Oral history interview with Janet L. Lamos

This oral history interview with Janet L. Lamos was conducted by Michael O’Rourke in two sessions on June 3 and June 8, 1988., in Washington, D.C., as part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Project.

In the first interview session, conducted on June 3, 1988, Lamos discusses her family background and early life in upstate New York. She briefly describes her work history, then talks about working as a typist for U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield. She describes her promotion to Hatfield’s executive assistant in 1980 and the duties of that position, including managing Hatfield’s schedule. She also describes some of the other members of Hatfield’s staff, as well as how Hatfield interacted with his staff. She speaks at length about Hatfield’s personality, spirituality, and work-life balance. She then discusses the real estate scandal that plagued Hatfield in 1984, and talks about traveling with Hatfield for work.

In the second interview session, conducted on June 8, 1988, Lamos talks about her view of Hatfield and Antoinette Hatfield as parents, and discusses how the real estate scandal in 1984 affected the Hatfield family. She speaks extensively about Hatfield’s spirituality and about how his faith influences his political views. She closes the interview by discussing Hatfield’s relationship with President Richard Nixon.