{"value"=>"<p>Ashe was named captain of the United States Davis Cup team in September 1980 and served through five annual campaigns until his resignation following the 1985 matches. The bulk of the Davis Cup Captaincy, 1980-1986, series has been retained in the order established by Ashe, by year and opponent, and includes correspondence, clippings, and programs. The series also includes additional general correspondence, drawsheets, forms, schedules, financial statements, and agreements.</p> <p>The material documents the excitement of Ashe and his supporters during the first two years of his captaincy as the team won the Cup and the challenges of the last three years when it lost. It also reflects the generational changes taking place in the tennis world. Of particular interest are the articles and correspondence criticizing the sportsmanship of team members Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe during a number of matches, especially the 1984 final against Sweden, and the subsequent debates among tennis officials over whether to institute an official code of conduct. Additional letters congratulating Ashe on his appointment as captain or commenting on his resignation may be found in the General Correspondence sub-series of the Correspondence series.</p>"}