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Oral history interview with Jim Towey, 1988 June 2
Overview of the Collection
- Interviewee
- Towey, Jim
- Title
- Oral history interview with Jim Towey
- Dates
- 1988 June 21988-06-021988-06-02
- Quantity
- .1 cubic feet, (4 audiocassettes (3 hr., 45 min., 38 sec.) + transcript (100 pages))
- Collection Number
- SR 1336
- Summary
- Oral history interview with Jim Towey conducted by Jim Strassmaier on June 2, 1988, as part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Project. Towey was an aide to Hatfield.
- 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
Harry James "Jim" Towey II was born in Indiana in 1956. Within his first year of life, his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida. He attended Florida State University, earning his bachelor's degree in 1978, and a law degree in 1981. He came to Washington, D.C., to take part in the founding of a religious educational institute, which never materialized. He briefly served as an aide to Florida Senator Lawton Chiles, but soon moved to Senator Mark Hatfield's office. He was a legislative assistant for Hatfield from 1982 to 1984, then legislative director until 1988. In 1992, he and Mary Sarah Griffith were married; they later had five children. He also served as legal counsel to Mother Theresa from 1985 to 1997; was secretary for the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services from 1993 to 1995; led the non-profit organization Aging with Dignity from 1996 to 2002; was director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives from 2002 to 2006; was president of St. Vincent College from 2006 to 2010; and was president and CEO of Ave Maria University from 2011 to 2020.
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 Jim Towey was conducted by Jim Strassmaier on June 2, 1988. In this interview, Towey discusses his family background and early life in Jacksonville, Florida, including his Catholic upbringing. He talks about studying law at Florida State University, including working summer jobs and playing basketball. He then discusses his decision to forgo the practice of law and instead follow a spiritual calling to Washington, D.C. He describes how he came to be part of U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield's staff in 1982; his duties as a legislative assistant and later legislative director; and some of the other members of the senator's staff. Towey relates a few anecdotes regarding Hatfield's personality and spirituality. Using abortion legislation as an example, he describes the way the staff would engage with Hatfield on specific legislation and how the senator made decisions. He also describes working on improving conditions for refugees and the abuses he witnessed, as well as his feelings on President Ronald Reagan's agenda in general. Towey speaks at length about a real estate scandal during Hatfield's 1984 re-election campaign and how they dealt with it. He closes the interview by discussing Hatfield's spiritual life.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Audio and transcript available online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Oral history interview with Jim Towey, by Jim Strassmaier, SR 1336, 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
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Abortion--Law and legislation--United States
- Political campaigns--Oregon
- Refugees--Government policy--United States
Personal Names
- Hatfield, Mark O., 1922-2011
- Towey, Jim
Corporate Names
- United States. Congress. Senate
Geographical Names
- United States--Politics and government--20th century
Form or Genre Terms
- interviews
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Strassmaier, James (interviewer)