	3	Iran. 1979.
	4	Iranian Jewry. 1979.
	5	Israel - airbase survey. 1979.
	6	Israel - economies and investment. 1979.
	7	Israel - newspaper articles. 1979.
	8	Israel and the US. 1979.
	9	Israel/Egypt medical cooperation proposal. 1979.
	10	Israel/Saudi relations. 1979.
	11	Javits, Jacob. 1978.
	12	Jewish Telegraph Agency. 1978-1980.
	13	Jordan, Hamilton, 1978-1979.
	14	Kemp, Jack. 1978.
	15	Lebanon. 1979.
	16	Lipshutz, Bob. 1978-1979.

6	1	Mail polls weekly reports. 1978-1979.
	2	Mann, Ted. 1978-1979.
	3	McGiffert, David. 1979.
	4	Mendelsohn, Martin. 1980.
	5	Middle East trip, press clippings, telegrams. 1979.
	6	Mondale visit to Israel briefing book. June-July, 1978.
	7	Mondale trip to Middle East. June-July, 1978.
	8	Mondale California trip. 1979.
	9	Mondale, Walter. 1978-1980.
	10	Moore, Frank. 1978-1979.
	11	National Association of Arab-Americans. 1979.
	12	Near East Report, 1979-1980.	
	13	New York trip. January, 1979.
	14	Owen, Henry. 1979.

7	1	Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). 1979-1981.
	2	Palestinians. 1979.
	3	Poston, Gretchen. 1979.
	4	Presidential messages. 1979.
	5	President's schedule. 1978-1979.
	6	Press, Frank. 1979.
	7	Rafshoon, Jerry. 1978-1979.
	8	Rainwater, Betty. 1978-1979.
	9	Reagan/Bush campaign. 1980.
	10	Rocketer, Alan. 1978.
	11	Romania. 1978-1979.
	12	Saunders, Harold. 1978-1979.
	13	Schecter, Jerry. 1978.
	14	Settlements and occupied territories. 1978-1979.
	15	Shane, Joseph (letter). 1979.
	16	Sick, Gary. 1978-1979.

8	1	Soviet Jewry. 1978-1979.
	2	State of the Union speech. 1979.
	3	Statute of Limitations, Nazi war criminals. 1979.
	4	Stone, Richard. 1978.
	5	Strauss, Robert. 1978-1979.
	6	Speeches, 1979-1980.
	7	Speeches, Ed Sanders. 1980.
	8	Timerman, Jacob. 1979.

9	1	United Jewish Appeal convention, Palm Springs. 1979.
	2	Vienna summit - prisons, dissidents. 1979.
	3	Wallenburg, Raoul case. 1979.
	4	White House. 1978-1980.
	5	White House News Summary. 1979-1980.
	6	Weiser, Alfred. 1979-1980.
	7	Wise, Phillip. 1978.
	8	Women's League for Conservative Judaism. 1979.
	9	World Jewish Congress. 1978.
	10	Zionist Organization of America. 1978-1980.

SERIES B:  WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENCE
Arrangement: Alphabetical

10	1	Correspondence. A. 1978-1980.
	2	Correspondence. B. 1978-1980.
	3	Correspondence. C. 1978-1980.
	4	Correspondence. D. 1978-1980.
	5	Correspondence. E. 1978-1980.	
	6	Correspondence. F. 1978-1980.
	7	Correspondence. G. 1978-1980.

11	1	Correspondence. H. 1978-1980.
	2	Correspondence. J. 1978-1980.
	3	Correspondence. K. 1978-1980.
	4	Correspondence. L. 1978-1980.
	5	Correspondence. M. 1978-1980.
	6	Correspondence. N. 1978-1980.
	7	Correspondence. O. 1978-1980.
	8	Correspondence. P. 1978-1980.

12	1	Correspondence. R. 1978-1980.
	2	Correspondence. Sa-Si. 1978-1980.
	3	Correspondence. Sk-Sz. 1978-1980.
	4	Correspondence. T. 1978-1980.
	5	Correspondence. W. 1978-1980.
	6	Correspondence. XYZ. 1978-1980.

SERIES C:  POLITICAL ACTIVITES
Arrangement: Alphabetical

13	1	Brzezinski meeting with American Jewish Committee. March 23, 1977.
	2	Bradley, Tom. 1973-1975.
	3	Bradley, Tom re-election campaign. 1977.
	4	Briefing book, visit to Egypt. June-July, 1978.
	5	Clinton, Bill campaign. 1992.
	6	Committee for the Future of America. 1982.
	7	Dukakis, Michael campaign. 1987-1988.
	8	Dukakis, Michael campaign. 1988
	9	Dukakis, Michael campaign. 1988.
	10	Dukakis, Michael campaign. 1988.

14	1	Dukakis, Michael campaign newsclippings. 1988.
	2	Dukakis, Michael campaign, National Jewish Leadership
		Council for Dukakis/Bentsen. October, 1988.
	3	Dukakis, Michael campaign, issues of concern to the
		American Jewish community. 1988.
	4	Group, The. 1976.
	5	Group, The. 1977.
	6	Israel. 1977.

15	1	Kennedy, Robert campaign. 1968.
	2	McGovern, George campaign. 1972.
	3	McGovern, George campaign. 1972.
	4	McGovern, George campaign. 1972.
	5	McGovern, George campaign. 1972.
	6	McGovern, George convention. 1972.	

16	1	McGovern, George campaign, Israel. 1972.
	2	National Democratic Committee, Ron Brown. 1988-1996.
	3	Nearprint, 1976 campaign. 1976.
	4	Nearprint, 1976 campaign. 1976.
	5	Nearprint, 1976 campaign. 1976.
	6	Political activities. 1970.	

17	1	Political activities. 1971-1975.
	2	Political activities, pre-1976 campaign. 1976.
	3	Political activities, Jimmy Carter. 1976.
	4	Political activities, Jimmy Carter. 1976.
	5	Political activities, Jimmy Carter. 1976.
	
18	1	Political activities, Jimmy Carter. 1977
	2	Political activities, Jimmy Carter. 1977.
	3	Political activities, Jimmy Carter. 1977.
	4	Political activities, Jimmy Carter. 1978.
	5	Political activities, Jimmy Carter. 1978.
	7	Political activities, Jimmy Carter. 1978.
	8	Political activities. 1986-1994.

19	1	Presidential dinner, Los Angeles. 1977.
	2	President Carter meetings. June-July, 1977.
	3	Riordan, Dick for mayor. 1993.
	4	White House appointment. 1976
	5	White House memos. 1978-1979.
	6	White House pending matters. 1978.

SERIES D:  JEWISH FEDERATION COUNCIL OF GREATER LOS ANGELES
Arrangement: Alphabetical

20	1	Board of Directors. 1973.
	2	Board of Directors. 1973.
	3	Board of Directors. 1973
	4	Board of Directors. 1974.
	5	Board of Directors. 1974.
	6	Board of Directors. 1977.
	7	Campaign. 1972

21	1	Dispute Resolution Services Award. 1997.
	2	Jewish Community Relations Council Connectors 
		Network. 1993-1994.
	3	Soviet Jewry Operation Exodus. 1990.
	4	Standard Oil matter. 1973.
	5	Standard Oil matter. 1973.
	6	Standard Oil matter. 1973
	7	United Jewish Appeal study mission to Israel. 1969-1972.

SERIES E:  PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON THE HOLOCAUST
Arrangement: Chronological
		
22	1	Minutes, correspondence, reports. 1978.
	2	Minutes, correspondence, reports. 1979.
	3	Minutes, correspondence, reports. 1979.
	4	Minutes, correspondence, reports. 1979.
	5	Minutes, correspondence, reports. 1980-1981.
	6	Minutes, correspondence, reports. 1981.

  

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