Scope and Content Note
The papers of Francis Ralph Valeo (1916-2006) span the years 1916-1987, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1946-1985. The collection chronicles Valeo's work as Far East specialist in the Legislative Reference Service of the Library of Congress, foreign affairs advisor to Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield, service as secretary of the Senate, and his postretirement activities as a consultant specializing in Chinese-Asian affairs. The papers are grouped in the following series: Personal Correspondence, Library of Congress, Senate File, Consulting File, and Classified.
The Personal Correspondence series contains letters from family members, friends, and colleagues to Valeo, but no copies of Valeo's outgoing correspondence. The Library of Congress series reflects Valeo's service as a Far East specialist in the Legislative Reference Service (later renamed the Congressional Research Service) in the late 1940s and early 1950s. His analyses of the postwar political, economic, and military situations in the region attracted the attention of then representative Mike Mansfield, who shared Valeo's interest in the Far East. The files include reports and bibliographies regarding China, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines.
The Senate File focuses primarily on Valeo's activities as secretary of the Senate. As secretary he was the chief administrator of the Senate's basic day-to-day operations. He maintained a close working relationship with Majority Leader Mansfield, chiefly in foreign relations. The general correspondence contains mainly letters seeking basic information on the operations of the Senate and its members. A subject file covers an array of topics and includes files created by a previous secretary, Felton M. Johnston. Prominent files pertain to meetings and discussions on political strategy by Democratic party leaders and to the Commission on the Operation of the Senate, which was charged with the reorganization of the Senate's operations in the mid-1970s. Other key files in the subject file include those relating to Far East nations such as China, Japan, Korea, Philippines, and Vietnam. Many files include clippings and background information on senators and other prominent government officials. Copies of Mansfield's statements and speeches in the Senate from 1957 to 1976 are also in the subject file.
The travel file in the Senate File documents Valeo's overseas trips from the 1950s through the 1970s as an advisor and negotiator for Mansfield and other senators. Most of the travel missions focus on Far Eastern countries where Mansfield and Valeo were most experienced. Key files pertain to three trips made to China in 1972-1976 after Richard Nixon had reestablished relations with that country. The files include correspondence and reports summarizing the findings and results of the missions as well as agendas, memorabilia, printed matter, and photographs.
The Consulting File reflects Valeo's activities after his retirement from the Senate in 1977. As a consultant he directed various Asian-related studies sponsored by the United States Association of Former Members of Congress. He also coedited a comparative study of the Japanese Diet and the U.S. Congress. The file contains reports, correspondence, and writings by Valeo.