Oral history interview with Vern Cook [Sound Recording 25]
Cook, Vern (Robert Vernon), 1925-2008
Oregon--Politics and government--20th century
Lawyers--Oregon--Gresham
Legislation--Oregon
Legislators--Oregon
Poliomyelitis
Political campaigns--Oregon
Democratic Party (Or.)
Oregon. Legislative Assembly
Atiyeh, Victor
Boe, Jason, 1929-1990
Goldschmidt, Neil E., 1940-
Green, Edith, 1910-1987
Hallock, Ted
Hatfield, Mark O., 1922-2011
McCall, Tom, 1913-1983
Montgomery, Monte (Finis Ferman), 1924-2016
Potts, Eugene D. (Eugene Debbs), 1908-2003
Sweetland, Monroe, 1910-2006
Tape 13, Side 1. This oral history interview with Robert Vernon "Vern" Cook was conducted by Clark Hansen at Cook's law office in Gresham, Oregon, and Cook's home in Troutdale, Oregon, from December 15, 1994, to October 15, 1995. In the interview, Cook discusses his family background and early life during the Depression in Las Animas, Colorado, and in Gresham. He also describes being a young man during World War II; being denied enlistment in the Navy due to polio; and his rehabilitation from polio. Cook discusses studying political science at Reed College and law at the University of Oregon, all while working concessions at various businesses in California with his brother. He talks about practicing law in Gresham; his involvement with the Democratic Party; and his first campaign for the Oregon House of Representatives in 1956. Cook discusses the legislation he worked on while serving in the House, including taxation, education, and worker's compensation. He also talks about serving on the judicial committee and related issues. He discusses some of the legislators he worked with, including Pat Dooley and Monroe Sweetland, as well as Governor Mark Hatfield. Cook then describes his experience in the Oregon Senate, including serving on the judiciary committee and legislation on taxation, particularly sales taxes, as well as health insurance, education, land use, agriculture, domestic violence, and labor. He also talks about working with senators Tom Mahoney, Edith Green, Walter Pearson, Debbs Potts, Monte Montgomery, Alice Corbett, Ted Hallock, Jason Boe, and Vic Atiyeh. Cook also discusses party politics and its influence on the effectiveness of the Legislature during his tenure; the 1968 Democratic National Convention; and working with Governor Tom McCall and Portland Mayor Neil Goldschmidt. He also talks about his unsuccessful campaigns for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate; his involvement in Frank Church's campaign in the Democratic presidential primary in 1976; and the financial difficulties he faced as a legislator. He closes the interview by discussing his career as a lawyer since leaving the Legislature in 1980.
Hansen, Clark
1995-04-18
Audiocassette; 00:30:27
https://digitalcollections.ohs.org/oral-history-interview-with-vern-cook-sound-recording-25
SR1167_T13S1
eng
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