Archives West Finding Aid

This oral history interview with Frank C. Cook was conducted by Clark Hansen at the Irish Inn in Ashland, Oregon, from November 29-30, 1989. The interview was conducted in two sessions; collection includes a transcript and a photograph of Cook.

In the first interview session, conducted on November 29, 1989, Cook discusses his family background and early life in Southern California, including his family's involvement with conservative Republican politics and his father's suicide. He discusses attending Occidental College in Los Angeles, California; his involvement with the Quaker movement and Buddhism; and the evolution of his political beliefs. He talks about serving in the National Guard from 1967 to 1968, during the Vietnam War. Cook discusses beginning to work as an aide to U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield in 1969.

In the second interview session, conducted on November 30, 1989, Cook continues to discuss working as an aide to Hatfield from 1969 to 1973. He talks about Hatfield's political career, including Hatfield's role in coaching California Governor Ronald Reagan and how Hatfield's views on the Vietnam War affected his political career and his family. He talks about writing speeches for Hatfield, his work on anti-draft legislation, and other members of Hatfield's staff, particularly Gerry Frank. He also talks about other legislation he worked on for Hatfield, particularly the Neighborhood Government Act; about Hatfield's 1972 re-election campaign; and about his work on Middle East issues. He closes the interview by discussing the possibilities for Hatfield's future career.