T.
ABSTRACT
INTERVIEWEE NAME: Al From COLLECTION: 4700.1199
IDENTIFICATION: Worked with Gillis Long. Friend of Gillis Long.
INTERVIEWER:
PROJECT: Gillis Long Biography
DATES: July 31, 1987 FOCUS DATES: 1979-1980s
ABSTRACT:
Tape 1750, Side A
From first met Gillis in 1979 when he was in the White House working as an assistant to Fred Pon[?]; Gillis wanted to talk to From about Democratic party; ran for subcommittee for Ed Muscin[?]; Gillis suffered a defeat in 1980; Dick Gephardt, Tim Worth and Jim Blanchard were Gillis supporters; formed group called Committee on Party Effectiveness; put together the Statement of the Democratic Principles on Economy that Gephardt wrote; Gillis wrote letter to a conference in 1982; made a deal in 1981 with Jim Hunt; Jerry Ferrara[?]; one vote against Gillis for caucus chair; yellow book; Gillis and From went up to New York to promote a blueprint for the party;
Tape 1750, Side B
Yellow book; Mondale; in 1983, Gillis went to strategy meeting in Washington and made speech, Gillis is in poor health, Chuch Shumer[?]; went to a trip in 1983 to Europe with the banking committee; talks about Gillis' good instinct; helped Gary Hart[?] in 1983; more on Mondale; Reagan; Gillis was already sick when From started working for him; Gillis' thoughts on the Democratic party; Gillis wanted the ability to develop broad coalitions; Gillis not that well known despite his role in Congress;
Tape 1751, Side A
Gillis would make phone calls at “ungodly hours”; Gillis
didn't run in 1979; Gillis was a better politician inside than in the public;
Gillis for civil rights and he had support from the blacks; Tom Foley[?]; whites did not vote as much for Gillis; Gillis
really pushed himself during the last years he was alive; Gillis' heart attack
TAPES: T1750,T1751 TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 2 hours
# PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 29
OTHER MATERIALS: Transfer and copyright to Gary Huey
RESTRICTIONS: None