The Presidential Historical materials of Clement E. Conger are in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration under the provisions of Title I of the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-526, 88 Stat. 1695) and implementing regulations. In accordance with the Act and agency regulations, an archivist reviewed the file group to identify personal and private materials and non-historical items. When found, these items are returned.
Materials covered by the Act have been archivally processed and are described in this register. Original photographic materials have been transferred to the audiovisual holdings of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. Whenever possible, photocopies have replaced the original photographic materials in the open boxes.
Employees of the National Archives will review periodically the unclassified portions of closed materials for the purpose of opening those which no longer require restriction. Certain classified documents may be declassified under authority of Executive Order 13526 in response to a Mandatory Review Request (NA Form 14020) submitted by the researcher.
Linear Extent of Materials: 11 linear inches
Number of boxes: 2
Approximate Number of Pages: 1,000
Clement Ellis Conger was born on October 15, 1912, in Harrisonburg, Virginia. A career officer of the United States Department of State, Conger was instrumental in the restoration and curation of the Department of State’s Diplomatic Reception Rooms, the White House, and Blair House.
Conger was educated at Strayer College and George Washington University. During World War II, he served in the United States Army. He attained the rank of Major and worked as a secretary with the wartime Combined Chiefs of Staff. In 1947, he became a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State. During the years 1949-1961, Conger served as Assistant Director in the Bureau of German Affairs, then Assistant Chief of Protocol, the Deputy Chief of Protocol. He again served as Deputy Chief of Protocol 1969-1970.
In 1961, he became curator of the Department of State’s Diplomatic Reception Rooms where he transformed the modern steel and glass building interior spaces into rooms replete with 18th century furnishings and architectural details. In various capacities, his work on the Diplomatic Reception Rooms continued until 1992. While working for the Department of State, Conger also took on the role of White House Curator during the Nixon administration.
It is not known when he was given the nickname “The Grand Acquisitor” for his expertise and resourcefulness in seeking out and obtaining both private donations and historic decorative art pieces but by March 1977, Conger was the subject of a New York Times article titled “White House Acquisitor.”
Building on the collection of approximately 1,000 pieces added to the White House by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Conger more than doubled the number of art objects and antiques during the presidencies of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter. In particular, First Lady Pat Nixon and Clement Conger worked together on the period refurbishment of the White House’s red, green, and blue reception rooms.
Following his retirement from the State Department in 1992, he worked as a consultant for the auction house Christie’s. He spent the last chapter of his life in Delray Beach, Florida where he died of complications from pneumonia on January 11, 2004, at the age of 91. He was survived by his wife of 55 years, Lianne Hopkins Conger, and their three children.
In March 1970, Clement Conger succeeded James R. Ketchum as White House Curator. He held the post until 1986 when he was succeeded by Rex Scouten. During his tenure, Conger worked on at least 27 rooms in the White House including the president’s bedroom, the press room, and multiple reception rooms while continuing to work as the first curator of the Department of State’s Diplomatic Reception Rooms.
The materials are arranged in one subject file series. The subject file series contains correspondence, White House press releases, and newspaper clippings related to topics including loans of items owned by Julie Nixon Eisenhower to cultural institutions, press releases related to President Nixon’s hospitalization in July 1973, and letters from the public who sought to paint President Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon’s portraits.
Notably, the series does not contain documents pertaining to the refurbishment of various White House rooms. Related materials may be located in the White House Central Files, Staff Member and Office Files of the First Lady’s Press Office and the White House Central Files, WH (White House Administration) Subject Files.
Series I: Subject Files, 1970-1974
Boxes: 1-2
Spans: March 1970-July 1974
Description: The series is arranged alphabetically and contains memorandums, correspondence, clippings, and press releases. Subjects include handcrafts by Julie Nixon Eisenhower, museum loans, the 1970 Heritage Ball attended by the President and First Lady, requests to paint portraits of the President and First Lady, and President Nixon’s 1973 bout with viral pneumonia.
Box 1
CREWEL – Julie [1 of 2]
CREWEL – Julie [2 of 2]
Julie – Items on loan to Museums – Items sold at auction
JULIE EISENHOWER’S TEA SERVICE
GOP QUILT
“HERITAGE BALL” 11/17/70 (Penn. Academy of the Fine Arts) [1 of 3]
“HERITAGE BALL” 11/17/70 (Penn. Academy of the Fine Arts) [2 of 3]
“HERITAGE BALL” 11/17/70 (Penn. Academy of the Fine Arts) [3 of 3]
MRS. NIXON’S PORTRAIT
PORTRAIT REQUEST – NIXON [1 of 8]
PORTRAIT REQUEST – NIXON [2 of 8]
PORTRAIT REQUEST – NIXON [3 of 8]
PORTRAIT REQUEST – NIXON [4 of 8]
Box 2
PORTRAIT REQUEST – NIXON [5 of 8]
PORTRAIT REQUEST – NIXON [6 of 8]
PORTRAIT REQUEST – NIXON [7 of 8]
PORTRAIT REQUEST – NIXON [8 of 8]
PRESIDENT’S ILLNESS JULY 1973
