T.
ABSTRACT
INTERVIEWEE NAME: Leo Coco and Gene Smith COLLECTION: 4700.1203
IDENTIFICATION:
INTERVIEWER:
PROJECT: Gillis Long Biography
DATES: July 27, 1987 FOCUS DATES: 1970s-1980s
ABSTRACT:
Tape 1756, Side A:
Coco was in New Orleans finishing his masters when he applied for a job; Coco had never met Gillis before; Lindy Boggs; Carson Killen was Gillis' administrative assistant until 1985, when Gillis died; John and Arlene Mmahat; Coco hired for job with Gillis; Coco had to move to Washington; Bill Morgan; Gillis could not stand cigarette smoke; Smith says that Gillis had a good relationship with his staff; Smith was the third press secretary in a year and a half; Gillis had an excellent congressional staff; the staff worked on weekends too; the preparation the staff did was superior to others; Gillis had little patience with staff he didn't like; Gillis was very confident, but did not like small talk; Gillis expected a lot from his staff; Patti Tyson; Gillis spent less time at his congressional office; Gillis as Chairman of the Caucus; Claude Pepper; Gillis ran against Matt McCue[?] and Charlie Rhodes[?]; Gillis wanted to move the Democratic Party into the mainstream;
Tape 1756, Side B:
Gillis Long was not good in interviews and was not a good television performer; Gene Smith as press secretary; Gillis liked the press, but he wasn't into schmoozing with anybody; Gillis was not on the legislative committee; Civil Rights Act; Rules Committee; Yellow book; Blue book; economic issues; Coco traveled with Gillis;
Tape 1757, Side A:
Gillis' health; Howard Hughes; Gillis hated waiting for people; Smith and Coco never saw Gillis relax; Smith sent out pictures of Gillis when he was sick to people so they wouldn't be shocked when they saw him in person; Joe Ticheli; Gillis' strengths and weaknesses;
TAPES: 1756, 1757 TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 2 hours
# PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 48
OTHER MATERIALS: Transfer and copyright to Gary Huey
RESTRICTIONS: None