Frye, Alton oral history interview

Authors

Don Nicoll

Document Type

Oral History

Publication Date

4-12-2001

Interview Number

MOH 268

Abstract

Alton Frye was born November 3, 1936 in Nashville, Tennessee. He attended St. Louis University, studied law at Yale, and after graduating joined the Rand Corporation working on policy issues in the field of science and technology. This work got him involved with the political aspects of science and technology, namely, international weapons policies. Later, he worked closely on the Reagan staff to bring in Richard Nixon for private meetings with Ed Muskie and Howard Baker regarding the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union. He was a speech writer for Muskie in later Senate years.

Scope and Content Note

Interview includes discussions of: family background; Rand Corporation; working in the Senate and Congress; Robert Kerr; Ed Muskie; Ed Brooke; Model Cities; U.S. and U.S.S.R. during Ronald Reagan’s first term; Nixon; Muskie and Nixon; Baker, Muskie, Nixon, and Frye meeting at Nixon’s home; Muskie’s trip to the hospital after dinner with Nixon; George Shultz; Nixon and Gorbachev; speechwriting for Muskie; and Muskie’s memorial service.

Use Restrictions

Copyright Bates College. This transcript is provided for individual Research Purposes Only; for all other uses, including publication, reproduction and quotation beyond fair use, permission must be obtained in writing from: The Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College, 70 Campus Avenue, Lewiston, Maine 04240-6018.

Recommended Citation

Nicoll, Don, "Frye, Alton oral history interview" (2001). Edmund S. Muskie Oral History Collection. 138.
https://scarab.bates.edu/muskie_oh/138