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Oral history interview with Tony Yturri, 1990 November 19-21
Overview of the Collection
- Interviewee
- Yturri, Anthony, 1914-1999
- Title
- Oral history interview with Tony Yturri
- Dates
- 1990 November 19-21 (inclusive)1990-11-191990-11-21
- Quantity
- .1 cubic feet, (10 audiocassettes (7 hr., 15 min., 29 sec.) + 2 photographs (black and white ; 5 x 7 in.))
- Collection Number
- SR 1134
- Summary
- Oral history interview with Tony Yturri conducted by James Strassmaier from November 19-21, 1990, as part of the Oregon Legislature Oral History Series. Yturri was an Oregon state senator from 1963 to 1972.
- 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
Anthony "Tony" Yturri was born in 1914 in Jordan Valley, Oregon. His parents were Basque immigrants. He studied law at the University of Oregon, earning his law degree in 1937. After passing the bar the same year, he accepted a position working with Alan Biggs, a district attorney in Ontario, Oregon. He later became attorney for the city. In 1942, he and Remedios "Reme" Jayo were married; they had no children. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served from 1942 to 1946 in the counterintelligence branch and the judge advocate general's department. Later, Yturri, a Republican, represented Baker, Grant, Harney and Malheur counties in the Oregon Senate from 1963 to 1972. After leaving the Legislature, he was twice offered a seat on the Oregon Supreme Court, but he refused both times. He was appointed to chair the Oregon Transportation Commission by Governor Tom McCall, serving from 1979 to 1987. He died in 1999.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Forms part of the Oregon Legislature Oral History Series.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
Incomplete transcript (211 pages) is available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This oral history interview with Tony Yturri was conducted by Jim Strassmaier at Yturri's office in Ontario, Oregon, from November 19-21, 1990. In this interview, Yturri discusses his family background and early life in Jordan Valley, Oregon, including Basque culture and his father's store. He talks about attending the University of Oregon, and discusses studying law, his social life, and his professors, including Orlando Hollis and Wayne Morse. He then talks about relocating to Ontario, Oregon, to work in the district attorney's office, and his experience as city attorney. He briefly talks about his military experience during World War II, from 1942 to 1946, particularly his counterintelligence work, and the adjustment to civilian life after the war.
Yturri then discusses his service in the Oregon Senate from 1963 to 1972. He talks about his campaigns, his involvement with the Republican Party, and his constituency. He describes the organization and procedures of the Senate. He talks about legislation he worked on, including on taxes, trucking, reapportionment, and water rights. He talks about his fellow legislators, including Monroe Sweetland, Bob Duncan, Vic Atiyeh, John Burns, Monte Montgomery, and Jason Boe. He describes working with the Mark Hatfield and Tom McCall administrations, the transportation commission under Glenn Jackson, and lobbyists. He also talks about his opinion on the Vietnam War; health issues that prevented him from considering a run for the governorship; and the rise of the conservative branch of the Republican Party. Yturri talks about serving as chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission from 1979 to 1987, particularly regarding a misunderstanding he had with the director of the Department of Transportation, Neil Goldschmidt. He closes the interview by talking about his retirement activities and family life.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Audio and photographs available online in OHS Digital Collections.
Preferred Citation
Oral history interview with Tony Yturri, by Jim Strassmaier, SR 1134, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
Joint copyright to interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society and the estate of Tony Yturri. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/. Copyright to photographs has not been determined, and permission for use may require authorization from copyright holders.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Cassette | ||
1-3 | Oral history interview with Tony Yturri | 1990 November 19 |
4 | Oral history interview with Tony Yturri | 1990 November 19-20 |
5-8 | Oral history interview with Tony Yturri | 1990 November 20 |
9-10 | Oral history interview with Tony Yturri | 1990 November 21 |
Folder | ||
SR1134 | Photographs of Tony Yturri | 1990 November 7 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Basques--United States
- Lawyers--Oregon--Ontario
- Legislation--Oregon
- Legislators--Oregon
- Political campaigns--Oregon
- Public prosecutors--Oregon
Personal Names
- Yturri, Anthony, 1914-1999
Corporate Names
- Oregon. Legislative Assembly
Geographical Names
- Oregon--Politics and government--20th century
Form or Genre Terms
- interviews
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Strassmaier, James (interviewer)