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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 15, 1977

MARY BROOKS RESIGNS AS DIRECTOR OF THE MINT

Mrs. Mary Brooks has resigned as Director of the Mint effective February
11, 1977.

In a letter to President Carter February 1, Mrs. Brooks said:

> My dear Mr. President:
>
> With this letter I respectfully tender my resignation as Director of
> the Mint effective on February 11, 1977.
>
> I have been very proud to have served as Director of the Mint the past
> seven and one-half years. It has been a most challenging and rewarding
> time of my life and I do look with pride over the many accomplishments
> we were able to make.
>
> I do extend my best wishes to Secretary Blumenthal and members of his
> staff and my warmest wishes to you and your family. I know you will go
> down in history as one of our greatest Presidents.

In his reply on February 9, President Carter said:

> To Mary Brooks:
>
> I have your letter and I accept your resignation as Director of the
> Mint, effective February 11, 1977, as you requested.
>
> Throughout your public service, you have carried out your
> responsibilities with dedication, energy, and purpose and have truly
> earned the respect of your colleagues in Government. I know that in
> the years ahead you will be able to look back with pride on your many
> accomplishments.

B-49

> As you prepare to return to private life, you may be sure that you
> take with you my best wishes for every future success and happiness.

Mrs. Brooks intends to return to Idaho where she operates a sheep and
cattle ranch.

Last month Mrs. Brooks received the Alexander Hamilton Award, the
highest award a Secretary of the Treasury can bestow in recognition of
superior and unusual

leadership in the work of the Department. She is the first woman to have
received this award from Treasury.

The award cited Mrs. Brooks for her imaginative and innovative
leadership of the Mint's diverse operations conducted in seven field
installations.

During her tenure as Director, production of United States coinage
virtually doubled, rising from seven billion coins in 1969 to over 13
billion coins in 1975.

In 1971 she shepherded legislation through Congress to launch the
Eisenhower dollar, the first dollar coin to be minted in 36 years. In
celebration of the Bicentennial, the Mint conducted a national coin
design competition to re-design the reverses of the quarter, half-dollar
and dollar and implemented a nationwide marketing program of the silver
coins.

With a deep commitment to historical preservation, Mrs. Brooks led the
move to preserve the Old San Francisco Mint building and supervised the
extensive interior and exterior restoration of the National and State
Landmark Building. The building now houses the Mint's extensive computer
system and administrative offices as well as the Old Mint Museum.

She also directed restoration of seven Tiffany glass mosaics of great
artistic merit and value from the old Philadelphia Mint. They are
presently mounted in the lobby of the new Philadelphia Mint.

Because of a severe run on pennies in 1974, Mrs. Brooks initiated a
media campaign that brought out an estimated one and a half billion
pennies from jars and dresser tops. This was implemented through
thousands of banks, schools and private citizens.

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