Oral history interview with Travis Cross

This oral history interview with Travis Cross was conducted by Jim Strassmaier in five sessions from from October 8 to November 23, 1987. The interview was recorded in Cross’ office at St. Vincent’s Hospital and at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, and is part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Project. Accompanying the interview is a transcript and three black and white photographs of Cross taken at the time of the interview. Collection also includes a contact sheet showing several shots of Cross in the same pose.

In this interview, Cross discusses his family background and early life in Salem, Oregon, including growing up in the same neighborhood as Mark Hatfield. He then talks about how they became more closely acquainted during their time as Willamette and Stanford universities. He then describes helping Hatfield build a political career as a state legislator while they both worked at Willamette University. He discusses working as press secretary for Mark Hatfield during his term as Oregon secretary of state from 1957 to 1959, and during his two terms as Oregon governor, from 1960 to 1965. He talks about members of Hatfield’s staff, about Hatfield’s inaugural address in 1959, and about Hatfield’s opposition to the Vietnam War. Cross discusses Hatfield’s involvement in the National Republican Party, particularly his relationship with Richard Nixon and Barry Goldwater. He talks about Hatfield’s 1966 campaign for the U.S. Senate, and about his decision to leave Hatfield’s staff afterward. Cross closes the interview by discussing his activities after leaving Hatfield’s staff and talking about their continued friendship.