The Lawrence Lindemer Papers contain correspondence, memoranda, official reports, newspaper clippings, photographs, and an audio tape documenting the political and legal career of Lawrence B. Lindemer. While the entire collection spans from 1954 to 1982, the bulk of the records date from 1964 to 1976 with an additional cluster of records dated 1981-1982.
The collection has been divided into four series: Political files; Regent of the University of Michigan; Legal Career, including Michigan Supreme Court; and Other materials. The Lindemer files are especially valuable for their documentation of Lindemer's activities within the Republican Party, as state chairman, as chair of the Midwest Nelson Rockefeller campaign for President in 1964, and his involvement in the presidential candidacy of George Romney for President in 1968.
Lawrence B. Lindemer was born in Syracuse, New York on 21 August 1921. He completed two years at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, then transferred to the University of Michigan where he received his B.A. in 1943. In 1940, during his college years, he married the former Rebecca Mead Gale. The Lindemers had two sons: Lawrence, Jr. and David G.
Upon graduation from college, Lindemer enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for sixteen months. Sometime in 1944 Lindemer was sent to Officers Candidate School in Miami Beach. Upon graduating he served as a lieutenant for seventeen months. After service in the air force Lindemer attended law school at the University of Michigan, receiving a Bachelor of Law degree in 1948.
In the fall of 1947 Lindemer and his family moved to the village of Stockbridge, Ingham County, Michigan. A community leader, Lindemer served as the chairman of the local boy scout committee, area chairman for the Republican Party of Ingham County, and the area chairman for the United Community Chest Fund Drive. He also participated in the Stockbridge Lion's Club, Stockbridge F.& A.M., and the American Legion.
Beginning in 1951, Lindemer became increasingly active in politics. He was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives. After serving one term, he was appointed to the Hoover Commission serving consecutive posts as Assistant to Commissioner Homer Ferguson (1953 to 1954), Commissioner Styles Bridges (1955), and was made special assistant to former President Herbert Hoover in 1955.
After his work with the Hoover Commission Lindemer's interests turned back to the Midwest. From 1957 to 1961, he served as chairman of the Michigan Republican party. In 1964, Nelson Rockefeller appointed Lindemer to the chairmanship of the Midwest Region for Rockefeller's unsuccessful bid for the presidency. In 1966 Lindemer ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Frank J. Kelley for the office of Michigan Attorney General. In 1968, Lindemer re-entered politics, serving as the regional chair for George Romney's unsuccessful campaign for president. During this year (1968), Romney also appointed Lindemer to serve as a regent of the University of Michigan. Although he was defeated for election in 1968, he was reappointed in April 1969 to fill yet another vacancy. He then continued to serve as regent until his resignation in 1975.
Concurrent with the development of his political career, Lindemer gained legal experience in both public and private practice. Lindemer's first legal experience was obtained while serving as the assistant prosecuting attorney for Ingham County, (1949-1950). Later, he became a partner in the law firm of Foster, Lindemer, Swift and Collins. Lindemer worked for this firm from 1955 to 1975. Lindemer was also an active member of the State Bar Association of Michigan, the American Bar Association, and the Federal Bar Association. Lindemer became commissioner of the State Bar in 1963. Starting in 1963 Lindemer also served as co-chair of the State Bar Committee on Judicial Selections and Qualifications.
He retained this post on the Judicial Selection and Qualifications Committee until 1975. At this time Governor William Milliken appointed him to the Michigan Supreme Court in 1975 to fill a vacancy created by a justice's death. Lindemer's 1976 campaign to retain this post failed. Milliken also appointed Lindemer to two other posts. He was a special investigator for the inquiry about Lieutenant Governor James Damman's alleged misuse of power and office (1974) and co-chaired the Special Committee on Prison Disturbances after the riots of 1981.
