Oral history interview with Thomas R. Getman, 1988 June 3-8

Overview of the Collection

Interviewee
Getman, Thomas R.
Title
Oral history interview with Thomas R. Getman
Dates
1988 June 3-8 (inclusive)
Quantity
.1 cubic feet, (5 audiocassettes (4 hr., 24 min., 18 sec.))
Collection Number
SR 1338
Summary
Oral history interview with Thomas R. Getman conducted by James Strassmaier from June 3-8, 1988, as part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Project. Getman was legislative director for Hatfield from 1978 to 1985.
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

Thomas Richard Getman was born in Luverne, Minnesota, in 1941. He graduated from Wheaton College in Chicago, Illinois, in 1963. After college, he worked with Young Life ministries to establish education programs in New England until 1976. He earned a master's degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He interned for U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield, becoming his legislative director and specializing in African foreign policy from 1978 to 1985. He then joined World Vision, a humanitarian aid organization, in 1985.

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 Thomas R. Getman was conducted by Jim Strassmaier in Getman's offices at World Vision in Washington, D.C., from June 3-8, 1988. In this interview, Getman discusses his family background and early life in Luverne, Minnesota, particularly the development of his religious and political beliefs. He then discusses attending Wheaton College in Chicago, Illinois, and working with Young Life ministries in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he heard Mark Hatfield speak for the first time. He talks about his longstanding admiration for Hatfield; his involvement with Young Life ministries in New England; and his work for Gerald R. Ford, including a story about being with the Ford family on the night of the 1976 presidential election. He then describes how he came to be on Hatfield's staff; discusses other staff members, particularly Doug Coe and Gerry Frank; and talks about how the staff and Hatfield interacted. Getman discusses his duties as legislative director, Hatfield's relationship with the Republican Party, and the senator's stance on several issues, including abortion. He speaks at length about Hatfield's personality, spirituality, and legislative agenda. He also talks about preacher Billy Graham, as well as the evangelical voting bloc. He discusses the Reagan administration's push for privatization and his own opinion on the limits of the private sector, particularly in regard to health care. He speaks about Hatfield's efforts to mitigate the damaging effects of privatization in his role as chair of the appropriations committee. He then talks about his work on legislation regarding Africa, particularly South Africa. He discusses the events surrounding Rajneeshpuram, and being in Africa on vacation during Hatfield's real estate scandal. He closes the interview by reflecting on the legacy and accomplishments of Hatfield's political career.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Audio available online in OHS Digital Collections.

Preferred Citation

Oral history interview with Thomas R. Getman, by James Strassmaier, SR 1338, 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 Oral history interview with Thomas R. Getman 1988 June 3
3 Oral history interview with Thomas R. Getman 1988 June 3-8
4-5 Oral history interview with Thomas R. Getman 1988 June 8

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Christians
  • International relations
  • Legislation--United States
  • Privatization--United States

Personal Names

  • Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006
  • Getman, Thomas R.
  • Graham, Billy, 1918-2018
  • Hatfield, Mark O., 1922-2011
  • Reagan, Ronald

Corporate Names

  • United States. Congress. Senate
  • Young Life Campaign

Geographical Names

  • Rajneeshpuram (Or.)
  • United States--Politics and government--20th century

Form or Genre Terms

  • interviews

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Strassmaier, James (interviewer)