Oral history interview with Wendell Wyatt

This oral history interview with Wendell Wyatt was conducted by Clark Hansen in two sessions, on May 17 and May 19, 1988, at Wyatt’s office in Portland, Oregon, as part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Project.

In the first interview session, Wyatt briefly discusses his family background and early life in Eugene, Oregon, particularly the development of his political beliefs. He talks about his early career, including working as a special agent for the FBI, serving in the Marines during World War II, and practicing law in Astoria, Oregon. He then discusses his involvement with the Republican Party and his legislative career. He shares his memories serving in the Oregon Legislature with Mark Hatfield, then talks about Hatfield’s terms as Oregon governor. He also discusses Hatfield’s support for Barry Goldwater’s 1964 presidential campaign, and briefly talks about his own legislative career. He discusses Hatfield’s opposition to the Vietnam War and his 1966 campaign for U.S. Senate. Wyatt also describes U.S. Senator Wayne Morse. He goes on to speak about Mark Hatfield’s transition from governor to U.S. Senator. He speaks at length about the 1968 Republican Convention when Hatfield was being considered as Richard Nixon’s running mate.

In the second interview session, Wyatt speaks further about Hatfield’s continued opposition to the Vietnam War and legislation he worked on related to it. Wyatt talks about the Oregon Republican Party’s structure, about Walter Huss as its chair, and about the party’s increasing conservatism. He closes the interview by discussing Hatfield’s effectiveness as a U.S. senator, as well as Wyatt’s social relationship with Hatfield.