Interviewer
Robert E. Eagle
Files
Description
Missoula historian and 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention delegate John H. Toole discusses his involvement in the convention as first vice president. He talks about the role of the first vice president and the responsibilities of each acting committee. He describes the day-to-day aspects of the convention including the voting procedures, drafting procedures and schedule. He describes the process of getting the constitution ratified by Montana citizens and some of the compromises on articles and wording that had to be made in order to ensure it would be ratified. Some of these compromises included adding unicameral legislature and legalized gambling as separate options on the ballot rather than within the body of the constitution. He talks about the significant changes that were made to the constitution including setting up two-board educational system, taking away the state’s sovereign immunity, and eliminating the two-mill levy limitation. He notes that one of the weaknesses of the constitution was the lack of judicial reform. He concludes by discussing the implementation of the new constitution and states that an aspect of a democratic society is the ability to make necessary changes to a constitution as society changes and evolves.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Toole, John H.; Eagle, Robert E.; Constitutional conventions; Constitutional history; Constitutional conventions--Montana.; Government reorganization—Montana; Constitutional history--Montana.; Public welfare—Montana.; Montana. Constitution Convention Commission.; Montana. Constitution Revision Commission.; Montana. Constitutional Convention (1889)--History.; Montana. Constitutional Convention (1971-1972); Montana. Constitutional Convention (1971-1972)--History.; Helena (Mont.); Montana--Politics and government--20th century.; University of Montana (Missoula, Mont.). Dept. of Political Science; University of Montana (Missoula, Mont.)—Faculty; Political science--Study and teaching (Higher)--Montana--Missoula
Original Date
1-1-1972
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
1972 Montana Constitutional Convention Oral History Project, OH 346
Holding Institution
University of Montana. Mansfield Library. Archives and Special Collections
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights Statement
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections at the University of Montana, Mansfield Library.
Rights Holder
Oral History Number
OH 346-002
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (60 min.): analog + 1 transcript (9 pp.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
00:42:28 minutes
Local Filename
OH_346_002.mp3; OH_346_002.pdf
Citation
Toole, John H., "Oral History Interview with John H. Toole, circa 1972" (1972). 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention Oral History Project. 2.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mt1972concon_oralhistory/2