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James R. Polk Papers

James R. Polk Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: James R. Polk Papers
Creator: Polk, James Ray
Inclusive Dates: 1970s-2000s
Language(s): English
Extent: 73 Linear Feet
Extent: 4 item(s) 4 framed items
Extent: 266 moving_image(s) 125 VHS cassettes, 49 MII cassettes, 25 Betacam cassettes, 7 BetacamSP cassettes, 22 U-matic cassettes, 2 digital Betacam cassettes, 1 bluRay disc, 42 DVDs
Extent: 5 sound_recording(s) 5 audio cassettes
Collection Number: RBRL573
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: James R. Polk was an investigative journalist known for his coverage of political corruption and fraud. He won the Pullitzer Prize for his coverage of the Watergate scandal for the Washington Star, and his work has also appeared on NBC and CNN. His collection consists of research notes and recordings.

Collection Description

Historical Note

James R. Polk was a journalist known for investigative reporting and coverage of American political corruption and fraud. Over the course of his career, he covered the Ray Donovan investigations, the Bert Lance controversy, the Abscam scandal, and the financial dealings of John Zaccaro, husband of 1984 Democratic vice presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro. In 1974, Polk won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for his coverage of the Watergate scandal for the Washington Star. He later became an investigative journalist for CNN.

Scope and Content

This collection contains files detailing stories in which Polk was involved. Polk's coverage of Watergate was published in the Washington Star, while later stories were featured on NBC and CNN. The collection also includes recordings of many of the stories Polk researched.

Organization and Arrangement

This collection retains the creator's original filing system. Files are mostly alphabetical within and between boxes. Post-Watergate files are color coded, with series and story titles written in blue and subject headings written in red.


Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

This collection contains audiovisual materials. Reference copies of the audiovisual recordings are available upon request. Research requests will be filled as soon as possible and will be dependent upon the condition of the recordings.

Preferred Citation

James R. Polk Papers. Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding Aid prepared by Robert Lay, 2023-11-17.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Abscam Bribery Scandal, 1980
Oklahoma City Federal Building Bombing, Oklahoma City, Okla., 1995
Watergate Affair, 1972-1974
Whitewater Inquiry, 1993-2000

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

Story Files

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01Watergate files
box
02Watergate files
box
03Watergate files
box
04Watergate files -- American Shipbuilding
box
05Congressman Indicted -- Drunk Driving Clips
box
06Watergate files
box
07Master script file -- Sleepless
box
08Sleepless -- PFC England
box
09Beirut -- Ft. Benning
box
10Capt. Yee -- Chinese
box
11Chinese -- School Lunch
box
12School Lunch -- Boston
box
13Boston -- Law and Disorder
box
14Lottery -- Whitewater
box
15Whitewater -- C/R School Prayer
box
16C/R 10 Commandments Cases -- Disaster
box
17Disaster -- Bankruptcy File
box
18Faith -- Sniper
box
19Sniper -- WW Green River
box
20Fireball - Master File -- Fireball - Bellingham Lawsuits
box
21Fireball -- Vietnam
box
22Wilma -- EDR - Florida-Matos
box
23EDR - NHL Death -- Russian
box
24Russia -- Firestone
box
25Firestone -- JRP - Tape Files
box
26OKC -- Executions
box
27Nichols -- CNN 25 - Waco/Oklahoma City
box
28Emmys -- Burned - 2002 Crashes
box
29Burned - 2001 Deaths -- Burned - Legal/Photo Releases
box
30Burned - Tape Notes/Rerun-CNN tapes -- Ford Fires
box
31Burned - Ford Deposition re: 75 mph test -- Ford - Other Accidents, Non-Leak
box
32Master Transcripts - School Bus -- CNN Severange
box
33CNN Exit, 2012 -- Jonestown
box
34Jonestown -- WH Hostage Welcome
box
35RR - CNN Planning -- XGR - California - Legal
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36Calif. Interview Transcripts -- TWA - Tape Notes
box
37TWA 800 -- TWA Crash
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38TWA Crash - NYC Plane Crash
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39Blue Ridge/Theater -- Bank Job - Geneva Case
box
40Bank Job - Swiss Arrests -- Trial
box
41Trial -- November - Planning
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42Oklahoma -- Oklahoma City - Week One
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43Oklahoma City - Week Two -- Oklahoma City - T-shirt Story
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44Oklahoma - Change of Venue -- Postal - Magazine Scripts
box
45CNN - For Air - Daily Series -- Mailbox Theft Stories
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46Pam - Post Notes -- May - Magazine
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47Harvard -- Strong/Baseball Trial
box
48Baseball - Cocaine -- South Carolina/Clips
box
49Killer Kids -- Gotti
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50Gotti -- Bounty Hunters
box
51Bouny Hunter -- White Out
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52White Out -- IRS Fraud
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53School Bus - Seat Belt - Students -- School Bus - Public Response
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54School Bus - Daily Scripts -- Jonestown
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55Jonestown -- RR - WH Tapes - Richard Allen
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56Princetown -- Donovan
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57Donovan -- Lance
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58Dyson file -- Pollard
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59CIA -- Iran
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60Taxes -- Med Schools
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61Cara Folder -- Marcos
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62ABSCAM -- Bo Master File
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63Bo - Original - Fred Richmond
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64Marcos -- Pentagon
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65MLK 40 - Final Transcript -- MLK 40 - Huie Papers
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66MLK 40 - Paisley/Mustang -- MLK - Other Scripts
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67Birmingham Trip -- WW - Intvw M. E. Burton
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68WW - Invw Roy Hazelwood -- WW - Defense - Blackwelder
box
69WW - Ku Klux Klan -- WW - Publicity
box
70WW - NYC Planning -- Bridge - State Indictment
box
71NOPD - Danziger Autopsies -- NOPD - Third Fatal Shooting
box
72Notebooks
 

Audiovisual

Passports for Sale, John Camp, CNN Special Assignment, 1992-06-22
CNN and Time: Courting Disaster, 1999-09-26
CNN Presents: Fire and Fury, 1994-10-16
CNN Presents: Steal and Wheel and Deal, 1994-03-06
CNN Aircheck, 2005-02-10
Paula Zahn Now: Nerve Gas, 2005-11-25
Paula Zahn Now: Nerve Gas, 2005-11-25
CNN Presents: Hurricane: Miami Beach, 2005-09-25
Postal Theft: Stamp of Shame, xxxx-02-28/xxxx-03-02
CNN and Time, Show 103, 2000-06-04
NewsNight, Day of Terror: Remembering Oklahoma City, undated
Newstand CNN and Time: Dead Tired, 1998-11-22
CNN and Time: Dead Quiet, 2000-07-23
CNN Millennium 2000: Incredible Moments from the Worldwide Celebration, 2000
CNN Presents: The Wild, Wild East, 1995-03-12
CNN Presents: Fire and Fury, Firestorm, undated
CNN Special Assignment: Bank Secrets, undated
CNN Impact: Sex for Export, 1997-10-05
CNN Impact: Sex for Export, 1997-10-05
CNN Presents: In the Line of Fire, 2002-07-20
CNN Presents: In the Line of Fire, 2002-07-20
CNN Presents: In the Line of Fire, 2002-07-20
Impact #35, 1997-10-26
Detroit raid - raw tape, undated
CNN/American Airlines Airbus 300, undated
Demo tape, undated
Cracking the Case, 2001-06-11
Paris Millennium Coverage, 2000
CNN and Time: Rights and Wrongs, 2001-01-07
Cracking the Case, 2001-06-11
CNN and Time: Rights and Wrongs, 2001-01-07
James Polk CNN Death Row Interview, undated
Fireworks: Playing with Dynamite, undated
Young Lieutenants, Art of War, 2003-01-23/2003-01-24
Black Box, 2003-11-25
Polk Crime Stories, 1992-01-11
D'Amato Interview, 1991-03-15
Passport Scandal #5, 1992-01-15
Passport Scandal #1, 1991-12-20
Pete Rose dubs, 1990-12-21
Polk--Dubs--Demo Reel, undated
D'Amato Brothers, 1991-03-15
Terror From Within, undated
The Final Days--White House Productions, undated
Gun Shop Murders, 1991-10-24
Flying Circus Dub, 1991-07-01
Kikumura/Terrorist, 1991-01-30
Polk Crime Stories, 1991-09-15
Anthrax Return Address, 2001-11-06
Un-Friendly Fire, 2003-10-03
CNN Presents: Road to Oklahoma, 1995-11-19
CNN Impact: Danger: School Buses, 1998-01-18
Newsstand CNN and Time: Risky Ride, 1998-06-21
CNN-Time Newsstand: Driven to Kill, 1998-06-28
CNN-Time Newsstand: Dead Tired, 1998-11-22
CNN-Time Newsstand: Tough Justice, 1999-03-07
CNN Presents: Fire and Fury, 1994-10-16
CNN Presents: The Wild, Wild East, 1995-03-12
Passport Scandal #4, 1992-01-15
Operation Starlight, 1992-02-20
Operation Starlight, 1992-02-20
DEA Shootout, 1991-09-12
Syracuse Aud. #2, 1991-09-25
Dub Jersey 11, 1990-11-02
Passport Scandal #1, 1992-01-14
Passport Scandal #2, 1992-01-14
Passport Scandal #3, 1992-01-14
CNN and Time: Trail of Blood, 1999-06-06
Breach of Faith, 2000-03-05
CNN and Time: Courting Disaster, 1999-09-26
Breach of Faith, 2000-03-05
Breach of Faith, 2000-03-05
CNN Impact: Danger: School Buses, 1998-01-18
CNN Impact: Danger: School Buses, 1998-01-18
Newsstand CNN and Time: Risky Ride, 1998-06-21
CNN and Time: Courting Disaster, 1999-09-26
Newsstand CNN and Time: They Hid It Well, Littleton, Colorado, 1999-04-25
CNN-Time Newsstand: Back to School, 1998-08-23
CNN-Time Newsstand: Driven to Kill, 1998-06-28
CNN-Time Newsstand: Driven to Kill, 1998-06-28
CNN-Time Newsstand: Dead Tired, 1998-11-22
CNN-Time Newsstand: Dead Tired, 1998-11-22
CNN and Time: Fireball, 2000-06-4
CNN and Time: Fireball, 2000-06-4
CNN and Time: Dead Quiet, 2000-07-23
CNN and Time: Dead Quiet, 2000-07-23
CNN Special Assignment: Bank Secrets, undated
CNN Presents: Steal and Wheel and Deal, 1994-03-06
CNN Presents: Crime Stories, 1994-05-22
CNN Presents: Fire and Fury, 1994-10-16
Newsstand CNN and Time: Risky Ride, 1998-06-21
CNN Presents: The Wild, Wild East, 1995-03-12
CNN Presents: The Wild, Wild East, 1995-03-12
CNN Presents: Road to Oklahoma, 1995-11-19
CNN Presents: Legacy of Terror, 1996-04-14
CNN Presents: Road to Oklahoma, 1995-11-19
CNN Presents: Fire and Fury, 1994-10-16
CNN Impact: Danger: School Buses, 1998-01-18
CNN and Time, Show #72, 1999-10-24
[untitled], undated
Impact #38, 1997-11-16
ABSCAM, 1980-12-11
Lady Killer, undated
Snoopers, 1988-04-23
Balt(?) Composite Reel, undated
Cheating the Children, 1993-02-15
The China Trade, 1993-07-12
CNN and Time: Rights and Wrongs, 2001-01-07
CNN and Time: Rights and Wrongs, 2001-01-07
CNN Presents, Special Edition: Boston Tankers, 2005-09-10
CNN Presents: Huricane: Miami Beach, 2005-09-25
Anderson Cooper 360: Rear-End Fires, 2006-01-23
Anderson Cooper 360: Rear-End Fires, 2006-01-23
Paula Zahn Now: Danziger Bridge, Police Shooting, 2006-05-22
CNN Impact, 1997-03-09
CNN and Time, Show #126, 2000-11-12
[untitled], undated
Anderson Cooper 360: Lottery Fraud, undated
CNN Sunday Morning: Life on Death Row, 2001-06-10
Nerve Gas, 2005-11-25
Aryan Bank Robbers, 2004-11-06
CNN Special Assignment: Crime Stories, 1992-06-21
CNN Presents: In the Line of Fire, 2003-05-04
CNN Presents: In the Line of Fire, 2003-05-04
CNN Presents: Cracking the Case: Manhunt, xxxx-11-02/xxxx-11-03
CNN Special Assignment: Bank Secrets, 1993-09-27
CNN Presents: Steal and Wheel and Deal, 1994-03-06
CNN and Time: Trail of Blood, 1999-06-06
CNN Presents: In the Line of Fire, 2003-05-04
CNN Presents: In the Line of Fire, 2003-05-04
Connie Chung Tonight: Seven for the Stars, 2003-02-03
CNN Special Report: Copying Crime, undated
CNN-Time Newsstand: Back to School, 1998-09-23
CNN and Time, Show #110, 2000-07-23
NewsNight, Day of Terror: Remembering Oklahoma City, undated
NewsNight, Day of Terror: Remembering Oklahoma City, undated
CNN and Time: Trail of Blood, 1999-06-06
CNN and Time: Courting Disaster, 1999-09-26
CNN and Time: Fireball, 2000-06-04
CNN and Time: Dead Quiet, 2000-07-23
CNN Presents: Steal and Wheel and Deal, 1994-03-06
Breach of Faith, 2000-03-05
CNN Presents: Fire and Fury, 1994-10-16
CNN and Time: Trail of Blood, 1999-06-06
Breach of Faith, 2000-03-05
CNN Presents: In the Line of Fire, 2003-05-04
CNN Presents: In the Line of Fire, 2003-05-04
CNN-Time Newsstand: Dead Tired, 1998-11-22
CNN-Time Newsstand: Driven to Kill, 1998-06-28
CNN Special Assignment: Bank Secrets, undated
Passport - Lee, undated
Passport Scandal, 1991-10-12
Gun Raids, 1991-05-03
Credit Cards, Interview, 1991-05-31
Credit Cards, Scenics, 1991-05-31
Jim's Dub, undated
Protex Dub, undated
Protex - Undercover Narcs, undated
Today, undated
Dub Sunday Whippets, undated
Lady Killer, undated
Bounty Hunters, undated
Red Hill (Protex), 1990-11-16
Child Killer (air copy), 1983-06-15
Child Killer (dub), 1989-06-14
Today - Lady Killer, 1991-01-08
Dub NN Credit Card Fraud, 1991-07-08
Dub Protex Polk Phony Phones, 1991-08-29
Duque Arrival - Protective Dub, undated
NN - BB Guns (Master), 1990-03-30
Cellblock, 1991-08-29
Cellblock, Scenics, 1991-08-29
How to Lose a Billion, 1990-11-12
How to Lose a Billion, 1990-11-12
Martin Luther King, Jr., archive footage, 2006-12-12
One for the Money, uuuu-05-23
Breach of Faith, undated
CNN Special Assignment: Bank Secrets, undated
Stamp of Shame, 1994-03-06
Postal Theft, 5-part series, xxxx-02-28/xxxx-03-04
NOPD Autopsy Pkg, undated
Drive Around w/Sgt. Dublin, 1991-08-17
[untitled], undated
Daily Difference - Guns, 1991-04-11
Cell Phone Fraud, undated
Bounty Hunters, 2nd Day, Duque arrival at fed. court house, 1991-11-01
Narcs #3, 1991-09-19
Narcs #4, more raids, 1991-09-19
Narcs #2, drug busts, 1991-09-19
DEA Undercover #1, 1991-09-17
DEA Undercover #2, 1991-09-17
[untitled], undated
[untitled], undated
Credit Card Fraud, uuuu-06-06
Jim Polk demo tape, undated
Credit Card, uuuu-06-06
Gun Store Murder, Dead Bodies, undated
Gun Store Murder, WMAR, 1991-10-25
Okechobee, Florida #1, 1990-02-15
Okechobee Interview "Simmons" #2, 1990-02-15
Okechobee , Florida #3, 1990-02-15
Bounty Hunters, undated
Polk tape, undated
Pajama Game, NN-Mafia, 1988-04-21
Woodruff Stand-up and Track, undated
Tay [illegible], undated
Oil - Wyoming, undated
NN - Cocaine/Baseball, 1995
Nitely Lead Spot Dub, Shevchenko, 1978-10-09
Cut Stop/Kelly Testimony, undated
NN - Crime and Punishment, 1987-04-02
NN - AC, Crime and Punishment, 1981-04-03
Crazy Killers, A/C Composites, 1981-11-09/1981-11-11
Las Vegas Laundry, 1983-07-14
Children of [illegible], 1978-12-11
Baseball Pregame, Dub of Polk, 1985-06-01/1985-06-04
Sports Dub, undated
Dub of Sports, 1985-09-13
untitled, undated
1991 stories/teaching dub reel - NN: "Guns to Go;" NN: "Counterfeit Credit Cards;" NN: "Baltimore/Crime Story;" NN: "Mobile Phone Fraud;" Sunday Today: "Love at First Flight", 1991-07-11/1991-08-29
Child Killer and Behind the Lines (not yet finished), 1989-11-29
Dub - BB Guns, undated
Atlanta Murder, 1981-05-11
CNN Whitewater, 2006-09-05
MLK: Words That Changed a Nation, 5 segments, undated
CNN Special Investigations Unit: Fatal Journey, undated
We Were There: The March on Washington, an Oral History, undated
Atlanta Child Murders, undated
Atlanta Child Murders, undated
Gerry-Rigged, undated
Gerry-Rigged, undated
NBC News James Polk, undated
Stalker, undated
Stalker, undated
Stalker, undated
Day of Terror: Remembering Oklahoma City, undated
CNN Presents: Escaping Jonestown, undated
SuperMax Prison Florence, undated
Atlanta Child Murders, undated
CNN25 - Defining Moments: 25 Stories That Touched Our Lives, undated
CNN Presents: Marine Barracks Bombing, undated
Gerry-Rigged, undated
Stalker, undated
CNN Whitewater, undated
CNN Whitewater, undated
CNN Whitewater, undated
CNN Whitewater, undated
CNN Special Investigations Unit: Fatal Journey, undated
CNN Presents: TWA Flight 800, No Survivors, It Could Happen Again, undated
God's Warriors, xxxx-08-23
CNN Special Investigations Unit: MLK - Words That Changed a Nation, undated
NewsNight with Aaron Brown: Day of Terror - Remembering Oklahoma City, undated
Escape from Jonestown, undated
Hurricane, undated
Eyewitness to Murder: The King Assassination, undated
Eyewitness to Murder: The King Assassination, undated
Eyewitness to Murder: The King Assassination, undated
Atlanta Child Murders, undated
CNN Presents: TWA Flight 800, No Survivors, It Could Happen Again, undated
CNN - Rogue River, undated
CNN - Rogue River, undated
CNN - Rogue River, undated
Polk Crime Stories, undated
Polk Crime Stories, undated
Conch Republic Air Force - KeyWestBiPlanes.com, undated
GI Joe: The Ernie Pyle Story, undated
Interview: McFarlane, undated
Interview: McFarlane, undated
Memphis Police, 1968-04-04
Interview: McFarlane (cont'd) 2, undated
[untitled], undated
 

Artifacts

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01Peabody Award and other awards
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02Framed 1974 Pullitzer Prize poster
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03Framed courtroom illustration
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04Framed courtroom illustration
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05Framed courtroom illustration