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Oral history interview with Riki P. Sheehan, 1988 June 2-11
Overview of the Collection
- Interviewee
- Sheehan, Riki P. (Fredrica Poster), 1951-
- Title
- Oral history interview with Riki P. Sheehan
- Dates
- 1988 June 2-11 (inclusive)1988-06-021988-06-11
- Quantity
- 0.1 cubic feet, (4 audiocassettes (3 hr., 21 min., 57 sec.) + transcript (79 pages))
- Collection Number
- SR 1343
- Summary
- Oral history interview with Riki P. Sheehan conducted by Michael O'Rourke from June 2-11, 1988, as part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Project. Sheehan was a caseworker and legislative assistant on Hatfield's staff.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- 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.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Fredrica "Riki" Poster Sheehan was born in New York in 1951. She earned a bachelor of science degree from Cornell University in 1973. She then moved to Washington, D.C., in order to get a job in government. She began working on U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield's staff as a caseworker in 1974. In 1977, she became one of Hatfield's legislative assistants. In 1980, when Hatfield became chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she was appointed to its staff.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Forms part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Project.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This oral history interview with Riki P. Sheehan was conducted by Michael O'Rourke from June 2-11, 1988, as part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Series. The interview was conducted in three sessions; collection includes a transcript.
In this interview, Sheehan discusses her work on the staff of U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield from 1974 to the time of the interview. She talks about issues on which she disagreed with Hatfield, including on U.S.-Israeli relations and abortion; describes her duties as a legislative assistant; and discusses Hatfield's personality and spirituality. She talks about cases she worked on when she first joined Hatfield's staff, speaks at length about Hatfield's chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee and her work on that committee's staff, and discusses a real estate scandal that affected Hatfield in 1984.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Audio and transcript available online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Oral history interview with Riki P. Sheehan, by Michael O'Rouke, SR 1343, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
Joint copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society and Willamette University. Use is allowed according to the following license: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Cassette | ||
| 1-2 | Interview session 1
Tape 1, Side 1, to partway through Tape 2, Side 1. In the first interview session, conducted on February 2, 1988, Sheehan discusses her early political career and describes how she joined the staff of Senator Mark Hatfield as a caseworker in 1974. She speaks about working with Hatfield, describes her job duties, and talks about working with other members of Hatfield's staff. She speaks about Hatfield's opposition to the Vietnam War, talks about his personality, and discusses Hatfield's place in the increasingly right-wing Republican Party of the 1980s. She shares examples of cases she worked on.
|
1988 June 2 |
| 2-3 | Interview session 2
Partway through Tape 2, Side 1, to partway through Tape 3, Side 1. In the second interview session, conducted on June 7, 1988, Sheehan discusses Hatfield's relationship with other members of Congress, with his staff, and with his family. She speaks at length about serving as Hatfield's legislative aide on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and describes Hatfield's role and accomplishments as chair of that committee.
|
1988 June 7 |
| 3-4 | Interview session 3
Partway through Tape 3, Side 1, through Tape 4, Side 1. In the third and final interview session, conducted on June 11, 1988, Sheehan speaks at length about Hatfield's work to secure funding for research and development at Oregon Health and Science University through the Senate Appropriations Committee, and also talks about the committee's funding for AIDS research. She discusses Hatfield's admiration of Mother Theresa, talks about how Hatfield's liberal Republicanism differs from the Republicanism of President Ronald Reagan, and speaks about the 1984 controversy surrounding Hatfield's association with Greek arms dealer Basil Tsakos. She closes the interview by reflecting on Hatfield's accomplishments.
|
1988 June 11 |
| Folder | ||
| SR1343 | Interview transcript | 1988 June 7-11 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- AIDS (Disease)--Government policy--United States
- Legislation--United States
Personal Names
- Hatfield, Mark O., 1922-2011
- Sheehan, Riki P. (Fredrica Poster), 1951-
Corporate Names
- Oregon Health Sciences University
- United States. Congress. Senate
Geographical Names
- United States--Politics and government--20th century
Form or Genre Terms
- interviews
- oral histories (literary works)
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- O'Rourke, Michael (Filmmaker) (interviewer)
