This oral history interview with Sam Johnson was conducted by Linda S. Dodds at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, in two sessions on July 2, 1980, and June 25, 1981, as part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library’s oral history program. At the time of the interview, Dodds’ name was Linda S. Brody.

In the first interview session, conducted on July 2, 1980, Johnson discusses his family background, particularly regarding the lumber business in Oregon, and his early life in the San Francisco Bay Area and in France. He talks about working in the Oregon timber business in Sisters during the Depression, about buying timber for the military as part of his service in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II, and about his marriage to Becky Johnson. He then speaks at length about his involvement in the Oregon and California timber business after the end of the war, particularly regarding his work with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to develop Warm Springs Forest Product Industries. He also talks about Becky Johnson’s work to improve education, and about his children and their careers.

In the second interview session, conducted on June 25, 1981, Johnson discusses his service in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1964 to 1978, including his first campaign in 1964, legislation he worked on, and his fellow legislators. He shares advice for aspiring politicians, shares his reasons for retiring from the Legislature in 1978, and talks about his service as mayor of Redmond, Oregon, from 1978 to the time of the interview. He closes the interview by discussing his plans for the future of the city of Redmond.