Oral history interview with Jenna L. Dorn
Scope and Contents
This oral history interview with Jenna L. Dorn was conducted by Clark Hansen at the Union Pacific Building in Washington, D.C., from June 13-15, 1988. In this interview, Dorn discusses her family background and early life in La Grande, Oregon. She discusses moving to New Haven, Connecticut, and her involvement in the women’s movement. She talks about how she joined the staff of U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield in 1977; her work as a legislative assistant; and other members of Hatfield’s staff, particularly Gerry Frank. She discusses legislation that she worked on for Hatfield, particularly regarding women’s rights and the environment. She discusses how Hatfield communicated with his constituency, and Hatfield’s efforts against budget cuts by the Reagan administration while he was serving on the Appropriations Committee. She talks about Hatfield’s working relationship with U.S. Senator Bob Packwood and other members of the Oregon congressional delegation. She relates some anecdotes to demonstrate Hatfield’s personality and spirituality. She also talks about leaving Hatfield’s staff to work with Elizabeth Dole. She closes the interview by discussing the interpersonal relationships of Hatfield’s staff.
Dates
- 1988 June 13-15
Creator
- Dorn, Jennifer Lynn, 1950- (Interviewee, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Joint copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society and Willamette University. Use is allowed according to the following license: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Biographical note
Jennifer "Jenna" Lynn Dorn was born in Nebraska in 1950, and grew up in La Grande, Oregon, and Corvallis, Oregon. She moved to New Haven, Connecticut, where she worked in advertising. She was legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield from 1977 to 1981. She and Dave Oldfield were married for a number of years; they divorced while she was serving on Hatfield’s staff. She went on to hold several positions in the federal government, including associate deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Transportation from 1985 to 1987, and then assistant secretary for policy in the U.S. Department of Labor from 1989 to 1991.
Extent
.1 Cubic Feet (7 audiocassettes (5 hr., 30 min., 14 sec.))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Oral history interview with Jenna L. Dorn conducted by Clark Hansen from June 13-15, 1988, as part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Project. Dorn was a legislative assistant to Hatfield from 1977 to 1981.
Existence and Location of Copies
General
Forms part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Project.
General
Incomplete transcript (139 pages) is available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Creator
- Dorn, Jennifer Lynn, 1950- (Interviewee, Person)
- Hansen, Clark (Interviewer, Person)
- Title
- Guide to oral history interview with Jenna L. Dorn
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sarah Stroman
- Date
- 2020
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
- Sponsor
- This project is supported in whole or part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon.
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org