Governor Matheson MX missile records, 1976-1983.

This series contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, petitions, reports, publications, speeches, statements, and testimonies regarding the possible basing of the MX ("Missile Experimental") system in Utah. The records reflect the interaction of constituents and federal and state governmental officials in the development of a policy which would accommodate the Carter and Reagan administrations, as well as continue to provide for the safety of Utah citizens. Records in this series were received and retained by Governor Matheson's office.

The possibility of basing the missile system in Utah created so much constituent and state governmental concern that the MX Coordination Office was created in 1979 with a mission of planning for anticipated economic, social, and environmental impacts that the MX system might cause if based and deployed in Utah. The MX Coordination Office was organized by Kent Briggs (Utah State Planning Coordinator and member of Matheson's office staff), funded bythe Four Corners Regional Commission, and directed by Ken Olson. The interstate (Utah-Nevada) MX Task Force had been organized earlier, comprised of members of state agencies and local governments most likely to be affected by the MX system. Much of the correspondence in this series relates to the MX Task Force and the MX Coordination Office. It is assumed, however, that the records in this collection were retained by members of the Governor's staff linked to, but not within, the MX Coordination Office.