Joseph R. Skeen Papers,
Collection
Identifier: MSS 2003-01
Scope and Content
The Joseph R. Skeen papers are comprised from Skeen's career as a U.S. Congressman representing New Mexico's Second District from 1981-2003. Winning election in November 1980 as a write-in candidate to the Ninety-Seventh Congress, Skeen served eleven succeeding Congressional terms. The collection contains office records, congressional papers and correspondence regarding selected issues, reports, legislation, press releases, public statements, and extensive newspaper clipping files (approximately 10,000 articles) concerning his tenure in office. In addition to the extensive newspaper clippings, other important files in the collection contain information on the reintroduction of the Mexican Gray Wolf, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and general topic issues pertaining to the Environment and Agriculture. The Joseph R. Skeen Papers are divided into six overlapping series:
Series I: Administrative (1981-2002, Box 1-7). These boxes contain materials regarding the administration of Congressman Skeen's office in Washington, D.C. Among the materials included are: appointment/scheduling books, congressional pictorial directories, various office manuals, voting records, constituent form letters (deactivated and active), information regarding Skeen's Town Hall Meetings (1992-1997), and general office background files.
Series II: Elections (1980-2000, Box 8-9). Contain materials related to pre- and post-election campaigns/results, biographical information, election surveys polls, statistics and election results, news releases, fundraising and Republican Party information.
Series III: Public Statements (1981-2002, Box 10-11).This portion is a key body of information representative of Congressman Skeen's public stands on issues. It includes, general speeches, radio scripts, newsletters, topical remarks, and background files of information compiled for his speeches. Included in Box 11, Folders 54-57, are the files for the Republican Whip Committee for 1989-1992 of which Skeen was a member.
Series IV: Legislation (1981-2002, Box 13-18). Materials include legislative initiatives regarding, agriculture, Carlsbad Caverns, education, environment and conservation (especially irrigation and water projects), Haiti, health care, the Hatch Act, the Mexican Grey Wolf/Spotted Owl, Holloman AFB, White Sands/Missile Range dispute, Mimbres Monument, national laboratories, NAFTA, Petroglyph Monument, the Primate Research Lab, the "Roswell Incident," Roswell airport, the NM Space Port, and extensive information on the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
Series V: Newspaper Clippings (1981-2002, Box 19-22). Box 19 contains newspaper clippings divided by NM counties from 1996-2001. The counties referenced are, Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Cibola, DeBaca, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Hildalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Otero, Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia Counties. Boxes 20-22 contain general, but extensive newspaper clippings on the career of Congressman Skeen and issues relating to New Mexico's Second Congressional District and NM politics.
Series VI: Video and Audio Tapes (Box 23-28). Box 23 contains video footage related to Skeen's interviews, campaigns, and commercials. Boxes 27 and 28 contain audio footage (reel-to-reel and cassette formats) of election campaign commercials, forums and meeting tapes that involve Congressman Skeen. Boxes 24, 25, and 26, contain videos and audio tapes of a general interest and many are commercially produced. The following issues are covered: the history of Congress, Republican party politics, US Defense/Security issues, background information on international topics, and issues of contemporary political interest (see individual titles listed in the inventory).
Series I: Administrative (1981-2002, Box 1-7). These boxes contain materials regarding the administration of Congressman Skeen's office in Washington, D.C. Among the materials included are: appointment/scheduling books, congressional pictorial directories, various office manuals, voting records, constituent form letters (deactivated and active), information regarding Skeen's Town Hall Meetings (1992-1997), and general office background files.
Series II: Elections (1980-2000, Box 8-9). Contain materials related to pre- and post-election campaigns/results, biographical information, election surveys polls, statistics and election results, news releases, fundraising and Republican Party information.
Series III: Public Statements (1981-2002, Box 10-11).This portion is a key body of information representative of Congressman Skeen's public stands on issues. It includes, general speeches, radio scripts, newsletters, topical remarks, and background files of information compiled for his speeches. Included in Box 11, Folders 54-57, are the files for the Republican Whip Committee for 1989-1992 of which Skeen was a member.
Series IV: Legislation (1981-2002, Box 13-18). Materials include legislative initiatives regarding, agriculture, Carlsbad Caverns, education, environment and conservation (especially irrigation and water projects), Haiti, health care, the Hatch Act, the Mexican Grey Wolf/Spotted Owl, Holloman AFB, White Sands/Missile Range dispute, Mimbres Monument, national laboratories, NAFTA, Petroglyph Monument, the Primate Research Lab, the "Roswell Incident," Roswell airport, the NM Space Port, and extensive information on the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
Series V: Newspaper Clippings (1981-2002, Box 19-22). Box 19 contains newspaper clippings divided by NM counties from 1996-2001. The counties referenced are, Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Cibola, DeBaca, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Hildalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Otero, Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia Counties. Boxes 20-22 contain general, but extensive newspaper clippings on the career of Congressman Skeen and issues relating to New Mexico's Second Congressional District and NM politics.
Series VI: Video and Audio Tapes (Box 23-28). Box 23 contains video footage related to Skeen's interviews, campaigns, and commercials. Boxes 27 and 28 contain audio footage (reel-to-reel and cassette formats) of election campaign commercials, forums and meeting tapes that involve Congressman Skeen. Boxes 24, 25, and 26, contain videos and audio tapes of a general interest and many are commercially produced. The following issues are covered: the history of Congress, Republican party politics, US Defense/Security issues, background information on international topics, and issues of contemporary political interest (see individual titles listed in the inventory).
Dates
- 1972-2003 (bulk 1981-2002)
Language of Materials
English.
Access Restrictions
None from Donor. Please check with NM Tech Library Director for current institutional updates.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication allowed for research purposes. Check with library staff for institutional policies and procedures regarding copy, duplication, and scanning possibilities (i.e., cost per page for copying print materials, copy limits per day, duplication of non-print materials, fees for negative and audio visual duplication, etc.)
Biographical
Joseph Richard "Joe" Skeen, a Republican sheep rancher from Picacho, was born in Roswell (Chaves County), New Mexico on June 30, 1927. He attended local public and parochial schools before graduating in 1944 from O'Dea High School, a Catholic preparatory school for young men, in Seattle, Washington. In 1950 he earned a B.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering from Texas A&M University. From 1945-1946 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and from 1949-1952, he served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Putting his engineering training to use in 1951, he worked as a soil and water engineer for Zuni Pueblo, the Ramah Navajo Indians, and the Navajo Nation before purchasing the family sheep ranching operation near Picacho (Lincoln County), New Mexico, from his grandmother. About this time, he also successfully operated a flying service out of Ruidoso, New Mexico.
Energetic and enthusiastic, Skeen represented his neighbors in the New Mexico State Senate from 1960-1970, serving six of those years as Republican leader. During this decade, he consistently served as a delegate to State Republican Conventions and, in 1964, as a delegate to the Republican National Convention. From 1962-1965 he held the powerful position of New Mexico Republican Party Chairman. Among his many legislative interests over this decade can be counted the improvement of mine safety in the state, and advancements in agriculture, aviation, and transportation. In addition, a significant legislative effort by State Senator Skeen led to the first major overhaul of the state's corrections system.
In 1970, Skeen became the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor and campaigned along with gubernatorial hopeful, Pete V. Domenici. The candidates lost this election, but both eventually secured Congressional seats. In 1974, against Jerry Apodaca, and in 1978, against Bruce King, Skeen ran as the Republican party's gubernatorial candidate. He lost both elections by the slimmest of margins--less than 1%. Not one to be discouraged by political defeat, Skeen continued to be active in party and state politics.
By 1980, New Mexico's Second Congressional District was represented by popular Democrat Harold "Mud" Runnels, who was running unopposed in the general election. His untimely death from a heart attack in August--just before the elections--left a ballot position vacant. Despite a rule in the U.S. Constitution that required a special election to fill a vacancy in the House of Representatives, Governor Bruce King refused to call one. Instead, he had the name of his nephew, David King, placed on the ballot to replace Runnels in that election. The Republican Party countered by nominating Joe Skeen as its candidate. Skeen carried the constitutional question for the Republicans to the New Mexico District Court, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, and eventually to the U.S. Supreme Court. After a lengthy hearing, the Supreme Court denied him a place on the ballot. Skeen, however, intensified his write-in campaign despite pressure from friends and party politicos to drop out of the race. On November 4, 1980, Skeen emerged victorious by significant margins over David King and Dorothy Runnels, the widow of the former Congressman who had also initiated a write-in campaign after being denied the nomination by the Democrats. Skeen's election was history making in that it marked only the third time in American history that a write-in candidate had been elected to Congress.The first two write-in candidates to reach Congressional offices were, Strom Thurmond from North Carolina in 1954, and Dale Alford from Arkansas in 1958. Since Skeen's historic election, Congressman Ron Packard of California won election on a write-in ballot in November 1982. Moreover, it was the first time a major New Mexico office had been won on write-in votes.
New Mexico's Second Congressional District is geographically huge and very diverse. During Skeen's tenure, it was one of the largest districts in the continental United States (fifth), bordering three states (Arizona, Colorado, Texas), and Mexico. Of the three districts in New Mexico, the 2nd encompassed a complex myriad of interests that became priorities for Congressman Skeen. Farming, ranching, rural economic development, states' rights, mining, oil and gas, veterans issues, military bases, scientific installations, wildlife sanctuaries, national forests, Native Americans and water, private property rights, balanced government budgets, and less intrusive government, as well as transnational issues, all vied for his attention. By 1981, Congressman Skeen was a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science and Technology. In 1985 he became a member of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations. When Republicans gained control of the House in 1994/95, Skeen was appointed Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. He also served on the National Security Appropriations Subcommittee, and by 2001 he rotated in as Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee which oversaw the budget for national parks, federal land agencies, and government Indian programs--all very important to New Mexico's interests and constituents.
Congressman Skeen's friendly manner worked easily with his commitments to constituents as he stayed focused on fair and equitable tax structures for working families and business, a balanced national budget, fair treatment for retirees and the aged, gun control, judicial reform and crime control, and improved education and technology initiatives. He maintained a strong pro-business bent with regard to labor, championed a strong national defense, and promoted foreign aid that countered the growth of non-democratic governments. Congressman Skeen was frequently honored over the years for his legislative activism and support. For many consecutive years, he earned the Golden Bulldog Award for his efforts to cut federal spending, eliminate waste, and reduce the national deficit. His other honors include the National Federation of Independent Business' Guardian of Small Business Award, and the Spirit of Enterprise Award given by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for his pro-business voting record. In 1990, the highest honor bestowed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, The Golden Plow Award, was presented to Congressman Skeen.
The first two write-in candidates to reach Congressional offices were, Strom Thurmond from North Carolina in 1954, and Dale Alford from Arkansas in 1958. Since Skeen's historic election, Congressman Ron Packard of California won election on a write-in ballot in November 1982.
Through the years, Congressman Skeen maintained memberships in the New Mexico Wool and Cattle Growers Associations, the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, the Conquistador Council/Boy Scouts of America, and the Fraternal Orders of Elks and Eagles. He married the former Mary Helen Jones in 1945, and they became the proud parents of two children, Lisa and Mike. They have three grandchildren. In 1997 Skeen announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease which slowed his pace over the last few years. However, he still maintained one of the highest voting records in Congress (98%-100%) over his last few years. Congressman Skeen retired from public service in 2003 and returned to the family's 15,000 acre sheep ranch near Picacho, New Mexico. His congressional papers were committed to New Mexico Tech in July of 2002, to be housed at the Joseph R. Skeen Library.
Energetic and enthusiastic, Skeen represented his neighbors in the New Mexico State Senate from 1960-1970, serving six of those years as Republican leader. During this decade, he consistently served as a delegate to State Republican Conventions and, in 1964, as a delegate to the Republican National Convention. From 1962-1965 he held the powerful position of New Mexico Republican Party Chairman. Among his many legislative interests over this decade can be counted the improvement of mine safety in the state, and advancements in agriculture, aviation, and transportation. In addition, a significant legislative effort by State Senator Skeen led to the first major overhaul of the state's corrections system.
In 1970, Skeen became the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor and campaigned along with gubernatorial hopeful, Pete V. Domenici. The candidates lost this election, but both eventually secured Congressional seats. In 1974, against Jerry Apodaca, and in 1978, against Bruce King, Skeen ran as the Republican party's gubernatorial candidate. He lost both elections by the slimmest of margins--less than 1%. Not one to be discouraged by political defeat, Skeen continued to be active in party and state politics.
By 1980, New Mexico's Second Congressional District was represented by popular Democrat Harold "Mud" Runnels, who was running unopposed in the general election. His untimely death from a heart attack in August--just before the elections--left a ballot position vacant. Despite a rule in the U.S. Constitution that required a special election to fill a vacancy in the House of Representatives, Governor Bruce King refused to call one. Instead, he had the name of his nephew, David King, placed on the ballot to replace Runnels in that election. The Republican Party countered by nominating Joe Skeen as its candidate. Skeen carried the constitutional question for the Republicans to the New Mexico District Court, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, and eventually to the U.S. Supreme Court. After a lengthy hearing, the Supreme Court denied him a place on the ballot. Skeen, however, intensified his write-in campaign despite pressure from friends and party politicos to drop out of the race. On November 4, 1980, Skeen emerged victorious by significant margins over David King and Dorothy Runnels, the widow of the former Congressman who had also initiated a write-in campaign after being denied the nomination by the Democrats. Skeen's election was history making in that it marked only the third time in American history that a write-in candidate had been elected to Congress.The first two write-in candidates to reach Congressional offices were, Strom Thurmond from North Carolina in 1954, and Dale Alford from Arkansas in 1958. Since Skeen's historic election, Congressman Ron Packard of California won election on a write-in ballot in November 1982. Moreover, it was the first time a major New Mexico office had been won on write-in votes.
New Mexico's Second Congressional District is geographically huge and very diverse. During Skeen's tenure, it was one of the largest districts in the continental United States (fifth), bordering three states (Arizona, Colorado, Texas), and Mexico. Of the three districts in New Mexico, the 2nd encompassed a complex myriad of interests that became priorities for Congressman Skeen. Farming, ranching, rural economic development, states' rights, mining, oil and gas, veterans issues, military bases, scientific installations, wildlife sanctuaries, national forests, Native Americans and water, private property rights, balanced government budgets, and less intrusive government, as well as transnational issues, all vied for his attention. By 1981, Congressman Skeen was a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science and Technology. In 1985 he became a member of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations. When Republicans gained control of the House in 1994/95, Skeen was appointed Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. He also served on the National Security Appropriations Subcommittee, and by 2001 he rotated in as Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee which oversaw the budget for national parks, federal land agencies, and government Indian programs--all very important to New Mexico's interests and constituents.
Congressman Skeen's friendly manner worked easily with his commitments to constituents as he stayed focused on fair and equitable tax structures for working families and business, a balanced national budget, fair treatment for retirees and the aged, gun control, judicial reform and crime control, and improved education and technology initiatives. He maintained a strong pro-business bent with regard to labor, championed a strong national defense, and promoted foreign aid that countered the growth of non-democratic governments. Congressman Skeen was frequently honored over the years for his legislative activism and support. For many consecutive years, he earned the Golden Bulldog Award for his efforts to cut federal spending, eliminate waste, and reduce the national deficit. His other honors include the National Federation of Independent Business' Guardian of Small Business Award, and the Spirit of Enterprise Award given by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for his pro-business voting record. In 1990, the highest honor bestowed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, The Golden Plow Award, was presented to Congressman Skeen.
The first two write-in candidates to reach Congressional offices were, Strom Thurmond from North Carolina in 1954, and Dale Alford from Arkansas in 1958. Since Skeen's historic election, Congressman Ron Packard of California won election on a write-in ballot in November 1982.
Through the years, Congressman Skeen maintained memberships in the New Mexico Wool and Cattle Growers Associations, the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, the Conquistador Council/Boy Scouts of America, and the Fraternal Orders of Elks and Eagles. He married the former Mary Helen Jones in 1945, and they became the proud parents of two children, Lisa and Mike. They have three grandchildren. In 1997 Skeen announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease which slowed his pace over the last few years. However, he still maintained one of the highest voting records in Congress (98%-100%) over his last few years. Congressman Skeen retired from public service in 2003 and returned to the family's 15,000 acre sheep ranch near Picacho, New Mexico. His congressional papers were committed to New Mexico Tech in July of 2002, to be housed at the Joseph R. Skeen Library.
Extent
27 cubic feet (26 boxes + 2 legal size grey archival boxes with audio cassette)
Abstract
The collection consists of the congressional papers of U.S. Congressman Joseph R. Skeen (R-NM, 1981-2003). Having completed eleven terms, Congressman Skeen became the longest serving U.S. House of Representatives member for New Mexico to date. His legislative service to the state was founded on strong beliefs in states' rights, protecting private property rights, and supporting initiatives that affected small landowners and ranchers throughout the state. Further, he provided legislative leadership that enhanced a strong national defense, and protected important federal installations and institutions in New Mexico. He earned an early political reputation as an independent thinker, a "straight-shooter," and tough-minded conservative who fought for New Mexico's traditional interests of ranching, farming, and mining, while advancing the state in the arenas of science, technology, and research.
Separated Material
An inventory of memorabilia and photographs was prepared separately from the research papers. Check with the library staff to see the inventory for those holdings.
General
Contact Information
- Joseph R. Skeen Library
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
- Socorro, New Mexico 87801
- Phone: 505-835-5891
- URL: https://www.nmt.edu/library/
General
General
The first two write-in candidates to reach Congressional offices were, Strom Thurmond from North Carolina in 1954, and Dale Alford from Arkansas in 1958. Since Skeen's historic election, Congressman Ron Packard of California won election on a write-in ballot in November 1982.
Through the years, Congressman Skeen maintained memberships in the New Mexico Wool and Cattle Growers Associations, the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, the Conquistador Council/Boy Scouts of America, and the Fraternal Orders of Elks and Eagles. He married the former Mary Helen Jones in 1945, and they became the proud parents of two children, Lisa and Mike. They have three grandchildren. In 1997 Skeen announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease which slowed his pace over the last few years. However, he still maintained one of the highest voting records in Congress (98%-100%) over his last few years. Congressman Skeen retired from public service in 2003 and returned to the family's 15,000 acre sheep ranch near Picacho, New Mexico. His congressional papers were committed to New Mexico Tech in July of 2002, to be housed at the Joseph R. Skeen Library.
Through the years, Congressman Skeen maintained memberships in the New Mexico Wool and Cattle Growers Associations, the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, the Conquistador Council/Boy Scouts of America, and the Fraternal Orders of Elks and Eagles. He married the former Mary Helen Jones in 1945, and they became the proud parents of two children, Lisa and Mike. They have three grandchildren. In 1997 Skeen announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease which slowed his pace over the last few years. However, he still maintained one of the highest voting records in Congress (98%-100%) over his last few years. Congressman Skeen retired from public service in 2003 and returned to the family's 15,000 acre sheep ranch near Picacho, New Mexico. His congressional papers were committed to New Mexico Tech in July of 2002, to be housed at the Joseph R. Skeen Library.
- Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946-
- Bush, George, 1924-2018
- Elections -- New Mexico
- Environmental policy--Mexican-American Border Region
- Mexican-American Border Region
- New Mexico -- Politics and government -- 1951-
- Political campaigns--New Mexico
- Ranch life -- New Mexico
- Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (N.M.)
- Title
- Inventory of the Joseph R. Skeen Papers, 1972-2003 (bulk 1981-2002)
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Processed by Lisa Lucero, Sandra Martinez, Jocobo Baca, Aaron Blecha
- Date
- ©2002
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology//TEXT (US::NmSoI::MSS 2003-01::Joseph R. Skeen Papers)//EN" "nmsoimss2003-01.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico Tech Joseph R. Skeen Library Repository
Contact: