Bruce A. Morrison Papers

Collection

Identifier: 1991-0021

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The Bruce Morrison Papers contain the office files of four legislative assistants to Mr. Morrison during his Congressional membership from 1983-1990, including documentation of his campaigns, as well as constituent correspondence for the period; his unsuccessful campaign for governor of Connecticut in 1990; his association with the Federal Housing Finance Board (FHFB) from 1995 through 2000; and his involvement with the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform, also named the "Jordan Commission" after its chairwoman Barbara Jordan. The collection further documents his work to mobilize the Irish vote in support of Bill Clinton during the 1992 presidential campaign through the group Irish-Americans for Clinton/Gore as well as other issues relating to Ireland and the Irish people.

Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available in the Library digital repository. Please see specific series for more information.

Dates

undated, 1980-2000

Access

The collection is open and available for research with the exception of Series X: Federal Housing Finance Board and fragile original audiovisual materials requiring the production of reference copies.

Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.

Biography

Bruce Morrison is Chairman of the Morrison Public Affairs Group (MPAG), which he founded in 2001 to conduct and supervise a broad practice involving strategic advice and representation for both domestic and international clients. His work involves advocacy in both Congress and the Executive branch, as well as building alliances within the private sector. His areas of expertise include immigration policy, financial services, housing finance, privacy, and intellectual property. Prior to founding MPAG, he was Vice Chairman of the Washington office of GPC International.

From 1995 to 2000, Mr. Morrison served as Chairman of the Federal Housing Finance Board, an independent agency regulating the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks, a wholesale banking system with assets in excess of $600 billion. In this role, he developed and implemented a far-reaching strategy to modernize the business of the Banks.

His work included the successful advocacy of the passage of the Federal Home Loan Bank Modernization Act of 1999, a bi-partisan effort which provided for new powers for the Banks, devolution of management, and a modern risk-based capital structure. Mr. Morrison provided the Banks with new business opportunities in housing finance and economic development through pilot programs and regulatory innovations. He spearheaded the agency through an aggressive regulatory agenda in the first six months of 2000 to implement the statutory changes and institutionalize the expanded authority of the Banks.

From 1983 to 1991, Mr. Morrison represented the Third District of Connecticut (New Haven) in the U.S. House of Representatives. He served on the Banking Committee, playing a leadership role in financial services oversight, housing and housing finance, and U.S. policy regarding the World Bank, the IMF, and the LDC debt crisis.

He also served on the Judiciary Committee, where he specialized in intellectual property issues, bankruptcy law, consumer protection policy, including privacy, and immigration. As chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee, he led the passage of the Immigration Act of 1990, a comprehensive reform, which included expanded admission of skilled workers. He also served on the committees on Veterans Affairs and the District of Columbia, and on the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families.

Mr. Morrison was the Democratic candidate for Governor of Connecticut in 1990. From 1991 to 1995, he was a partner in the law firm of Morrison & Swaine, specializing in immigration and international trade and investment. In 1992 and 1996, he was Co-Chairman of Irish- Americans for Clinton-Gore, and served throughout the Clinton Administration as an advisor and intermediary in the Irish peace process. From 1992 to 1995, he was a member of the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform.

Mr. Morrison holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from MIT and a master's degree in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois. He is a graduate of the Yale Law School.

Extent

127 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Bruce Morrison served as a member of Congress from Connecticut's third district from 1983-1991.

Arrangement

The papers have been arranged in five series; two subsequent additions have not yet been integrated into the main body of the collection.

Series I: Legislative Assistant: Paul Drolet (undated, 1982-1990) contains papers filed by the Senior Legislative Assistant to Bruce Morrison. Mr. Drolet's chief responsibilities were with the Banking and Judiciary Committees. The series in arranged in four subseries: Record Statements, Issues and Legislation, Banking and Finance, and Subject Files. Record Statements records the proceedings and debates of the 98th to 101st Congressional sessions, 1983-1989, with news clippings of the Congressional Record, along with summary statements by Morrison. Issues and Legislation, 1982-1990, includes materials on budget, defense, foreign affairs, as well as files on organizations such as Nationwide Insurance and the Federal Employee Union. Banking and Finance contains files on the Federal Savings & Loan Insurance Corporation bailout, as well as material on the subject of financial deregulation. Subject Files (1982-1990) includes information on campaign finance, credit access files, letters of testimony on banking regulations and the Connecticut credit crunch, Long Island Sound issues, and long term care. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Series II: Legislative Assistant: Stuart Gaul (undated, 1980-1990) contains files concerning the Select Committee on Child, Youth, and Family Services, as well as information on environmental issues. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Series III: Legislative Assistant: Nora Engel (1983-1989) contains information on issues reviewed by Nora Engel from 1983-1989. Issues included are the 1988 Drug Bill and the fatal accident which occurred during the construction of the L'Ambiance Plaza in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Series IV: Legislative Correspondent: P. Knight Elsberry (undated, 1982-1990) contains the files of one of the several staff members who wrote letters for Mr. Morrison and is divided into several subseries: Issues and Legislation (undated, 1982-1990), Robos Letters (1983-1990) and KB Letter Subject Headings (1983-1990). Included in these files is information on the Iroquois natural gas pipeline, Price-Anderson Insurance, and the U.S. Citizenship of tennis professional Ivan Lendl in 1987. Also included in this series are KB and Robos letters, which are computer printout format letters filed according to subject headings such as taxes, trade, animal rights, and foreign affairs. Some KB letters have been filed under a subject heading, whereas others are filed according to the KB Entry number. In addition, there are press clippings from 1987-1990 on Connecticut issues pertinent to Bruce Morrison and his office.

Series V: Legislative Correspondence (undated, 1983-1990) contains mail received by Morrison's office from constituents. The series includes correspondence from individuals and representatives of business, as well as organized citizen response to issues and legislation. This series is arranged by year and month, from January 1983 through December 1990.

Series VI: Congressional Campaign Files (1978-1989) includes materials relating to Bruce Morrison's successful election bids for the Connecticut 3rd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1988.

Series VII: U. S. Commission on Immigration Reform (1992-1999) includes correspondence, clippings, memos, and publications relating to Bruce Morrison’s service on the commission. Morrison was particularly well-suited for his appointment to this committee because of his career as an immigration lawyer, his legislative work on the US Immigration Reform Act of 1990, and his interest in Irish-American immigration.

Series VIII: Ireland (1992-2000) contains the correspondence, itineraries, and briefings surrounding his travel to Ireland, correspondence, files on individuals, groups, or events and human rights issues as they relate to Ireland. Series IX: 1990 Gubernatorial Campaign (1984-1991) includes files complied by Bruce Morrison (Democrat) during his unsuccessful campaign for governor of Connecticut in 1990.

Series X: Federal Housing Finance Board (1995-2000) contains the speeches, articles, and interviews of Bruce Morrison, clippings relating to the FHFB, correspondence with congressmen, as well as draft legislation. This series is restricted until the correspondence is reviewed. Please contact the curator for information.

Series XI: Moving Images and Sound Recordings (1980-1999)

Acquisition Information

The papers were donated to the University of Connecticut libraries by Bruce A. Morrison in December 1990. Additional materials were donated in 1994 and 2000.