Materials filed under the subject category (SO) Social Affairs pertain to social events hosted by the President or members of his family. Principal correspondents include the President, Dwight Chapin, James D. Hughes, John D. Ehrlichman, Hugh Sloan, Lucy Winchester, Bryce Harlow, Ronald Ziegler, Constance Stuart, and Stephen Bull. Other correspondents include people writing thank you notes to the President and seeking invitations to the White House. Other correspondence include thank you notes written by celebrities such as Bob Hope, John Wayne, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Art Linkletter, Jack Benny, Lou Rawls, Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, and Sammy Davis, Jr.
The terms Executive and General precede each of the SO file designations. They indicate the separation of documents according to source. The Executive files include official communications among national, forest, state, and local governments, as well as special interest groups. The General items designate correspondence between government officials and private citizens. This sometimes includes petitions and requests for information on White House social affairs.
The SO files primarily contain letters, telegrams, memoranda, and schedule proposals. Also included are newspaper and magazine clippings, which have been withdrawn for preservation purposes while photocopies remain in the files.
Related subject categories include White House Special Files: PPF Social Entertainment Office and Social Events Series.
SO SOCIAL AFFAIRS
Materials filed under SO include briefings on administrative ceremonies, scenarios for the President's information (guest lists, etiquette, dress), information for the Military Social Aides, entertainment suggestions, and White House Worship Services.
SO 1 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES SERVED IN THE WHITE HOUSE
These files represent correspondence from the general public requesting the President not to serve alcoholic beverages in the White House. Also included are domestic wine growers' objections to French wines and champagnes served in the White House.
SO 2 BREAKFASTS
These files include schedules for breakfasts before Worship Services, plans for prayer breakfasts, breakfast meetings, and notes of thanks to the President.
SO 3 DINNERS
These files consist of plans, guest lists, and scheduling for White House Dinners and after dinner entertainment. A major portion of these files consist of thank you notes from dinner guests. Some of the more famous dinner parties were for Duke Ellington, Andrew Wyeth, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, the Apollo 11 crew, and the returning prisoners of war, as well as visiting heads of state.
SO 4 LUNCHEONS
Plans, arrangements, guest lists, and scheduling make up a significant portion of these files, as well as seating arrangements, and etiquette. Luncheons were held for Senators and Congressmen, editors and publishers, retiring House Speaker McCormack, selected House Democrats, professional organizations, and foreign leaders.
SO 5 MESS
This category pertains to the White House Mess, membership rules, regulations, requests for memberships, and Mess status changes. Also included are photocopies of menus.
SO 6 RECEPTIONS
These files consist of plans, arrangements, guest lists, scheduling, and thank you notes for White House Receptions. Participants include Congressmen, Senators, ambassadors, business groups, military leaders, athletes, astronauts, returning prisoners of war, Republicans, visiting heads of state, the press, White House staff, state governors, and entertainers.
SO 7 TEAS-GARDEN PARTIES-CONCERTS
This category involves plans, arrangements, suggestions, guest lists, scheduling, and thank you notes for White House teas, garden parties, and concerts. Among noted activities are White House Lawn Parties, teas hosted by Mrs. Nixon, the Nixons' attendance at the Bolshoi Ballet performance at Wolf Trap Farm Park, the Sammy Davis, Jr. gala for POW-MIA families, and a proposal for a Rose Garden concert series.
Box 1
EX SO Social Affairs Begin-5/31/1969
EX SO Social Affairs 6/1/1969-9/30/1969
EX SO Social Affairs 10/1/1969-11/30/1969
EX SO Social Affairs 12/1/1969-12/14/1969
EX SO Social Affairs 12/15/1969-12/31/1969
EX SO Social Affairs 1/1/1970-6/30/1970
Box 2
EX SO Social Affairs 7/1/1970-9/30/1970
EX SO Social Affairs 10/1/1970-[12/31/1970]
EX SO Social Affairs 1/1/1971-1/31/1971
EX SO Social Affairs 2/1/1971-2/28/1971
EX SO Social Affairs 3/1/1971-3/31/1971
EX SO Social Affairs 4/1/1971-4/30/1971
EX SO Social Affairs 5/1/1971-5/31/1971
EX SO Social Affairs 6/1/1971-6/30/1971
EX SO Social Affairs 7/1/1971-7/31/1971
EX SO Social Affairs 8/1/1971-[12/27/1972] [1 of 3]
EX SO Social Affairs 8/1/1971-[12/27/1972] [2 of 3]
EX SO Social Affairs 8/1/1971-[12/27/1972] [3 of 3]
Box 3
EX SO Social Affairs 1/1/1973-[7/22/1974]
GEN SO Social Affairs [11/29/1968-2/7/1970] [1 of 2]
GEN SO Social Affairs [11/29/1968-2/7/1970] [2 of 2]
GEN SO Social Affairs 1/1/1971-[12/1/1972]
GEN SO Social Affairs 1/1/1973-[3/26/1974]
Box 4
EX SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House Begin-8/26/1970
EX SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House 1/1/1971-[12/20/1971]
EX SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House 1/1/1973-[8/9/1974] [Empty]
GEN SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House Begin-1/27/1969
GEN SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House 1/28/1969
GEN SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House 1/29/1969
GEN SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House 1/30/1969
GEN SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House 1/31/1969
GEN SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House 2/1/1969-2/11/1969
GEN SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House 2/12/1969-2/18/1969
GEN SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House 2/19/1969-3/5/1969
GEN SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House 3/6/1969-5/31/1969
GEN SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House 6/1/1969-[10/6/1970]
GEN SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House 1/1/1971-[10/9/1972]
GEN SO 1 Alcoholic Beverages Served in the White House 1/1/1973-[5/4/1973] [One Item]
Box 5
EX SO 2 Breakfasts Begin-12/31/1969
EX SO 2 Breakfasts 1/1/1970-9/30/1970
EX SO 2 Breakfasts 10/1/1970-[12/21/1970]
EX SO 2 Breakfasts 1/1/1971-[11/30/1972] [1 of 2]
EX SO 2 Breakfasts 1/1/1971-[11/30/1972] [2 of 2]
EX SO 2 Breakfasts 1/1/1973-[3/9/1974]
Box 6
GEN SO 2 Breakfasts [11/17/1968-10/14/1970]
GEN SO 2 Breakfasts 1/1/1971-[12/21/1972]
GEN SO 2 Breakfasts 1/1/1973-[6/25/1974]
EX SO 3 Dinners Begin-2/16/1969
EX SO 3 Dinners 2/17/1969-3/18/1969
EX SO 3 Dinners 3/19/1969-3/27/1969
EX SO 3 Dinners 3/28/1969-5/31/1969
Box 7
EX SO 3 Dinners 6/1/1969-6/11/1969
EX SO 3 Dinners 6/12/1969-6/30/1969
EX SO 3 Dinners 7/1/1969-7/17/1969
EX SO 3 Dinners 7/18/1969-8/7/1969
EX SO 3 Dinners 8/8/1969-8/20/1969
EX SO 3 Dinners 8/21/1969-9/4/1969
EX SO 3 Dinners 9/5/1969-9/30/1969
EX SO 3 Dinners 10/1/1969-10/31/1969
Box 8
EX SO 3 Dinners 11/1/1969-11/30/1969
EX SO 3 Dinners 12/1/1969-12/31/1969
EX SO 3 Dinners 1/1/1970-1/31/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 2/1/1970-2/28/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 3/1/1970-3/4/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 3/5/1970
Box 9
EX SO 3 Dinners 3/6/1970-3/31/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 4/1/1970-4/14/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 4/15/1970-4/30/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 5/1/1970-5/31/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 6/1/1970-6/30/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 7/1/1970-7/31/1970
Box 10
EX SO 3 Dinners 8/1/1970-8/31/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 9/1/1970-9/3/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 9/4/1970-9/7/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 9/8/1970-9/30/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 10/1/1970-10/31/1970
Box 11
EX SO 3 Dinners 11/1/1970-11/30/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 12/1/1970-12/31/1970
EX SO 3 Dinners 1/1/1971-2/28/1971
EX SO 3 Dinners 3/1/1971-4/30/1971
EX SO 3 Dinners 5/1/1971-5/7/1971
EX SO 3 Dinners 5/8/1971-5/31/1971
Box 12
EX SO 3 Dinners 6/1/1971-6/30/1971
EX SO 3 Dinners 7/1/1971-7/31/1971
EX SO 3 Dinners 8/1/1971-9/30/1971
EX SO 3 Dinners 10/1/1971-12/31/1971
EX SO 3 Dinners 1/1/1972-[12/31/1972] [1 of 3]
EX SO 3 Dinners 1/1/1972-[12/31/1972] [2 of 3]
EX SO 3 Dinners 1/1/1972-[12/31/1972] [3 of 3]
Box 13
EX SO 3 Dinners 1/1/1973-3/31/1973
EX SO 3 Dinners 4/1/1973-4/30/1973
EX SO 3 Dinners 5/1/1973-5/30/1973
EX SO 3 Dinners 6/1/1973-6/30/1973
EX SO 3 Dinners 7/1/1973-9/31/1973
EX SO 3 Dinners 10/1/1973-12/31/1973
Box 14
EX SO 3 Dinners 1/1/1974-2/28/1974
EX SO 3 Dinners 3/1/1974-3/31/1974
EX SO 3 Dinners 4/1/1974-5/30/1974
EX SO 3 Dinners 6/1/1974-[8/9/1974]
Box 15
GEN SO 3 Dinners Begin-7/31/1969
GEN SO 3 Dinners 8/1/1969-8/6/1969
GEN SO 3 Dinners 8/7/1969
GEN SO 3 Dinners 8/8/1969
GEN SO 3 Dinners 8/9/1969-8/11/1969
GEN SO 3 Dinners 8/12/1969-12/12/1969 [1 of 2]
GEN SO 3 Dinners 8/12/1969-12/12/1969 [2 of 2]
Box 16
GEN SO 3 Dinners 1/1/1971-[11/11/1972]
GEN SO 3 Dinners 1/1/1973-[8/9/1974]
EX SO 4 Luncheons Begin-9/30/1969
EX SO 4 Luncheons 10/1/1969-[12/18/1970]
EX SO 4 Luncheons 1/1/1971-[9/26/1972]
EX SO 4 Luncheons 1/1/1973-[6/6/1974]
GEN SO 4 Luncheons [1/27/1969-11/14/1970]
GEN SO 4 Luncheons 1/1/1971-[12/31/1972] [Empty]
GEN SO 4 Luncheons 1/1/1973-[4/19/1974]
EX SO 5 Mess [1/20/1969-12/29/1970]
EX SO 5 Mess 1/1/1973-[1/29/1974]
GEN SO 5 Mess [9/19/1969-3/25/1970]
GEN SO 5 Mess 1/1/1971-[2/7/1972]
GEN SO 5 Mess 1/1/1973-[2/4/1974]
Box 17
EX SO 6 Receptions Begin-4/15/1969
EX SO 6 Receptions 4/16/1969-4/17/1969
EX SO 6 Receptions 4/18/1969-5/5/1969
EX SO 6 Receptions 5/6/1969-7/22/1969
EX SO 6 Receptions 7/23/1969-9/30/1969
EX SO 6 Receptions 10/1/1969-10/31/1969
EX SO 6 Receptions 11/1/1969-12/31/1969
Box 18
EX SO 6 Receptions 1/1/1970-1/27/1970
EX SO 6 Receptions 1/28/1970-1/31/1970
EX SO 6 Receptions 2/1/1970-2/28/1970
EX SO 6 Receptions 3/1/1970-3/3/1970 [1 of 2]
EX SO 6 Receptions 3/1/1970-3/3/1970 [2 of 2]
EX SO 6 Receptions 3/4/1970-3/31/1970
Box 19
EX SO 6 Receptions 4/1/1970-5/31/1970
EX SO 6 Receptions 6/1/1970-6/29/1970
EX SO 6 Receptions 6/30/1970
EX SO 6 Receptions 7/1/1970-7/23/1970
EX SO 6 Receptions 7/24/1970-7/31/1970
EX SO 6 Receptions 8/1/1970-8/31/1970
Box 20
EX SO 6 Receptions 9/1/1970-9/30/1970
EX SO 6 Receptions 10/1/1970-10/31/1970
EX SO 6 Receptions 11/1/1970-11/30/1970
EX SO 6 Receptions 12/1/1970-12/31/1970
EX SO 6 Receptions 1/1/1971-1/31/1971
EX SO 6 Receptions 2/1/1971-2/9/1971
EX SO 6 Receptions 2/10/1971
Box 21
EX SO 6 Receptions 2/11/1971-2/18/1971
EX SO 6 Receptions 2/19/1971-2/28/1971
EX SO 6 Receptions 3/1/1971-3/31/1971
EX SO 6 Receptions 4/1/1971-4/30/1971
EX SO 6 Receptions 5/1/1971-5/31/1971
EX SO 6 Receptions 6/1/1971-6/30/1971
EX SO 6 Receptions 7/1/1971-8/31/1971
EX SO 6 Receptions 9/1/1971-9/30/1971
Box 22
EX SO 6 Receptions 10/1/1971-10/31/1971
EX SO 6 Receptions 11/1/1971-12/31/1971
EX SO 6 Receptions [1/1/1972-3/30/1972] [1 of 8]
EX SO 6 Receptions [3/31/1972] [2 of 8]
EX SO 6 Receptions [4/6/1972-5/16/1972] [3 of 8]
EX SO 6 Receptions [5/17/1972-6/23/1972] [4 of 8]
Box 23
EX SO 6 Receptions [6/26/1972-9/7/1972] [5 of 8]
EX SO 6 Receptions [9/8/1972-9/20/1972] [6 of 8]
EX SO 6 Receptions [9/21/1972-10/31/1972] [7 of 8]
EX SO 6 Receptions [11/2/1972-12/26/1972] [8 of 8]
Box 24
EX SO 6 Receptions 1/1/1973-2/28/1973
EX SO 6 Receptions 3/1/1973-3/31/1973
EX SO 6 Receptions 4/1/1973-4/30/1973
EX SO 6 Receptions 5/1/1973-5/30/1973
EX SO 6 Receptions 6/1/1973-7/31/1973
EX SO 6 Receptions 8/1/1973-9/30/1973
EX SO 6 Receptions 10/1/1973-12/31/1973
Box 25
EX SO 6 Receptions 1/1/1974-2/19/1974
EX SO 6 Receptions 2/20/1974-3/30/1974
EX SO 6 Receptions 4/1/1974-5/31/1974
EX SO 6 Receptions 6/1/1974-[7/24/1974]
GEN SO 6 Receptions Begin-12/10/1970
GEN SO 6 Receptions 1/1/1971-[10/23/1972]
GEN SO 6 Receptions 1/1/1973-[6/10/1974]
Box 26
EX SO 7 Teas-Garden Parties-Concerts [5/15/1969-10/21/1970] [1 of 2]
EX SO 7 Teas-Garden Parties-Concerts [5/15/1969-10/21/1970] [2 of 2]
EX SO 7 Teas-Garden Parties-Concerts 1/1/1971-[8/1/1972]
EX SO 7 Teas-Garden Parties-Concerts 1/1/1973-[5/16/1974]
GEN SO 7 Teas-Garden Parties-Concerts [4/1/1969-9/14/1970]
GEN SO 7 Teas-Garden Parties-Concerts 1/1/1971-[11/30/1972]
GEN SO 7 Teas-Garden Parties-Concerts 1/1/1973-[2/12/1973] [One Item]