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Oral history interview with Richard H. Jones

 Collection
Identifier: SR1329

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Richard H. Jones was conducted by Jim Strassmaier from December 11, 1987, to January 13, 1988. In this interview, Jones discusses his family background and early life in Colorado, including his early education. He then discusses his memories of the Depression and coming to the West Coast to accept a teaching job at Stanford University in 1938. He then talks about teaching history at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and becoming acquainted with Mark Hatfield and Gerry Frank. He discusses his involvement in Hatfield’s 1958 campaign for Oregon governor. He discusses appointments Hatfield made as governor, and the increasing conservatism of the Republican Party. He also talks about the differences and similarities between Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall. He describes Hatfield’s accomplishments as governor, including on education; Hatfield’s relationship with the state Legislature; and the attempt to revise the Oregon constitution in the early 1960s. He discusses Hatfield’s involvement with national Republican politics in the 1960s, particularly his involvement in the Goldwater and Nixon presidential campaigns. He also talks about Hatfield’s opposition to the Vietnam War, and how his own views aligned with Hatfield’s; his involvement with Hatfield’s senatorial campaigns; and Hatfield’s relationship with U.S. Senator Bob Packwood. He closes the interview by discussing Hatfield’s support for the National Rifle Association.

Dates

  • Creation: 1987 December 11-1988 January 13

Creator

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/. Copyright for the photographs has not been determined, and permission for use may require additional authorization from copyright holders.

Biographical note

Richard Hutton Jones was born in Rye, Colorado, in 1914. He attended the University of Northern Colorado, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1934 and a master’s degree in 1937. In 1935, he and Alyce Decker were married. He taught history at Stanford College from 1938 until 1941, when he began teaching at Reed College. He taught at Reed until 1982, specializing in medieval and constitutional history. He continued his education later in life, earning a Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1947 and an doctor of laws degree from Reed College in 1982. He was active in Republican politics in Colorado and Oregon. He served as campaign chair for Mark Hatfield in 1958, 1966, 1978, and 1984, as well as for Tom McCall in 1964. Jones died in 1998.

Extent

.1 Cubic Feet (6 audiocassettes (4 hr., 51 min., 28 sec.) + 2 photographs (black and white))

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Oral history interview with Richard H. Jones conducted by Jim Strassmaier from December 11, 1987, to January 13, 1988, as part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Project. Jones served as Hatfield's campaign chair in 1958, 1966, 1978, and 1984.

Existence and Location of Copies

General

Forms part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Project.

General

Incomplete transcript (117 pages) is available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Title
Guide to oral history interview with Richard H. Jones
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

Contact:
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240