Edmund S. Muskie Oral History Collection

Document Type

Oral History

Publication Date

3-6-2000

Interview Number

MOH 172

Abstract

Roy Whitcomb, Jr. was born on December 26, 1927 in Cleveland, Ohio. His parents met at Deering High School in Portland, Maine. His father, Roy Sr., served in World War I, and later worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber in Akron, Ohio and Hally Brothers in Cleveland, Ohio. His mother, Mary Ashton (Rustemeyer) Whitcomb worked for General Electric in Schenectady, New York. Both returned to Maine during the Depression. Roy, Jr. earned his degree in Journalism from Boston University in 1950. He became a police reporter in Fredericksburg, Virginia, then was drafted for two years during the Korean War. He worked for Jim Oliver, and then helped Curtis run for the House in 1964. He was Deputy Secretary of State under Governor Curtis for one day. He served as Director of Democratic Party in New Hampshire, 1965. He was Executive Assistant and Press Secretary under Ken Curtis, during his second term as Governor. He served as the Director for Model Cities in Maine.

Scope and Content Note

Interview includes discussions of: 1954 Maine gubernatorial campaign 1969-1972 Presidential campaign; environmental protection; Republican party in Maine; Democratic party in Maine; Model Cities; George Cleave, founder of the city of Portland; 1964: Democrats gaining the majority in Maine legislature for the first time in 50 years; New Hampshire Democratic state committee with ten counties and ten representatives from each county; recollections of the Robert F. Kennedy assassination; flag burning, confederate flag in South Carolina; Dick McMahon, head of Federal Housing Authority, Maine; Brennan vs. Curtis; George Mitchell; and Jane Kilroy.

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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