Scope and arrangement
The Clifton Daniel papers mainly reflect his actions and accomplishments as Managing Editor of The New York Times. His administration brought a series of innovations into the news coverage and news presentation of the paper. As Daniel said in an interview about his time with the paper, "The main tendency of the innovations was to produce a lighter, brighter, more readable, more interesting, and more human newspaper."
The collection covers the years from the late 1950's to 1977. It consists of 38 boxes of correspondence, memoranda, reports, studies, news clippings, transcripts, and notes relating to the operation of the News Department of The New York Times, The New York Times News Service, broadcasting activities of The New York Times and issues concerning the news media. The collection does not document Mr. Daniel's activities from 1973 to 1976 as the chief Washington correspondent.
The Clifton Daniel papers are divided into two series: I. People and the II. Subjects.
The People section contains two kinds of correspondence: that between Mr. Daniel and members of The New York Times staff and that between Mr. Daniel and others. The folders are listed in straight alphabetical order. The titles are personal names and do not distinguish staff members from others. Correspondence pertaining to a particular subject in the Subjects section was transferred to that section with the proper cross reference placed in the Biographical File series.
The Subjects files consist of material relating to subjects relevant to all areas of the news operation of The New York Times such as: the role of the Executive Editor and the Managing Editor, the relationship between the New York office and the Washington Bureau, the operation of the Broadcast, Foreign, Metropolitan, National and Makeup desks, the Bullpen operation, and the reporting of cultural, financial and political news.
In addition, the Subjects files contain material on Mr. Daniel's participation in discussion on a wide variety of issues concerning the news media. Some of the most prominent issues are: Free Press and Fair Trial, Freedom of the Press, Right of Access, and Public Interest versus Private Right. These files contain a text copy of many of the speeches that he made. For example, his famous speech on the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba addresses the issue of the Press and National Security.
The New York TImes Company records. Clifton Daniel papers are arranged in two series: