Two form letters addressing the case of Naum Chernobelsky. The first letter is a "dear colleague" letter from November 1987, requesting that members of congress sign the second letter, which asks Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Soviet Union, to begin the emigration process for Naum Chernobelsky. The Chernobelskys were a Ukrainian Jewish family of "refuseniks," an unofficial term for individuals, most commonly Soviet Jews, whose requests to emigrate from the Soviet Union were denied by officials. In the case of the Chernobelsky family, Naum's parents and sister were able to emigrate to Portland, Oregon in 1979, but he, his wife, and his children were not permitted to leave the Soviet Union. In February 1986, Naum's sister Raisa requested help from Representative AuCoin, who spent the next 2 years lobbying the Soviet Union for Naum Chernobelsky's release. Naum and his family were eventually allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union to the United States in late 1988. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. See also PUA_MS147_111 through PUA_MS147_113 for other materials related to the Chernobelsky family.
Form letter from Representative Les AuCoin discussing his decision to join the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. The letter, written on January 27th, 1983, expresses Representative AuCoin's reasons for joining the committee and his commitment to a nuclear freeze. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. See also PUA_MS147_93 through PUA_MS147_110 for other materials related to nuclear arms control.
Form letter from Representative Les AuCoin to voters, asking for their support for the Nuclear Freeze resolution. The letter, written March 23rd, 1983, discusses recent the debate in the House on the resolution, which ended in a filibuster. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. See also PUA_MS147_93 through PUA_MS147_110 for other materials related to nuclear arms control.
Press release from the office of Representative Les AuCoin on May 10th, 1983, discussing "Claims vs. Fact on the MX Missile". The press release publishes a "dear colleague" letter signed by twenty-three U.S. Representatives. A "dear colleague" letter is a piece of official correspondence written by a member of Congress and distributed in bulk to other congressional offices. This particular letter, titled "Before You Commit on the MX, Read This" addresses claims and facts around the MX missile discussed in Congress. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. See also PUA_MS147_93 through PUA_MS147_110 for other materials related to nuclear arms control.
A "dear colleague" letter from Representative Les AuCoin regarding the MX missile on March 19th, 1985. A "dear colleague" letter is a piece of official correspondence written by a member of Congress and distributed in bulk to other congressional offices. In this particular letter, Representative AuCoin argues against tying the funding of MX missiles to the upcoming Geneva negotiations. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives. See also PUA_MS147_93 through PUA_MS147_110 for other materials related to nuclear arms control.
A "dear colleague" letter from Representative Les AuCoin regarding the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. A "dear colleague" letter is a piece of official correspondence written by a member of Congress and distributed in bulk to other congressional offices. In this particular letter, Representative AuCoin informs his colleagues in the House of Representatives that he will miss the debate on the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, but encourages others to support the bill. The bill was eventually passed in November 1980. Based on this date, this letter was likely written in May 1980. This is one of a collection of digitized objects from the Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) at the Pacific University Archives.
