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Archives of National Public
Radio -
Executive Office: Frank Mankiewicz Files
Processed by: Katherine Scott-Childress
December 1994
5.5 lin. ft
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Administrative History | Scope and Content | Provenance
Frank Mankiewicz was president of National Public Radio (NPR) from 1977 to 1983. He brought a variety of professional and political experiences and contacts with him to NPR that distinguished his tenure as president. He had years of experience as a journalist, writer of four books, television commentator, and syndicated columnist. In politics he had directed the Peace Corps' Latin American division, was Senator Robert F. Kennedy's press secretary, and directed the national presidential campaign for Senator George McGovern. He also practiced law for several years in California. Mankiewicz brought tremendous growth to NPR in the areas of programming, audience, distribution services, and budget. He is also associated with a financial crisis that hit NPR in 1983 and led to sizable layoffs and his own resignation.
On August 1, 1977, Mankiewicz began his work at NPR just months after a merger between NPR and American Public Radio Stations (APRS). The merger marked a new beginning for NPR as Mankiewicz reorganized the upper management and brought in new staff from the former APRS and from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). NPR began operations via satellite in 1979 which dramatically improved sound quality and distribution capabilities. The most significant change in programming under Mankiewicz was the development of the news and cultural affairs program Morning Edition which debuted in 1981. The program contributed to NPR's expanding audience which grew from 4.5 to 8.5 million listeners. Under Mankiewicz the programming, staff, and budget also grew, as the budget climbed from $3.5 to $24 million in 1980. Until 1980 NPR received 70% of its budget from federal funds. During the early 1980s that funding was cut by 50%, although the allotment for radio funding from the CPB increased as part of the Public Broadcasting Amendment of 1981 (H.R. 3238). The collection documents Mankiewicz's involvement in many joint business ventures that were part of NPR's efforts to become independent of federal funding.
This collection contains 5.5 lin. ft. of records of Frank Mankiewicz, President of NPR from 1977 to 1983. These records comprise a series of the subgroup Executive Office of the National Public Radio Archives. The files are arranged alphabetically by subject in their original order. The records within the files are arranged chronologically.
The collection consists of correspondence, memorandum, photocopies of newspaper and magazine clippings, reports, copies of legislation, drafts of contracts, and advertisements. There are 30 correspondence files covering six subject areas:
- [NPR] Board of Directors (of which Mankiewicz was a member)
- Congress (which includes Senate correspondence)
- General
- Listeners
- Resumes
- Station Affiliates
Correspondence and resumes from people seeking employment at NPR directly through Mankiewicz (often referred via personal or professional contacts) are found scattered throughout other areas of the collection as well. Correspondence with members of Congress and Senate documents Mankiewicz's extensive political contacts, including relations with Senators Edward Kennedy and Gary Hart, and Rep. Timothy Wirth. Files that deal with NPR's business ventures include; ASCOT, Cellular Radio, CODART, Compuserve, Dataspeed, Inc., National Satellite Paging Co., For Profit Subsidiary, NPR Ventures, and UPI/NPR Agreement. Files with "FCC" in their title contain records related to negotiations between the Federal Communications Commission and public radio as well as legislation. Files titled H.R. 3238, and Rewrite also contain materials related to the Public Broadcasting Amendment of 1981. Files containing information about programming include but are not limited to: Latino/Hispanic Programming, Lucasfilm LTD, Morning Edition, News and Information (from various bureaus), Music Performance, L.A. Philharmonic, Programming Proposals, St. Paul Sunday Morning, Sunday Show, and Supreme Court of the U.S. The collection also includes research on audience, ratings, and usage in files titled Research. Advertising and business consultant's reports are found in files titled Advertising Recommendation, Finance-Nicholson Report, and McKinsey and Co. Other personnel-related files are: AFTRA (containing unionization negotiations for NPR employees) and Minority Task Force.
The Archives of National Public Radio - Executive Office: Frank Mankiewicz Files was transferred from National Public Radio to the National Public Broadcasting Archives, University of Maryland Libraries in August of 1991 and in February of 1994 as part of larger accessions.
