From 2005 to 2015, former Montana legislator Bob Brown conducted oral history interviews with a variety of political figures in Montana. The 70+ interviewees ranged from state legislators, lobbyists, attorneys and journalists, to Montana Constitutional Convention delegates and officials in administrative and financial branches of the Montana State government. Interview topics include Montana and the Anaconda Company, the recurring sales tax debate, mining, elections, deregulation, and the legislative process over time. The original interviews are held as Oral History collection OH 396 at Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula.
This collection includes 70 interviews.
-
Alec Hansen Interview, April 15, 2010
Alec Hansen
Alec Hansen reminisces about growing up in Butte, Montana during the 1940s and 1950s. He details working for Montana Governor Forrest Anderson, describing the governor's work style and vision for... Read More
-
Alfred Lewis Bishop Interview, August 17, 2007
Alfred Lewis Bishop
Alfred Lewis Bishop tells of issues that he was involved with during his time as Fish and Game commissioner. He recalls anecdotes during his earlier years as a Billings attorney... Read More
-
Allen Kolstad Interview, June 3, 2005
Allen C. Kolstad
Allen Kolstad reviews his time in politics in Montana including descriptions of influential legislators, issues, and lobbyists. He describes his campaign with Stan Stephens. Kolstad explains his involvement in national... Read More
-
Antoinette Fraser Rosell Interview, July 6, 2005
Antoinette Fraser Rosell
Antoinette Fraser Rosell describes influences leading to her party affiliation, her early legislative work, and relationships with other members of the Montana legislature. She recalls the trend in female interest... Read More
-
Bill Norman Interview, May 26, 2006
William James Norman
Bill Norman recalls growing up in Minnesota and the earliest political influences that led him to become a Democrat. He credits his first political interest and activity with interest in... Read More
-
Bob Marks Interview, January 11, 2008
Robert L. Marks
Bob Marks of Helena, Montana, describes how he became interested in politics at a young age and his affiliation with the Republican Party. He contrasts his campaign for election to... Read More
-
Bruce Crippen Interview, May 27, 2010
Bruce D. Crippen
Bruce Crippen talks about his twenty years of service as a Montana state senator. He describes working with Montana governors Stan Stephens, Marc Racicot, and Judy Martz. He also discusses... Read More
-
Carle O'Neil Interview, March 18, 2005
Carle O'Neil
Carle O'Neil discusses how his career began in politics, various legislators that were influential, various important issues in the legislature, and influences of the Anaconda Company and Montana Power Company.... Read More
-
Clyde Hawks Interview, June 6, 2005
Clyde Hawks
Clyde Hawks discusses his first congressional race in 1948 and many of the politicians he served with; the influence of the Anaconda Company and Montana Power Company on state politics... Read More
-
Dale McGarvey Interview, March 18, 2005
Dale McGarvey
Dale McGarvey discusses legislation he either supported or encountered in the House education, occupational disease/silicosis/workers' compensation, public utility districts); the Anaconda Company lobbyists and their influence in politics; his relationship... Read More
-
Daniel Kemmis Interview, December 9, 2009
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis reminisces about his family's politics and his college years at Harvard and how they influenced him to run for public office. He talks about Montana governors Tom Judge... Read More
-
Dan W. Harrington Interview, October 8, 2009
Dan William Harrington
Dan W. Harrington discusses the Anaconda Company and its influence on Butte, mining operations, and Montana state politics. He describes the deregulation of electricity in the state and Montana Power... Read More
-
Dave Lewis Interview, August 22, 2008
David M. Lewis
Dave Lewis describes his 40 year participation in politics including his work as budget director, campaign contributor, director of the Department of Administration, director of the State Board of Investments,... Read More
-
Dorothy Bradley Interview, September 29, 2009
Dorothy M. Bradley
Dorothy Bradley describes the events that drew her to run for the Montana House of Representatives at the age of twenty-three. She talks about being the only woman in the... Read More
-
Dorothy Eck Interview, May 22, 2007
Dorothy Eck
Dorothy Eck explains the events that guided her interests in politics, her eventual membership and presidency of the Montana League of Women Voters, and discusses issues backed by that organization.... Read More
-
Edward Smith Interview, July 7, 2005
Edward Smith
Edward Smith describes his involvement on important legislation, the Wheat Commission, resolving the rural electricity issue by amending a previous bill, and participation in the Senate Finance Commission in Montana.... Read More
-
Elin G. Parks Interview, September 4, 2010
Elin G. Parks
Elin G. Parks talks about her grandfather, former U.S. Senator Thomas Walsh. She discusses his career and the details surrounding his death. She also talks about her life as the... Read More
-
Eugene C. Tidball Interview, October 1, 2005
Eugene C. Tidball
Eugene C. Tidball discusses his work as the first director of the Montana Legislative Council, which attempted to make the legislative process more modern, functional and efficient. From there, he... Read More
-
Fred Thomas Interview, March 31, 2010
Fred Thomas
Fred Thomas discusses his twenty-plus years serving in the Montana State Legislature. He describes how his family's involvement in politics encouraged him to become a politician. He briefly talks about... Read More
-
Fred Van Valkenburg Interview, June 23, 2009
Fred R. Van Valkenburg
Fred Van Valkenburg, describes his Catholic upbringing and how that, along with John Kennedy's presidency, inspired him to run for public office. He reminisces about his years as the Montana... Read More
-
Gordon Bennett Interview, June 8, 2005
Gordon Bennett
Gordon Bennett begins by discussing his childhood in the Depression and drought era in Scobey, Montana, mentioning the desperation that led to the election of communists in the '30s. He... Read More
-
Greg Jergeson Interview, July 29, 2009
Greg Jergeson
Greg Jergeson describes over thirty years in the Montana State Senate mostly in terms of fellow politicians. He talks about Francis Bardanouve's mentorship during the early part of his political... Read More
-
Harrison Fagg Interview, March 29, 2008
Harrison Fagg
Harrison Fagg of Billings, Montana, recalls his family's political nature and that influence on his political philosophy, his involvement with the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and his eventual relationship with... Read More
-
Jack Galt and Louise Galt Interview, April 29, 2005
Louise R. Galt and Jack Galt
Jack Galt and Louise Galt discuss their families' backgrounds in Montana politics and their own evolving political awareness and activity. Both give impressions of governors and legislators in Montana, as... Read More
-
Jack Gunderson Interview, April 21, 2005
Jack Gunderson
Jack Gunderson recalls being raised in as a Democrat, the Farmers Union, the Farm Labor Coalition, the 1972 Constitutional Convention and its ongoing impact, Anaconda Company influence, and various legislation.... Read More
-
Jack Schiltz Interview, September 17, 2007
Jack M. Schiltz
Jack Schiltz describes the influence of the Montana Power Company and the Anaconda Company on Montana politics during the 1950s and his term on the Constitutional Convention. Schiltz is a... Read More
-
Jake Frank Interview, August 18, 2007
Jake Frank
Jake Frank describes issues in the legislature including rural electric co-ops. He ends by describing his work in the Rural Electrification Association and Farmers Home Association and discusses issues in... Read More
-
James Haughey Interview, March 12, 2005
James Haughey
James Haughey describes the legislature in 1945 and onward; Anaconda lobbyists and hospitality room; governors and politicians; hunting trips with politicians; and sales tax reform and other political issues of... Read More
-
James Mockler Interview, September 28, 2005
James Mockler
James Mockler describes his background in Wyoming; he moves to the effects of Montana and Wyoming's coal taxes in 1975. Mockler explains the effect of the coal tax on Montana's... Read More
-
James Murry Interview, October 11, 2006
James W. Murry
James Murry discusses his involvement with the AFL/CIO from 1968-1991, the labor movement in Montana, and worker's rights. He discusses various influential leaders including Lee Metcalf, Mike Mansfield, Arnold Olsen,... Read More
-
James Patten Interview, March 1, 2005
James Patten
James Patten discusses his work as a lobbyist in Montana during the sixties. He also talks about working with Governor Tim Babcock. He reminisces about Governors Donald Nutter and Ted... Read More
-
James P. Lucas Interview, June 6, 2005
James P. Lucas
James P. Lucas describes how he became interested in politics and his political philosophy. He discussed some of the lobbyists, (Montana governors Aronson, Babcock, Nutter) and fellow legislators with whom... Read More
-
Jean A. Turnage Interview, January 3, 2006
Jean A. Turnage
Former Montana State Supreme Court Chief Justice, Jean A. Turnage, describes his past involvement in law and his inspirations to run for public offices. He describes his time in the... Read More
-
Jerome Anderson Interview, May 4, 2005
Jerome Anderson
Jerome Anderson discusses his involvement in state politics and his relationship with other state politicians, beginning with recollections of his father's political career before turning to his first congressional session... Read More
-
J. Michael Pichette Interview, May 5, 2005
J. Michael Pichette
J. Michael Pichette describes working for Montana Congressmen Olson and Melcher in Washington, D.C.; organizing political campaigns for and general impressions of Montana politicians, including Governor Ted Schwinden; the Constitutional... Read More
-
Joe A. Renders Interview, April 21, 2005
Joe A. Renders
Joe A. Renders describes his liberal political background; the personalities of politicians he has known in his career; the Anaconda Company's involvement in state politics; control of the press in... Read More
-
Joe Mazurek Interview, September 25, 2008
Joe Mazurek
Joe Mazurek begins with his involvement in ASUM while attending The University of Montana-Missoula. He briefly discusses influential politicians through his years in the Senate, the Montana Power Company and... Read More
-
John Cobb Interview, September 29, 2010
John Cobb
John Cobb discusses his introduction to politics and why he decided to run for the Montana State Legislature. He describes his years in the Legislature and fellow legislators including Bob... Read More
-
John C. Sheehy Interview, June 8, 2005
John C. Sheehy
John C. Sheehy talks about his interest in politics at a young age and the political and social climate of Butte when he was growing up. He describes Montana politicians... Read More
-
John Delano Interview, March 10, 2005
John Delano
John Delano talks about his career as a lobbyist and describes some of the other lobbyists he knew. He discusses various changes in Montana politics from the 1950s to 2005... Read More
-
John D. Lynch Interview, August 25, 2008
John D. Lynch
John D. Lynch discusses his family history and the events leading up to his work in Montana politics. He describes campaigning in Butte, his work on the House Appropriations Committee,... Read More
-
John H. Leuthold Interview, July 6, 2005
John H. Leuthold
John H. Leuthold provides his recollections of former governors Nutter, Babcock, Schwinden and influential legislators during his term in the Montana House of Representatives, 1950-1968. He also recalls his experience... Read More
-
John Lahr Interview, April 27, 2007
John Lahr
John Lahr discusses the workings of the Montana Power Company during the 1960s up until the 1980s. Included are stories of interaction between former legislators, governors, and other lobbyists and... Read More
-
John Mercer Interview, April 2, 2010
John A. Mercer
John Mercer describes his early experiences in the Montana House and fellow legislators including Dave Brown, Francis Bardanouve, Jack Ramirez, John Vincent, Hal Harper, Bob Thoft, John Harp, Fred Thomas,... Read More
-
John T. Hoag Interview, September 1, 2010
John T. Hoag
John T. Hoag talks about living on Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. He reminisces about spending time with two Montana senators, Tom Walsh and Burton K. Wheeler, and their... Read More
-
John Vincent Interview, April 22, 2010
John C. Vincent
John Vincent, describes his interest in political science and how that influenced him to run for public office. He discusses his leadership roles in the Montana House of Representatives as... Read More
-
Judy (Rippengale) Paynter Interview, August 1, 2008
Judy (Rippengale) Paynter
Judy (Rippengale) Paynter discusses her experiences relating to financial affairs in the Montana legislature over more than 25 years. She explains her fiscal responsibilities including budget preparation, tax increases, and... Read More
-
Karl Ohs Interview, August 4, 2007
Karl Ohs
Former lieutenant governor and legislator, Karl Ohs, provides an in depth look at his involvement as a negotiator during the Freemen standoff near Jordan, Montana in 1996, the Freeman trial,... Read More
-
Leslie Eskildsen Interview, July 8, 2005
Leslie Eskildsen
Leslie Eskildsen explains his personal relationships with prominent Montana legislators, congressmen including Mansfield and Metcalf, and governors Babcock, Judge, Schwinden, especially during his terms in the Montana House of Representatives... Read More
-
Lloyd Crippen and R. Lewis Brown, Jr. Interview, April 4, 2005
Lloyd Crippen and R. Lewis Brown Jr.
Lloyd Crippen and R. Lewis Brown, Jr. describe how they became connected with the Anaconda Company, Crippen initially through his father-in-law and Brown after army service, law school and government... Read More