Oral Histories

Interview of Thomas M. Rees

California assembly member from 1954 to 1962. California senator from 1962 to 1966. Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1966 to 1976.
Subtitle:
Thomas M. Rees
Series:
California State Archives State Government Oral History Program
Topic:
Politics and Government
Biographical Note:
California assembly member from 1954 to 1962. California senator from 1962 to 1966. Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1966 to 1976.
Interviewer:
Vasquez, Carlos
Interviewee:
Rees, Thomas M.
Persons Present:
Rees and Vasquez.
Place Conducted:
Rees's home in Santa Cruz, California.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Interviewer Background and Preparation:
The interview was conducted by Carlos Vasquez, Director, UCLA State Government Interview Series, UCLA Oral History Program; B.A., Political Science, UCLA; M.A., Political Science, Stanford University; Ph.D. candidate, History, UCLA.The interviewer was unable to consult any private papers for this interview. He examined the oral history interview conducted with Rees by the John F. Kennedy Library, Boston, Massachusetts, on March 5, 1969.
Processing of Interview:
Vasquez checked the verbatim manuscript of the interview against the original tape recordings, edited for punctuation, paragraphing, and spelling, and verified proper names. Insertions by the editor are bracketed. The interviewer alsoprepared the introductory materials.Rees reviewed the edited transcript and returned it to the UCLA Oral History Program with only minor corrections.
Language:
English
Copyright:
CSA
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series were undertaken by the UCLA Oral History Program under the auspices of the California State Archives and in conjunction with the California State University, Fullerton, Oral History Program; California State University, Sacramento, Center for California Studies Oral History Program; Claremont Graduate School Oral History Program; and the University of California, Berkeley, Regional Oral History Office. Funds were allocated to the state archives after Governor George Deukmejian signed into law Assembly Bill 2104 (Chapter 965 of the Statutes of 1985), establishing a state government oral history program "to provide through the use of oral history a continuing documentation of state policy development as reflected in California's legislative and executive history." All interviews in the series are available at the California State Archives in Sacramento.
Abstract:
Family background; education; World War II service; conversion from Republican to Democratic Party in early 1950s; agricultural implement business in Mexico; participation in national Democratic Party conventions, 1956-68; elected to represent Fifty-ninth Assembly District, 1954; elected as Los Angeles County's state senator, 1962; serves in United States House of Representatives, 1966-76; specializes in legislation dealing with metropolitan planning, social insurance, state fiscal reorganization, consumer credit, and rapid transit; serves on major House committees, including Ways and Means, Banking and Currency; member of "Watergate Babies," group of liberal Democrats seeking substantive governmental reforms after Watergate; comments on wide range of individuals involved in and issues affecting California and national politics, 1950-87.