Oral history interview with Don E. Clark, 1994 August 30-1998 March 27

Overview of the Collection

Interviewee
Clark, Don E. (Donald Edward), 1933-
Title
Oral history interview with Don E. Clark
Dates
1994 August 30-1998 March 27 (inclusive)
Quantity
.2 cubic feet, (42 audiocassettes (37 hr., 57 min., 42 sec.) + transcript (943 pages))
Collection Number
SR 1166
Summary
Oral history interview with Don E. Clark conducted by George M. Joseph from August 30, 1994, to March 27, 1998. Clark served as Multnomah County sheriff from 1963 to 1965, and as Multnomah County commissioner from 1971 to 1983.
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

Parts of the interview have been restricted by Don Clark. Restricted segments have been redacted from the transcript and digitized audio files, and tapes 16, 18, 22, 25-28, 31, 32, 41, and 42 are restricted. The remainder of the interview is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Completion of the transcript was funded by donations collected by Dick Feeney.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Donald Edward Clark was born in Silverton, Oregon, in 1933. His family moved to Oregon less than a year later, and then to San Miguel, California, in 1944. The family returned to Portland in 1945. In 1952, he and Barbara Bolin were married; they later had two children. Clark attended Vanport College, which later became Portland State University, and in 1953, he transferred to San Francisco State College, where he graduated in 1956 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. While at San Francisco State, he worked as a prison guard at San Quentin State Prison. In 1956, he returned to Oregon and worked as a deputy in the Multnomah County Sheriff's office. For six months in 1958, he acted as a jail counselor at Rocky Butte Jail. Around the same time, he earned a teaching credential from Portland State University, then taught elementary school while also serving as a deputy sheriff. He was elected Multnomah County sheriff as a Democrat in 1963 and served until 1966. From 1967 to 1968, he was assistant director of the Law Enforcement Program at Portland State University. In 1968, he was elected to position 4 on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. In 1970, he and Barbara Clark divorced, and Don Clark remarried in 1971. In 1974, Clark was elected chair of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, and he served in that role until 1979, when charter amendments changing the structure of county government took effect, and he became Multnomah County executive. After an unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination for Oregon governor in 1982, he retired from county government. He was a consultant with Cogan, Sharpe, & Cogan (now known as Cogan & Associates) for one year. In 1984, he became executive director of the Burnside Consortium, now known as Central City Concern. In 1988, he became executive director of the Housing Authority of Portland. He retired in 1992.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Handwritten index (106 pages) is available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This oral history interview with Don E. Clark was conducted by George M. Joseph at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, from August 30, 1994 to March 27, 1998. The interview was conducted over twenty-nine sessions, and the collection includes a transcript. Tape 13 of this interview is missing, and some sections of the interview have been restricted by Clark.

In sessions 1 through 5, Clark discusses his early life and career, including working as a prison guard at San Quentin State Prison in California and then as a deputy for the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. In sessions 5 and 6, he discusses his 1962 campaign for Multnomah County sheriff. In sessions 7 through 9, he continues to speak about his campaign, and then discusses serving as Multnomah County sheriff from 1962 to 1966. In sessions 10 and 11, he discusses his 1966 re-election campaign for Multnomah County sheriff and his simultaneous campaign for chair of the Multnomah County board of commissioners; serving as assistant director of the Law Enforcement Program at Portland State University from 1967 to 1968, and his 1968 campaign for position 4 on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. In sessions 12 through 15, Clark talks about serving on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, focusing on the years from 1969 to 1974. In sessions 16 through 20, he talks about campaigning for and serving as chair of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners from 1975 to 1979. In sessions 21 through 24, Clark discusses serving as county executive from 1979 to 1982, and his 1982 campaign for Oregon governor. In sessions 25 through 29, Clark talks about his activities since leaving office, including serving as executive director of the Burnside Consortium, now known as Central City Concern, from 1984 to 1988, and as executive director of the Housing Authority of Portland, now known as Home Forward, from 1988 to 1992.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Audio and transcript available online in OHS Digital Collections.

Preferred Citation

Oral history interview with Don E. Clark, by George M. Joseph, SR 1166, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

Donald E. Clark papers, Mss 1373, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Cassette
1-2 Interview session 1
In the first session, conducted on August 30, 1994, Clark speaks at length about his family background, particularly the Kelly and Kern families. He talks about his early life, including his education, his memories of his parents, and his experiences during World War II. He discusses his involvement in high school student government and how that experience influenced his later political career.
1994 August 30
3 Interview session 2
In the second interview session, conducted on February 23, 1995, Clark discusses his experiences at Vanport College, including the history of the college and its transformation into Portland State University. He talks about studying social science and how he became interested in law enforcement, and discusses some of his fellow students. He also talks about his courtship and marriage to Barbara Bolin. He then briefly discusses transferring to San Francisco State College. He speaks at length about working as a prison guard at San Quentin State Prison, including prison conditions, the daily operations of the prison, and some of the incarcerated people he oversaw. He describes witnessing executions and talks about prison labor.
1995 February 23
4 Interview session 3
In the third interview session, conducted on July 25, 1995, Clark continues discussing working as a prison guard at San Quentin State Prison. He talks about prison labor, particularly the use of incarcerated people to fight fires, and about some of the incarcerated people he oversaw. He then speaks briefly about the history of the prison industrial complex. He talks about returning to Oregon in 1956 and working as a deputy in the Multnomah County Sheriff's office, including his assignments, the history of the sheriff's office, and working under Sheriff Terry Schrunk.
1995 July 25
5 Interview session 4
In the fourth interview session, conducted on August 8, 1995, Clark continues discussing working as a deputy in the Multnomah County Sheriff's office. He talks about his reason for choosing the sheriff's office over the Portland Police Bureau; discusses the merits of the sheriff being an elected position; and describes the differences between the sheriff's office and municipal police departments. He talks about the importance of law enforcement having a good relationship with the community. He also talks about serving as a jail counselor at Rocky Butte Jail in 1958, teaching elementary school, and working with Sheriff Francis Lambert.
1995 August 8
6 Interview session 5
In the fifth interview session, conducted on August 16, 1995, Clark continues discussing working with Sheriff Francis Lambert. He talks about the organizational structure of the sheriff's office, officer training, and making the decision to run for the position of sheriff in 1962. He describes his campaign and election, including his campaign staff, his strategy, and his opponents in the Democratic primary and general election.
1995 August 16
7 Interview session 6
In the sixth interview session, conducted on August 30, 1995, Clark continues discussing his campaign for and election to the position of Multnomah County sheriff in 1962, including fundraising, his opponents in the Democratic primary and general election, and press coverage. He also talks about the winners of other local elections that year.
1995 August 30
8 Interview session 7
In the seventh interview session, conducted on November 1, 1995, Clark continues discussing his campaign for and election to Multnomah County sheriff in 1962, including his platform. He then discusses his service as Multnomah County sheriff from 1962 to 1966. He talks about the role of the sheriff's office, the organizational structure of the office, and reforms he instituted, including his efforts to hire more women and people of color. He talks about his relationship with the police union and about increasing the pay for deputies.
1995 November 1
9-12 Interview session 8
Tape 9, Side 1 through Tape 12. In the eighth interview session, conducted on January 24, 1996, Clark continues discussing his service as Multnomah County sheriff from 1962 to 1966. He talks about members of his staff, working with the Board of County Commissioners, and working with the Portland Police Bureau. He speaks at length about reforms he instituted at the sheriff's office, including education requirements, crime scene procedures, and reorganization efforts. He talks about emergency response, sheriff jurisdiction, and officer training. He also describes appearing on Tom McCall's television show in 1963 alongside Sheriff Jim Clark of Dallas County, Alabama. He then talks about his involvement in the National Sheriffs Association and the Oregon State Sheriffs Association, and describes how the Oregon association threatened to leave the national one if Sheriff Jim Clark were to become president. He discusses his opposition to the death penalty, his relationship with the press, and the jails he was responsible for. He speaks at length about prison conditions, reforms he implemented, and some of the incarcerated people. He also talks about an officer exchange between the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office and the Lancashire Constabulary in England. The remainder of this session (Tape 13) is missing.
1996 January 24
14-15 Interview session 9
Tape 14, Side 1 through part of Tape 15, Side 1. In the ninth interview session, conducted on February 28, 1995, Clark continues discussing his service as Multnomah County sheriff. He speaks at length about deputy recruitment, job requirements, and training. He also talks about his efforts to hire more Black, Native American, and women deputies. He discusses the lasting impacts his efforts at reform had on the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. He talks about the implementation of Home Rule in 1966 and how it changed the office of sheriff to an appointed one, and the confusing election season that year.
1996 February 28
15 Interview session 10
Session begins partway through Tape 15, Side 1. In the tenth interview session, conducted on March 5, 1996, Clark discusses his 1966 re-election campaign for Multnomah County sheriff, and his simultaneous campaign for chair of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. He describes the organizational structure of the county commission under the recently enacted Home Rule Charter. He talks about his successors in the sheriff's office and his activities after leaving office, including serving as assistant director of the Law Enforcement Program at Portland State University from 1967 to 1968.
1996 March 5
16-17 Interview session 11
In the eleventh interview session, conducted on March 14, 1996, Clark continues discussing serving as assistant director of the Law Enforcement Program at Portland State University, including the focus of the courses he taught and hiring Lee Brown as director. He also talks about serving on the Oregon Criminal Law Revision Commission, his continued interest in local politics, and his involvement in Robert F. Kennedy's 1968 presidential campaign. He then discusses his campaign for position 4 on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners that same year.
1996 March 14
18-19 Interview session 12
In the twelfth interview session, conducted on July 24, 1996, Clark continues discussing his involvement in Robert F. Kennedy's 1968 presidential campaign. He then talks about serving on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, particularly focusing on his first few years in office. He discusses his fellow commissioners; working with regional, city, and state governments; and some of the issues the board addressed, particularly the Mount Hood Freeway. He talks about the men who succeeded him as Multnomah County sheriff, about serving on the health committee, and about the early career of Neil Goldschmidt. He then discusses his re-election campaign in 1972.
1996 July 24
20-21 Interview session 13
In the thirteenth interview session, conducted on July 30, 1996, Clark continues discussing serving on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, particularly focusing on his first few years in office and his fellow commissioners. He talks about the programs of President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society, particularly the Community Action Program and how it was used in Multnomah County. He discusses the reorganization of county government that was implemented during his first term on the board; working with Portland City Council member Neil Goldschmidt; and the implementation of the 911 system.
1996 July 30
22-23 Interview session 14
In the fourteenth interview session, conducted on August 21, 1996, Clark continues to discuss serving on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. He talks about working with members of the Portland City Council, campaigning for city/county consolidation, and his fellow commissioners. He also talks about his re-election in 1972 and his campaign for chairman of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners in 1974. He discusses working with Portland Mayor Neil Goldschmidt; his political opposition, particularly from the Portland police union; and his involvement in health care policy.
1996 August 21
24 Interview session 15
Tape 24, Side 1. In the fifteenth interview session, conducted on August 29, 1996, Clark continues to discuss serving on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. He revisits the topic of the Mount Hood Freeway and talks about other transportation issues in Multnomah County. He also talks about the organizational structure of the old regional government known as CRAG, which was replaced by Metro.
1996 August 29
24-25 Interview session 16
Tape 24, Side 2 through Tape 25, Side 2. In the sixteenth interview session, conducted on October 3, 1996, Clark continues discussing serving on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. He talks about the organizational structure of county government, as well as the department heads. He discusses his campaign for chair of Multnomah County Board of Commissioners in 1974, as well as the campaign for city/county consolidation.
1996 October 3
26-27 Interview session 17
In the seventeenth interview session, conducted on October 22, 1996, Clark continues discussing serving on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. He further discusses his campaign for chair of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners in 1974, as well as the campaign for city/county consolidation. He speaks at length about the people he tapped for his administration after he became chair in 1975. He talks about his work on land-use planning for the county, on downsizing county government, and on Project Health.
1996 October 22
28 Interview session 18
In the eighteenth interview session, conducted on October 29, 1996, Clark continues discussing serving on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, focusing on his time as chair from 1975 to 1979. He talks about the make-up of the board during this time, about appointing Lee Brown as Multnomah County's first Black sheriff, and the closure of Edgefield Manor. He also revisits the topics of Project Health and his political opponents.
1996 October 29
29-30 Interview session 19
In the nineteenth interview session, conducted on November 12, 1996, Clark continues to discuss serving as chair of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners from 1975 to 1979. He talks about his agenda as chair and the challenges he faced, particularly regarding health care and land use. He discusses working with the Portland City Council and the other city governments within Multnomah County, the county's financial status, and his relationship with the press. He also revisits the topic of his political opposition. He talks about people from whom he sought advice.
1996 November 12
31-32 Interview session 20
In the twentieth interview session, conducted on March 12, 1997, Clark continues discussing serving as chair of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners from 1975 to 1979. He talks about an effort to recall him from office, changes in the county charter, and the establishment of a charter commission. He also addresses the tension between the city of Portland and East Multnomah County regarding how tax dollars were spent. He then discusses the creation of the position of county executive in 1979. He also briefly talks about his 1978 re-election campaign. He then revisits and speaks at length on the topic of his accomplishments as board chair, including the implementation of the 911 system. He also speaks about other members of the board.
1997 March 12
33 Interview session 21
In the twenty-first interview session, conducted on March 25, 1997, Clark continues to discuss serving in county government, focusing on his time as county executive from 1979 to 1982. He talks about the members of the board during this time, the difference between the new position of county executive and the old position of chair, and budgeting issues. He revisits the topic of and speaks at length about Project Health, the countywide health-care insurance system he developed.
1997 March 25
34-35 Interview session 22
In the twenty-second interview session, conducted on May 27, 1997, Clark continues to discuss serving as county executive from 1979 to 1982. He talks about changes in the programs offered by the county, including the closure of Edgefield Manor, the opening of the Hooper Detoxification Center, and county health services. He discusses working with Portland Mayor Connie McCready, and talks about the 1980 public employee strike and the 1980 presidential election. He also talks about his work toward preserving the Columbia River Gorge, his relationship with Senator Mark Hatfield, and health care. He speaks about the change in the political environment that accompanied the Reagan administration, and discusses his campaign for Oregon governor in 1982.
1997 May 27
36 Interview session 23
In the twenty-third interview session, conducted on June 10, 1997, Clark continues discussing his campaign for Oregon governor in 1982 and describes his defeat in the Democratic primary by Ted Kulongoski. He then describes the remaining seven months of his term as Multnomah County executive and his subsequent retirement from politics. He reflects on his accomplishments and failures.
1997 June 10
37 Interview session 24
In the twenty-fourth interview session, conducted on June 24, 1997, Clark revisits the topic of his time as Multnomah County executive from 1978 to 1982. He discusses the county's response to the eruption of Mount St. Helens in May 1980, and the controversy around water fluoridation. He then discusses working for the consulting firm now known as Cogan & Associates and talks about some of his clients. He also talks about his other activities and travels. He discusses his successors in county government, particularly Gladys McCoy, and his interest in helping people without homes.
1997 June 24
38 Interview session 25
In the twenty-fifth interview session, conducted on October 9, 1997, Clark continues discussing his interest in helping unhoused people and talks about serving as executive director of the Burnside Consortium, which is now known as Central City Concern, from 1984 to 1988. He discusses the creation, organization, and mission of the Burnside Consortium. He speaks at length about the financial situation of the consortium at the beginning of his directorship and the steps he took to solve the issue. He describes the various programs that the Burnside Consortium administered, as well as the name change to Central City Concern.
1997 October 9
39 Interview session 26
In the twenty-sixth interview session, conducted on February 2, 1998, Clark continues to discuss serving as executive director of the Burnside Consortium and Central City Concern. He also talks briefly about the Burnside Community Council and Burnside Projects, now known as Transition Projects. He speaks the Burnside Consortium's relationship with the Portland business community and with Portland Mayor Bud Clark. He also briefly talks about the appointment of Penny Harrington as Portland police chief. He then revisits the topics of the financial situation at Central City Concern during his directorship and his successors in county government. He also talks about people he knew who worked for TriMet.
1998 February 2
40 Interview session 27
In the twenty-seventh interview session, conducted on February 13, 1998, Clark discusses Neil Goldschmidt's campaign for Oregon governor in 1986, shares his opinion of Goldschmidt's governorship, and talks about serving on the Columbia River Gorge Commission. He then continues to discuss serving as executive director of the Burnside Consortium. He talks about serving as executive director of the Housing Authority of Portland, now known as Home Forward, from 1988 to 1992. He describes his agenda as executive director and the first actions he took in that position.
1998 February 13
41-42 Interview session 28
Tape 41, Side 1 to partway through Tape 42, Side 1. In the twenty-eighth interview session, conducted on February 20, 1998, Clark continues discussing serving as executive director of the Housing Authority of Portland. He talks about people he hired, the differences between the Housing Authority and Central City Concern, and Mayor Bud Clark's 12-point plan for Portland's unhoused population. He describes the funding structure of the Housing Authority and the services it provided. He talks about gang and drug activity at Columbia Villa and describes how the Housing Authority responded, including people he hired.
1998 February 20
42-43 Interview session 29
Session begins partway through Tape 42, Side 1. In the twenty-ninth and final interview session, conducted on March 27, 1998, Clark continues to discuss serving as executive director of the Housing Authority of Portland. He continues talking about gang and drug activity at Columbia Villa and describes how the Housing Authority responded, including establishing a law enforcement presence in the neighborhood, radically changing the nature of the policing methods used, and increasing maintenance of the buildings. He talks about the positive long-term effects of the Housing Authority's response. He closes the interview by discussing his reasons for retiring in 1992.
1998 March 27
Folder
SR1166 Interview transcript 1994 August 30-1998 March 27

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Criminal justice, Administration of--Oregon
  • Health insurance--Law and legislation--Oregon
  • Homeless persons--Services for--Oregon
  • Law enforcement--Oregon
  • Political campaigns--Oregon--Multnomah County
  • Prisoners--California
  • Prisoners--Oregon
  • Prisons--California
  • Prisons--Oregon
  • Public housing--Oregon--Management
  • Sheriffs--Oregon--Multnomah County

Personal Names

  • Clark, Don E. (Donald Edward), 1933-
  • Goldschmidt, Neil E., 1940-

Corporate Names

  • California State Prison at San Quentin
  • Central City Concern (Portland, Or.)
  • Housing Authority of Portland (Or.)
  • Multnomah County (Or.). Board of County Commissioners
  • Multnomah County (Or.). Sheriff's Office

Geographical Names

  • Oregon--Politics and government--20th century

Form or Genre Terms

  • interviews
  • oral histories (literary works)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Joseph, George Manley, 1930-2003 (interviewer)

Sarah Stroman
2020

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