A Guide to the Governor Gerald L. Baliles Executive Papers, 1986-1990
Accession Number 33702 and 33707
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia



Contact Information:
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference)
Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference)
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov (Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/

Processed by: Roger Christman

© 2004 By the Library of Virginia. All rights reserved.

Conditions of Use

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

Privacy protected information closed for 100 years from date record created.

Preferred Citation

Virginia Governor (1986-1990 : Baliles), Executive Papers, 1986-1990. Accession 33702 and 33707, State Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Accession 33702 transferred from Office of the Governor, 11 January 1990; Accession 33707 transferred from Office of the Governor, 12 January 1990.

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Library of Virginia
Accession number: 33702 and 33707
Title: Governor Gerald L. Baliles Executive Papers, 1986-1990
Physical Characteristics: 70.20 cubic feet
Language: English

Scope and Content

Executive Papers, 1986-1990, including correspondence, form letters, memorandums, minutes, pamphlets, programs, reports, relating to Baliles term as governor. The majority of this collection consists of general correspondence from constituents to the Governor and an attached copy of the response of the Governor, Governor's Office, or the appropriate cabinet secretary or state agency. These records document the Governor's response to topical issues during the administration of Governor Gerald L. Baliles. In addition to mail from the general public (which includes invitations, requests for assistance on a variety of issues, and stances on policy), these records also include letters to and from federal and state agencies, local government officials, Virginia General Assembly members, member of the United States Congress, and others including the United States President, governors of other states and other members of Congress regarding legislative proposals, issues, and bills.

Correspondence from the Governor's Office, in addition to those written by Governor Baliles, include, David K. McCloud, Chief of Staff, 1986, Andrew B. Fogarty, Chief of Staff from 1986 to 1989, Leonard L. Hopkins, Jr., Chief of Staff from 1989 to 1990, H. Benson Dendy, III, Special Assistant to the Governor and Secretary to the Cabinet from 1986 to 1989, Patricia L. Lambeth, Alan D. Albert, Meredith L. Strohm, and Robert B. Jones, Jr., Special Assistants to the Governor.

Correspondence to and from Cabinet secretaries include, Carolyn J. Moss, Secretary of Administration from 1986 to 1990, Richard M. Bagley, Secretary of Commerce and Resources (1986) and Secretary of Economic Development from 1986-1988, Curry A. Roberts, Secretary of Economic Development from 1988 to 1990, Donald J. Finley, Secretary of Education from 1986 to 1990, Stuart W. Connock, Secretary of Finance from 1986 to 1989, Eva S. Teig, Secretary of Human Resources from 1986 to 1990, John W. Daniel, III, Secretary of Natural Resources from 1986 to 1990 and Vivian E. Watts, Secretary of Transportation and Public Safety from 1986 to 1990.

Correspondence to and from Virginia's Congressional delegation include Paul S. Trible, John W. Warner and Charles S. Robb.

Biographical Information

Gerald L. Baliles was born in Patrick County, Virginia on 8 July 1940. He was educated in the public schools of Patrick County until high school when he attended Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Virginia and graduated in 1959. Baliles graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut in 1963 and received his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1967.

From 1967 to 1975, Baliles worked in the Virginia Attorney General's Office as an Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General. After leaving the Attorney General's Office in 1975, he joined the law firm of Partner, Bell, Lacey and Baliles and began his career in Democratic politics. He defeated incumbent Howard Carwile for the 35th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates (representing Henrico County and the City of Richmond). Baliles served in the House of Delegates from 1976 to 1982.

In 1981, Baliles ran for Attorney General and narrowly defeated Wyatt B. Durrette, 50.9% to 49%, part of a Democratic sweep of the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Baliles served as Chairman of the Southern Association of Attorneys General and was selected as the most outstanding attorney general in the United States by his peers in the National Association of Attorneys General in 1985.

Baliles sought the governorship in 1985. He defeated Lieutenant Governor Richard Davis in the state party convention to win the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and once again defeated Wyatt B. Durrette in the general election, 55.2% to 44.8%. Baliles was sworn in on 11 January 1986 and became the sixty-fifth Governor of Virginia.

The Baliles administration focused primarily on transportation, trade and economic development and education. In 1986 appointed a Commission on Transportation for the 21st Century to study the Commonwealth's future transportation needs. That same year he convened a special session of the General Assembly that passed a 12 year $12 billion transportation package to modernize the state's roads, seaports, air ports, and mass transit, partially funded by a half cent increase in the sales tax. Baliles designated 1987 as the Year of Trade, established the Secretary of Economic Development and led eight international trade trips to promote Virginia in the international marketplace. Baliles education reforms included the introduction of guidance counselors in elementary schools and requirements for students to learn foreign languages.

During his term, Governor Baliles served as chairman of the Southern States Energy Board, Southern Growth Policies Boards (1987-1988), and National Governors' Association, 1988-1989.

After his term as Governor ended in January 1990, Baliles became a partner in the Richmond law firm, Hunton and Williams, where he focuses on aviation, trade and transportation law. Baliles has two children from his marriage to Jeannie P. Baliles, Laura and Jonathan. They divorced in 1996.

Arrangement

Organized into the following series:

I. 1986
II. 1987
III. 1988
IV. 1989
V. 1990
VI. Miscellaneous

Series I through IV are each divided into the following sub-series:
A. General Correspondence
B. Associations
C. Localities
D. Governor's Office
E. Cabinet
F. General Assembly
G. Secretary of the Commonwealth
H. Legislative
I. Attorney General
J. Judicial
K. State Corporation Commission/Independent State Agencies
L. Lieutenant Governor
M. Virginia Liaison Office
N. United States Government

Contents List