This collection includes sixteen interviews detailing Daniel Kemmis’ political career in Montana during the 1970s and 1980s as a Montana State Representative, Speaker of the Montana House of Representatives, Montana House of Representatives Minority Leader, and City of Missoula councilman. This series of interviews were conducted between 1978 and 1989 by Claire Rhein. The interviewee discusses his time serving in the Montana House of Representatives, his relationships with his Democratic colleagues, and his political and personal goals. The original interviews are held as Oral History collection OH 036 at Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula.
This collection includes 16 interviews.
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, August 5, 1981
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis discusses his political philosophy and his views on decentralized government, long-term outlook, and active local participation. He reflects on how his belief in the importance of local government led him to consider the idea of running for mayor of Missoula. Kemmis also talks ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, December 8, 1980
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis talks about his recent victory being selected as minority leader of the Montana State House of Representatives. He recounts the difficulties and uncertainty of the election, which he won by only one vote. Kemmis describes the changes he believes the Democratic Party must ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, July 17, 1981
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis begins by talking about making time for his family despite his responsibilities as a Montana politician. He describes the major events of the 1980-1981 Montana legislative session and his role as Montana House of Representatives Minority Leader. Kemmis discusses the challenges Montana Democrats ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, June 11, 1982
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis discusses Initiative 95—legislation requiring 25 percent of the coal tax trust fund be invested in Montana’s economy—the work that went into forming the initiative years since 1975, and the compromises he made in order to help the initiative gain traction within the Montana ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, March 22, 1989
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis reflects on his childhood and his family’s roots in eastern Montana. He describes how his family came to Montana from the Midwest. Kemmis reminisces how things like his family’s emphasis on religion and early schooling impacted his decision to become involved in politics ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, May 2, 1979
Daniel Kemmis
Montana state legislator Daniel Kemmis reflects on the 1979 Montana legislative session. He discusses what committees he sat on—Judiciary, Water, Local Government, and Education—as well as the legislation that was passed in those fields including a bill to expand the size of the Montana Supreme ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, May 6, 1980
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis discusses the 1980 Montana legislative session. He talks about his frustration with the lack of leadership positions available in the Montana State Legislature, and why he chose to pursue a career in politics. Kemmis describes working as an attorney and how that exposure ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, November 1, 1985
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis describes his adjustment to life outside the Montana State Legislature, and discusses his unsuccessful campaigns running for mayor of Missoula and Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, which he lost to Gene Turnage. He talks about his work with various grassroots and ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, November 17, 1978
Daniel Kemmis
Three weeks following the 1978 Montana general election, Daniel Kemmis discusses his reelection to the Montana State Legislature having won 63 percent of the vote. He describes his campaign and his surprise at winning by such a large margin. Kemmis talks about the election results ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, November 18, 1987
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis reflects on his election to the Missoula City Council. He discusses his reasons for running and his working relationship with colleague Ann Mary Dussault, a Missoula County Commissioner who also served in the Montana State Legislature. He talks about the possibility of running ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, November 2, 1983
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis discusses his plan to announce his intentions to run for a yet-undetermined statewide office at the end of the 1984 legislative session. Kemmis discusses the incorporation of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana and his hope to eventually ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, November 23, 1987
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis discusses what he thinks his future role in Missoula politics and civic life will be. He recounts the difficulties of running a city council campaign, and he considers the possibility of running for mayor in the future. He describes how his schedule is ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, October 16, 1978
Daniel Kemmis
Three weeks before the 1978 Montana general election, Daniel Kemmis discusses his campaign to be reelected as a Montana State legislator and whether he thinks he will win or lose. He details the cost of the campaign. Kemmis describes his campaign strategy, including door-to-door campaigning, ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, October 9, 1978
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis discusses his early childhood in Richland County in eastern Montana. He talks about his early interest in politics which led him to study political science at Harvard University and then in 1972 philosophy at the University of Montana. Kemmis describes running for the ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, September 22, 1983
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis and discusses the process and passage of Initiative 95, which requires 25 percent of the coal tax trust fund be invested in Montana’s economy. The measure provided 25 percent of all future deposits to the permanent coal tax trust be invested in Montana’s ... Read More
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Daniel Kemmis Interview, September 8, 1986
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis talks about his life since serving in the Montana State Legislature. He discusses some new projects that he’s working on including a small business incubator and a community calendar for Missoula. He describes his efforts to encourage collaboration among community members are politically ... Read More