Edmund S. Muskie Oral History Collection
Document Type
Oral History
Publication Date
7-20-2000
Interview Number
MOH 204
Abstract
Gordon Lee Weil was born March 12, 1937 in Mineola, New York and grew up in Long Island. Sadye, his mother, worked for the Red Cross, and was chairman of nursing services in Nassau County and of the USO during World War II and served as state president of the National Council of Jewish women. Gordon attended Hempstead High School and Bowdoin College, as a history major with a concentration in government. He was on the Agriculture Committee of the 1956 pre-convention platform committee in Maine and served as a page at the 1956 Democratic National Convention, Chicago. He worked in Washington, DC with the European Common Market from 1963 to 1966. He also worked for the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal. He is the author of The Long Shot. He served as a George McGovern body man in 1971 and 1972, as a Democratic State Convention delegate in 1974. He was active in the George Mitchell 1974 gubernatorial election, and worked for Bill Clinton on his 1992 presidential campaign.
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
Beam, Greg, "Weil, Gordon Lee oral history interview" (2000). Edmund S. Muskie Oral History Collection. 404.
https://scarab.bates.edu/muskie_oh/404
Scope and Content Note
Interview includes discussions of: Democratic National Committee; 1956 Maine gubernatorial campaign; 1964 Senate campaign; 1968 vice presidential campaign; 1969-1972 presidential campaign; his book, Long Shot; the Democratic National Convention in Miami; Muskie as Secretary of State; the Democratic Party in Maine; comparison of Muskie and McGovern; recollections of World War II, 1944 Democratic National Convention from radio, media; 1936 presidential election; September voting in Maine; pre-convention platform committee: Frank Coffin and Don Nicoll; 1956 Democratic National Convention, Chicago; Democrats and Franco- Americans in Maine; being offered an opportunity to work on Senator Javits staff; being a ghost write for Muskie; serving as press secretary for George McGovern; Mitchell/McGovern/Muskie impressions and comparisons; Mitchell and Northern Ireland peace talks; McGovern Hatfield Amendment; and Bill Clinton as head of Texas McGovern campaign in 1972.