JOHN VARICK TUNNEY - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 05/09/1974 - HFSID 79096

JOHN V. TUNNEY
The U.S. Senator writes to the Office of Education, requesting information on funding for his district, signs name in blue ink
Typed letter signed: "John Tunney" in light blue ink. 1 page, 8x10½. Written on personal U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce letterhead. Washington, D.C. May 9, 1974. Address to Mr. Herman Goldberg the Associate Commissioner for Equal Educational Opportunity in Washington, D.C. In full: "I recently received the attached correspondence from one of my constituents, Mr. Charles Kenney, concerning ESAA funding for the Santa Ana Unified School District. I would appreciate a clarification of this situation. Kindly mark it to the attention of Barbara Little, of my staff. Sincerely". John V. Tunney (b. 1934), the son of former world heavyweight boxing champion Gene Tunney, was future Senator and Presidential brother Edward "Ted" Kennedy's roommate at University of Virginia Law School, and the two became lifelong friends. Tunney, a Democrat, represented California for six years each in the US House of Representatives (1965-1971) and Senate (1971-1977), winning the Senate seat over incumbent Republican George Murphy despite Ronald Reagan's landslide re-election as Governor. Robert Redford's 1982 film The Candidate was reportedly inspired by Tunney's 1977 Senate race. Both his Senate primaries were closely and bitterly contested, and Tunney narrowly lost his bid for a second term. Tunney's involvement in politics after leaving office was minimal, but he did carry "back channel" messages to Moscow from Ted Kennedy in 1980 and again in 1983. Normal mailing folds. Light surface creases. Light stains throughout. Ink time stamp in bottom margin. Corners rounded. Toned. Otherwise, fine condition.