Photographs of Tom J. Imeson, 1988

This oral history interview with Tom J. Imeson was conducted by Michael O’Rourke in eight sessions from September 14 to December 9, 1988, as part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Project. The interview was recorded in Salem, Oregon, and at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon. Accompanying the audio recording is a transcript, and three photographs of Imeson taken at the time of the interview (two color and one black and white).

In this interview, Imeson discusses his family background and early life in Portland, including his early interest in politics. He then talks about how he became a member of U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield’s staff in 1969 as a legislative aide specializing in natural resources. He talks about Hatfield’s opposition to the Vietnam War, and speaks extensively about other members of Hatfield’s staff. He speaks at length about Hatfield’s 1972 re-election campaign, talks about the changes in the staff after Hatfield was re-elected, and discusses Hatfield’s reaction to the Watergate scandal. He speaks at length about legislation introduced by Hatfield during the 1970s on environmental, Native American, and logging issues. He discusses Hatfield’s opposition to nuclear power, Hatfield’s work on the Appropriations Committee, and Hatfield’s relationship with Oregon governors, particularly Tom McCall and Neil Goldschmidt.

Imeson discusses running Hatfield’s Oregon office from 1981 to 1985, and talks about working with the Army Corps of Engineers on Oregon infrastructure projects. He also discusses a real estate scandal that affected Hatfield’s 1984 re-election campaign. He talks about Hatfield’s main accomplishments, about Hatfield’s personal and family life, and about his own career since leaving Hatfield’s staff. He closes the interview by discussing at length the passage of the Wild and Scenic Rivers bill.