Oral history interview with Robert F. Smith
Scope and Contents
This oral history interview with Robert F. Smith was conducted by Clark Hansen at Smith’s office in Medford, Oregon, from August 30 to September 1, 1995. In this interview, Smith discusses his family background and early life in Burns, Oregon. He talks about his interest in basketball while attending Willamette University. He also talks about running a ranch and multiple other businesses after graduation; his flying hobby; and his involvement with a number of civic organizations. He goes on to talk about being recruited to run for the Oregon Legislature by members of the Oregon Republican Party, and his time in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1960 to 1973. He discusses his campaigns, committees, fellow legislators, and legislation that he worked on. He talks about Tony Yturri, Monte Montgomery, Bill Holmstrom, Stan Ouderkirk, Clarence Barton, and Stafford Hansell. He discusses legislation on agriculture, taxes, labor, forestry and land use. He also talks about how his leadership style as speaker of the House from 1969 to 1973, and about his legislative agenda. He closes the interview by discussing the social life of legislators.
Dates
- 1995 August 30-September 1
Creator
- Smith, Robert F. (Robert Freeman), 1931- (Interviewee, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Joint copyright is held by the Oregon Historical Society and Robert F. Smith. Use is allowed under: In Copyright – Educational Use Permitted http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Biographical note
Robert Freeman "Bob" Smith was born in 1931 in Burns, Oregon. He studied pre-med and economics at Willamette University. While in college, both of his parents died within a year of each other, and Smith inherited the family ranching business. After his graduation in 1953, he started several successful businesses, including in construction, tires, and wholesale gasoline. He was involved in a number of civic organizations, including the Burns Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trustees for the Oregon State Library. He was elected as a Republican to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1960. He met Kaye Tomlinson on a blind date in 1965, and they married the next year; they later had three children. From 1969 to 1973, he served as speaker of the Oregon House. From 1973 to 1982, Smith served in the state Senate. He also served in the United States House of Representatives from 1982 to 1994 and again from 1997 to 1999. During his seven terms in the House, he served on both the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Resources.
Extent
.1 Cubic Feet (8 audiocassettes (7 hr., 52 min., 37 sec.) + transcript (205 pages))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Oral history interview with Robert F. Smith conducted by Clark Hansen from August 30 to September 1, 1995, as part of the Oregon Legislature Oral History Series. Smith was an Oregon state representative, Oregon state senator, and congressman.
Existence and Location of Copies
General
Forms part of the Oregon Legislature Oral History Series.
Creator
- Smith, Robert F. (Robert Freeman), 1931- (Interviewee, Person)
- Hansen, Clark (Interviewer, Person)
- Title
- Guide to oral history interview with Robert F. Smith
- 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
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org