In the first interview session, conducted on August 29, 2000, Hemmingway discusses his family background and early life in Illinois, including his education and his early political beliefs. He shares his experiences studying international politics at Stanford University and studying environmental law at Yale University, and talks about his international travels in the 1960s. He discusses his reasons for specializing in environmental law; landmark environmental legislation in the 1960s and 1970s; and his involvement with the Oregon Environmental Council. He speaks about working as a lawyer for the Oregon Public Utility Commission, including researching a case against the Bonneville Power Administration and lobbying the Oregon Legislature on energy legislation.