Financial Correspondence

File — Box: 35, Folder: 22

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Series: There were major changes in the business enterprises of the Bennetts namely Richard Warner completed his buyout of Bennett Ford and changed its name to Rick Warner Ford." Various property transfers by the Bennett's in back of their First South Store allowed for the development of Arrow Press Square.

The Bennetts have recovered their health but there were ups and downs in their family. Robert Bennett was associated to an unknown degrees in the Watergate drama. Wallace and Theda continued to serve the LDS Church in a mission presidency in England. The Fletcher grandchildren are coming of age and there is some insightful correspondence from two of them. Lawrence Jeppson published a book, The Fabulous Frauds. The publisher had to withdraw it because some of its material was in error. The Bennetts celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary.

Bennett served as ranking member of the Financial Committee and also had seniority on the Banking Committee. In addition he was on the Housing and Urban affair committee, joint committees on Atomic Energy, Defense Production and Internal Revenue Taxation Committees. He chaired the committee on Standards and Conduct. His correspondence to other Senators and house members, titled as Congressional Correspondence, does not reflect his committee work nor in most cases issues before the Congress. Its substance is almost exclusively personal. Paul Denham became his administrative assistant because Robert Wolthius vacated the job to return to Utah and run (unsuccessfully) for Congress against Gunn McKay.

Bennett had some problems with two Mormon publications the Deseret News and The New Era. The Era featured an article on the life of Heber J. Grant which ignored his polygamous relationships and these tended to cast doubt on Mrs. Bennett's (Frances Grant) parentage. She is the daughter of President Grant and his third wife Emily Wells. Senator Bennett wrote several letters to important Church authorities stating, "I don't know whether this (the article stated Grant had just one wife) is the result of careless editing, poor scholarship or a deliberate editorial decision, but it is completely false and unfair." Later in the year Bennett became some what upset at the Deseret News because they carried little, if any, information about the Bennett's fiftieth wedding party which was featured in the Washington media.

Richard Nixon won in a landslide against Geroge McGovern in the race for the presidency but the senate stayed Democratic, thus Bennett did not become chairman of the Finance committee Utah voters overwhelmingly endorsed Republican Nixon and Jake Garn but voted democratic for its two Congressmen--Gunn McKay and Allen Howe.

Dates

1972

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.