Edmund S. Muskie Oral History Collection

Authors

Don Nicoll

Document Type

Oral History

Publication Date

11-13-2003

Interview Number

MOH 421

Abstract

William Brownlee Welsh was born in Munfordville, Kentucky, on September 18, 1924. His mother, Mary Cox Welsh, was in charge of dining halls at Berea College in Kentucky. His father, Benjamin Tibbetts Welsh, worked in a labor program in Berea. William grew up around Berea and eventually attended Berea College. However, Welsh split time during his childhood between Kentucky and Boothbay Harbor, Maine, where his grandfather worked on a dairy farm. Welsh spent every summer of his youth in Boothbay Harbor with his grandfather, until he went away to fight in World War II for three or four years. Welsh was elected president of the National Student Association in the mid-1940s and spent a year putting that organization together. He was chosen to join the staff of Senator Herman Lehman as his assistant. After Lehman retired, Welsh took over for Phil Stern as the research director for the Democratic National Committee. He also was the Administrative Assistant to Phil Hart. Welsh became acquainted with Muskie through his connections in Maine and eventually went on to be the assistant to Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

Scope and Content Note

Interview includes discussions of: family and educational background; Berea College, Kentucky; Boothbay Harbor, Maine; early political career; National Student Association; Assistant to Senator Herbert Lehman; Rule 22 repeal; research director of the Democratic National Committee; connection to Muskie; Agriculture Committee; Public Works Committee; assistant to Hubert Humphrey; Phil Hart; and Humphrey’s selection of Muskie as vice presidential running mate.

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.

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