Whereas: Stories from the People’s House

The Records of the Contemporary United States: Prelude to the New Millennium (1970–2004)

During the final decades of the 20th century, the United States reflected on its 200-year history while also looking forward to the new millennium. Americans grappled with the realized and unrealized promises of the nation’s founding principles. Cultural movements and technology evolved rapidly, and new politicians arrived on the scene. At home, citizens advocated for equal rights and endured an energy crisis, political scandal, and a large-scale terrorist attack. Abroad, the United States navigated a foreign policy agenda that included the Cold War, Pacific territories, and global trade. Learn more about the end of the century with these records from the House of Representatives.

As records of the past, some primary sources reflect outdated, biased, and offensive views and opinions that are no longer commonly accepted in the United States. Through civil discourse, active listening, and empathy, students should analyze these perspectives and their impact on the country’s development.

Transcriptions and downloadable PDFs of these records are available at the links below.

Discussion Questions:

• How did the Vietnam War influence the decision to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 years?
• What were the ripple effects of the Watergate scandal? What were their lasting impacts on American politics?
• What did America’s presence in the Pacific look like during this period?
• Why is it important to understand what past historical events might have taught us?
• After analyzing these records and learning about the people featured in them, make a list of the skills and qualities that Americans valued in their elected representatives during this period. Then identify the skills and qualities that today’s politicians need to be successful. How do these lists compare?

1970, Discharge Petition for the Equal Rights Amendment

Representative Martha Griffiths filed this discharge petition on June 11, 1970, to force House Joint Resolution 264 out of the Judiciary Committee to the House Floor for a vote. The resolution proposed an amendment to the Constitution for equal rights for men and women. If a bill stalls in committee for more than 30 days, a discharge petition can be used to bring the bill out of committee for consideration by the full House. On August 10, H.J. Res. 264 passed the House, but it later failed to pass the Senate before the end of the Congress.

1970, Suffrage for 18-Year-Olds

George M. Montross of Detroit sent this letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Emanuel Celler to express his outrage over the decision to lower the voting age from 21 to 18. An amendment to a bill extending the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (H.R. 4249) expanded the right to vote in national, state, and local elections to citizens 18 years and older. Previously, individual states designated the voting age in their jurisdiction.

In August 1970, the Supreme Court, in Oregon v. Mitchell, was asked to review the voting age provisions of the law. The Court decided that the law was valid for federal elections, but not at state and local levels. To avoid the complicated and costly voting procedure established by the Court’s decision—separate elections for national and state and local contests for most states—Congress scrambled to pass a constitutional amendment to lower the voting age. The proposed 26th Amendment passed the House and Senate in the spring of 1971 and was ratified by the states on July 1, 1971.

1974, Barbara Jordan on Nixon’s Articles of Impeachment

This partial transcript contains Congresswoman Barbara Jordan’s edited remarks from the Judiciary Committee’s July 25, 1974, debate to determine whether to recommend that the House adopt articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon. Stenographers generated the transcript during the televised hearing, and each Member corrected the transcript for accuracy and clarity before it was printed as an official document.

1977, Dear Colleague for a Department of Energy

During the early 1970s, energy shortages started to confound the country as demand exceeded supply. By 1977, when Members of the Committee on Government Operations circulated this letter to their fellow Representatives, the situation had become acute. In March 1977, newly elected President Jimmy Carter outlined his plans to address the energy crisis, which included asking Congress to create a Department of Energy, a federal agency to oversee energy policy and domestic production, an idea this letter deemed essential.

1978, Chairman’s Notebook on Presidential Records Act

This summary and accompanying memos were prepared for Government Operations Committee Chairman Jack Brooks for committee meetings held on July 19, 1978. The committee was considering H.R. 13500, the Presidential Records Act (PRA), legislation that would prescribe how presidential records are collected and retained, and how the public can access them.

1980, Letter to Chairman Udall

In January 1980, Delegate Antonio Borja Won Pat of Guam, Chairman of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Pacific Affairs, participated in a congressional delegation to Micronesia, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The purpose of the trip was to investigate the management of Pacific territories by the United States. This letter from Won Pat to Congressman Morris Udall, Chairman of the full committee, briefly describes the trip and promises a full account in a forthcoming report.

1982, News Release on Soviet Active Measures

The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence issued this press statement after releasing a declassified transcript of hearings held in July 1982. Representative Bill Young called for the hearings to better understand influence operations undertaken by the Soviets against the United States. These tactics included infiltration, exploitation, and manipulation of individuals and organizations to advance the Soviet cause. In this instance, some U.S. officials feared Kremlin influence on organizations advocating for halting the development, production, and deployment of nuclear weapons.

1986, Jim Bunning Election Certificate

Following the November 1986 elections, the members of Kentucky’s state board of elections signed this certificate of election for Jim Bunning and transmitted it to the Clerk of the House. Before serving on Capitol Hill, Bunning played Major League Baseball from 1955 to 1971, pitching primarily for the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. Remembered for throwing a perfect game in 1964, he was the first person elected to both the Baseball Hall of Fame and Congress. Interested in financial issues, Bunning served on both the Budget and Ways and Means Committees. He eventually chaired the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security for two Congresses. Following his six terms in the House (1987–1999), Bunning won election to the U.S. Senate, where he served from 1999 until 2011.

Ca. 2004, 9/11 Commission Map and Timeline

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, widely known as the 9/11 Commission, used poster-sized versions of this map and timeline during its public hearings investigating the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The map showed the flight paths of the four planes used in the attacks and included a timeline of each flight’s activity. The independent and bipartisan legislative commission made of Representatives and Senators provided its report and recommendations to Congress in 2004.

Interested in more records from this era?

• 1970, Letter Supporting Electronic Voting in the House
• 1970, Letter Questioning Electronic Voting in the House
• 1971, Letter on the 26th Amendment
• 1973, Letter Regarding National Folk Dance
• 1973, Lindy Boggs Oath of Office
• ca. 1973, Petition for National Folk Dance
• 1974, Nixon to Rodino
• 1975, Ball Corporation on Canning Lid Shortage
• 1975, Home Canning Equipment Shortage
• 1975, Interview of Budget Committee Chairs
• 1976, Congressional Budget Office Memo on Political Activity
• 1977, Dear Colleague to Create a Select Committee
• 1977, Joint Resolution for Representation for District of Columbia
• 1977, Whip Issue Paper on Ethics Reforms
• 1978, Alaska Lands Bill Whip Advisory
• 1981, Intelligence Committee Press Release
• 1983, Agent Orange Relief Act
• 1986, Georgia Delegation Election Certificate

This is part of a blog series about records from different eras of U.S. history. Explore “Tools for Teaching with Primary Sources” for additional tips and classroom activities.