T.
ABSTRACT
INTERVIEWEE
NAME: Wayne
Thevenot COLLECTION: 4700.1196
IDENTIFICATION:
INTERVIEWER:
PROJECT: Gillis Long biography
DATES: 7/30/87 FOCUS
DATES: 1963-1980s
ABSTRACT:
Tape
1746, Side A
Gillis'
reputation in Washington; Tip O'Neill; Gillis had a lot of influence in
Washington; Gillis was on the Rules Committee; Dick Bolilng; Claude Pepper;
Rules Committee; Thevenot thinks that Gillis might have moved up through the
leadership; Gillis was the chairman of the Caucus; bringing the Democratic back
to the center; National Legislative Education Foundation; Gillis thought that
in Congress, his mission was to get things done and not necessarily be just a
Congressman; Thevenot first met Gillis in at L.S.U. in 1963 as a graduate
student in political science; Russell Long; Thevenot wrote down Gillis' ideas
and notes on legal pads; 1962 campaign; how the Long name helped and hurt
Gillis;
Tape
1746, Side B
Musicians
at Marksville High School; Gillis as a stump speaker; Gillis was never good
with humor, but he love humor itself; Long jokes; Hughes; Kathy Long; Bob
Mayhew; Herman Kohlmeyer; Gillis defeated by Speedy Long in 1964; Gillis
brought his knowledge of the business world into the political world; Gillis'
compassion for poor people; Gillis and Thevenot took some trips together;
Tape
1747, Side A
Gillis
used Thevenot as a sounding board for new ideas; Gillis had many, many friends;
fishing trips; Easy Money Littleton; Gillis' last couple of years were quite
sad; 1984 race; Gillis was a great fund-raiser;
Gillis' weaknesses as a politician; Russell Long; Dick Bolling;
Tape
1747, Side B
Gillis'
deteriorating health;
TAPES: T1746, T1747 TOTAL
PLAYING TIME: 2 hrs.
#
PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 40
OTHER
MATERIALS: Transfer and copyright
to Gary Huey
RESTRICTIONS: None