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Oral history interview with J. Keith Kennedy, 1988 June 8
Overview of the Collection
- Interviewee
- Kennedy, J. Keith
- Title
- Oral history interview with J. Keith Kennedy
- Dates
- 1988 June 81988-06-081988-06-08
- Quantity
- .1 cubic feet, (2 audiocassettes (1 hr., 43 min., 37 sec.) + transcript (39 pages))
- Collection Number
- SR 1339
- Summary
- Oral history interview with J. Keith Kennedy conducted by Jim Strassmaier on June 8, 1988, as part of the Senator Mark O. Hatfield Oral History Project. Kennedy was staff director for the Senate Appropriations Committee.
- 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
James Keith Kennedy was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1948. He attended Duke Divinity School in North Carolina, graduating in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in history. He continued at Duke for his graduate work. He was an intern for U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield from 1972 to 1973. He returned to Duke to finish his master's degree in divinity in 1973, then rejoined Hatfield's staff in 1974 as a legislative assistant. He served in that role until 1977, when he became a staff member on the Select Committee on Indian Affairs. He was staff director of the Senate Appropriations Committee from 1981 to 2006, and served briefly as the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms from 2003 to 2005. In 1988, he and Patricia Creagan were married. He became a senior public policy advisor for Baker, Donelson et al. in 2006.
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 J. Keith Kennedy was conducted by Jim Strassmaier in Kennedy's office on June 8, 1988. In this interview, Kennedy discusses his family background and early life in Charlotte, North Carolina. He talks about his college education at Duke University in North Carolina, including influential professors. He then talks about interning for U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield from 1972 to 1973, writing speeches, researching issues and political opponents, and assisting Wes Michaelson. He discusses Hatfield's 1972 re-election campaign against Wayne Morse, and Hatfield's opposition to the Vietnam War, as well as Hatfield's feelings about President Richard Nixon's impeachment. He then discusses working as a legislative assistant for Hatfield from 1974 to 1977. Next, he speaks about his work on the Select Committee on Indian Affairs from 1977 to 1981, and on the Senate Appropriations Committee from 1981 to the time of this interview in 1988. Kennedy talks about Hatfield's legislative agenda and stance on some controversial issues, including the draft. He also talks about other members of Hatfield's staff, including Frank Cook. Kennedy closes the interview by discussing Hatfield's personality and spirituality, as well as Hatfield's relationship with his fellow legislators.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Audio and transcript available online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Oral history interview with J. Keith Kennedy, by Jim Strassmaier, SR 1339, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
Joint copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society, Willamette University, and J. Keith Kennedy. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Christians
- Legislation--United States
Personal Names
- Hatfield, Mark O., 1922-2011
- Kennedy, J. Keith
Corporate Names
- 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
- Strassmaier, James (interviewer)