The legal disputes series is largely composed of reference files of newspaper clippings dating from 1947-1976, as well as some legal documents. Over the course of Howard Hughes’ life he and his companies were involved in a large number of legal disputes, investigations, and hearings. This series contains material on Hughes appearance before the Senate Hearings of 1947, the political fight to build Dodger stadium in Chavez Ravine (Los Angeles, California) in the mid-1950s, the Oil Lease Probe of 1957, Hughes’ fight for control of TWA and Air West, and Clifford Irving and his publisher McGraw-Hill. A number of smaller legal disputes are also documented. Several of these involved trusted aides such as Noah Dietrich, John Meier, and Robert Mahue. However, it should be noted that legal disputes, investigations, and hearings related to RKO and HUAC are included in Series V.

This series dates from 1946-1976 and contains correspondence, memos, newsletters, expenses, distribution lists, directories, and press releases generated by Dick Hannah and the staff of Carl Byoir & Associates, a public relations firm hired by Howard Hughes to oversee public relations for himself and his companies.

The RKO and media series dates from 1946-1976 and is primarily composed of reference files of newspaper clippings, relating to the general operations of RKO, the Stolking sale, the $23.5 million sale of RKO stock, and the purchase of RKO by Thomas F. O’Neil in 1955. It also contains a substantial amount of material about the United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. antitrust case before the Supreme Court known as the “Divorcement,” which ended the studio system. Other suits that feature less prominently in the materials are the 1954 RKO Anti-trust suit and a number of suits brought by actors. HUAC hearings, American Legion Anti-Communist crusade, communism in Hollywood and Howard Hughes’ reaction to the perceived threat of communism in Hollywood all feature prominently in the material of this series.

Among the reference files there are a large number of files on the leading entertainers, film production companies, Radio-Television stations, newspapers, magazines, and columnists from 1949-1976. Also included in the series are production requests sent to Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation by RKO (1950-1953), a number of scandal and movie magazines from the 1950s and 1960s, and memos about media subscriptions from Hughes Productions.

The series on Howard Hughes’ personal life dates from 1941-1987 and is primarily composed of reference files of newspaper clippings that document Howard Hughes’ life as an aviation leader, studio owner, philanthropist, and Las Vegas developer. His moves to Managua, Nicaragua, Vancouver, British Columbia, London, England, the Bahamas, and Acapulco, Mexico near the end of his life are also well documented as are his ex-wives, death, and the legal fight for his estate. The series also includes transcripts of radio and television interviews, magazine articles, and books about Hughes. There are also a number of biographies on Hughes, press releases, and correspondence between between Carl Byoir & Associates staff and individuals or organizations.

The Watergate series dates from 1960-1976 and is composed entirely of reference files of newspaper clippings that document the Senate hearings, impeachment vote, and resignation of the President Richard M. Nixon. Hughes’ political contributions and financial ties to the president’s brother, Donald Nixon and other key figures are also contained in the series.