Interview Summaries, M

McAlister, Alister (OH 89–13)

Oral History Interview with Alister McAlister (PDF) (1988). Assembly Member, 1970–1986.

McAlister discusses Democratic politics, legislative reform, the tax revolt in California in the 1970s, the United Farm Workers Union, activities of the Finance and Insurance Committee, constitutional revision, and leadership in the assembly.

MacBride, Thomas J. (OH 89–5)

Oral History Interview with Thomas J. MacBride (PDF) (1987). Assembly Member, 1956–1960.

MacBride covers a wide range of political and governmental topics of his years in the California assembly: Democratic local, state, and national campaigns; legislative organization, leadership, and negotiations on tidelands oil revenues, state employees, budget and revenues, fish and game concerns, California Water Plan, death penalty, role of lobbyists, Sacramento constituents' concerns; comments on Ralph Brown, Edmund G. Brown, Sr., Jesse Unruh, Caspar Weinberger, and other public figures.

McCarthy, Leo T. (OH 97–4)

Oral History Interview with Leo T. McCarthy (PDF) (1995–1996). Assembly Member, 1968–1982; Lieutenant Governor, 1983–1995.

McCarthy discusses his family background and education. He talks about Democratic politics in San Francisco and California, with particular mention of legislative leaders. He recalls specific legislation on the environment, the elderly, children and families and assesses the gubernatorial terms of Ronald Reagan, Jerry Brown, George Deukmejian, and Pete Wilson. McCarthy also discusses the management of the California Assembly Committee System.

MacGillivray, Mary E. (OH 90–18)

Oral History Interview with W. Don MacGillivray and Mary E. MacGillivray (PDF. (1989).

Mary MacGillivray discusses her background and education, as well as support for her husband, Don MacGillivray, during his political career in Santa Barbara and Sacramento. She also comments on the PALS Club, Sacramento, and her work as a volunteer at the Western White House.

MacGillivray, W. Don. (OH 90–18)

Oral History Interview with W. Don MacGillivray and Mary E. MacGillivray (PDF) (1989). Assembly Member, 1967–1974.

W. Don MacGillivray discusses his background and education, reflects on his tenure as Santa Barbara city council member and period as mayor, and provides information about issues and specific legislation while serving in the California State Assembly from the Twenty–sixth district.

Maddy, Kenneth L. (OH 2001–2)

Oral History Interview with Kenneth L. Maddy (1999). volume 1 (PDF), volume 2 (PDF), volume 3 (PDF). Assembly Member, 1971–1978; Senator, 1979–1998.

Maddy discusses his family and early life, military service and law school. He comments on community affairs in Fresno, practicing law, deciding to run for assembly, and campaigning from a community service rather than local government background. He outlines his education policy, his friendship with Bob Moretti, and redistricting, as well as farm labor issues, and the conservative–moderate split among Republicans. He covers assembly leaders, being a Republican in a Democratic district, Sal Russo and his assistance in campaigning–particularly during the primary campaign for Governor, and assembly committee work. Maddy also discusses his special senate election, his time as Senate Republican Caucus Chair, fund raising, the "Shrimpscam" scandal, and the "Gang of Five." He also covers budget negotiations, horse racing and related matters, battles over the speakership, and term limits.

Margolis, Larry (OH 90–35)

Oral History Interview with Larry Margolis. (1989). Chief Assistant to the Speaker of the Assembly, 1961–1965.

Margolis discusses staffing of the Assembly, various legislation such as the Rumford Act; political campaigning, the California Democratic Council, governors and legislative leaders, especially Jesse Unruh.

Marks, Milton (OH 97–1)

Oral History Interview with Milton Marks. (1996). volume 1 (PDF) , volume 2 (PDF) Assembly Member, 1958–1966; Senator, 1967–1996.

Marks discusses his family background and family political leanings and participation. He mentions his military service during WWII, law school, and practicing law. He talks about his campaign and election to the assembly and about assembly leaders and colleagues. He covers the creation of the Little Hoover Commission and other important legislation. He also deals with the effects of reapportionment, losing his assembly seat, and his judicial appointment. He details his run for Senate and discusses the difference between the legislative houses. Marks also discusses battles for Senate leadership, his switch to the Democratic party, and his committee work–in particular as Chair of the Elections and Reapportionment Committee during Governor Wilson's administration, and the legislation he sponsored.

Marler, Fred W. Jr. (OH 88–14)

Oral History Interview with Fred W. Marler, Jr. (PDF) (1987). Senator, 1966–1974.

Marler discusses his tenure in the senate. Topics include senate partisanship; seniority; service on Governmental Efficiency, Education, Judiciary, Fish and Game Committees; committee consultants; comments on contemporary issues: legislative intent, milk–pooling, water project, 1970–71 president pro tem changes, tax revision, budget, bridges and highways, welfare, forestry, agricultural burning; comments on Ronald Reagan, Ed Regan, Hugh Burns, George Miller, Stephen Teale, Joseph Rattigan, Eugene McAteer, Howard Way, Jack Schrade, and James Mills.

Marshall, Greta (OH 91–11)

Oral History Interview with Greta Marshall (PDF) (1990). Chief Investment Officer, Public Employees Retirement System, 1985–1988.

Marshall explains her policies in managing the growth of the fund and the changes she effected. She discusses the impact of the fund on financial markets and describes the installation of the high technology database system.

Martinez, Richard A. (OH 91–16)

Oral History Interview with Richard A. Martinez. (1990). Executive Director, Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, 1988.

Martinez discusses his early life and education in Los Angeles, service in the National Guard during the Watts revolt in 1965, the growing involvement in activist organizations. The interview focuses particularly on Martinez's observations of the 1970 and 1980 California reapportionment efforts among Mexican Americans.

Meade, Kenneth A. (OH 89–6)

Oral History Interview with Kenneth A. Meade. (1987, 1988). Assembly Member, 1971–1976.

Meade's interview covers his 1968 and 1970 campaigns for the state legislature, getting oriented to the legislature, work on the elections and reapportionment committee, 1972–73 reapportionment, criminal justice committee, capital punishment and other criminal justice issues, and relationships between the speaker and the assembly.

Mellon, Carlotta H. (OH 90–21)

Oral History Interview with Carlotta H. Mellon. (1989). Appointments Assistant to the Governor, 1974–1981.

Mellon reviews her family background and education. She speaks of her early involvement in Democratic party politics and her eventual participation in the campaign of Edmund G. Brown, Jr. for governor as a resource and advisor on women's issues. She relates how she came to be appointed as Appointments Secretary to the Governor and her experiences while she held that position.

Merksamer, Steven A. (OH 94–11)

Oral History Interview with Steven A. Merksamer. (1994). Senior Policy Assistant to Lt. Governor Ed Reinecke, 1969–1979; Deputy Attorney General, 1975–1979; Special Assistant Attorney General, 1979–1989; Chief of Staff to Governor Deukmejian.

Merksamer begins the interview with information about his early family life and education. He discusses Republican politics in California, and comments on the Assembly speakership of Bob Monagan, Ed Reinecke's time as Lt. Governor, and the governorship of Ronald Reagan. Most of the interview focuses on the career of George Deukmejian as attorney general and as governor until Mr. Merksamer's resignation as his chief of staff in 1987.

Miller, Allen (OH 88–7)

Oral History Interview with Allen Miller (PDF) (1987). Assembly Member, 1953–1959.

Miller discusses his family background, migration to California, education, service as State Registrar of Contractors during the Culbert L. Olson administration, his law practice with Julian Beck and Parkes Stillwell, and career in the California State Assembly, including such areas as legislative reform, leadership, partisanship, fundraising, electioneering, and tidelands oil legislation.

Mockler, John Berry (OH 2004–10)

Oral History Interview with John Berry Mockler (PDF) (2003). Legislative Assistant, Senator Farr, 1965–1966; Consultant, California State Legislature, 1967–1974; Director, Office of Government Regulations for Department of Education, 1974–1977; Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of Speaker Willie Brown, Jr., 1983–1985; Executive Director, State Board of Education, 1999–2000; Secretary of Education, 2000–2001.

Mockler speaks of his family background and education, working in San Francisco for Jack Shelley and meeting other political personalities in the Bay Area. He discusses working on civil rights campaigns, traveling outside the United States, and returning to work for Senator Sam Farr. He talks about legislative staff, legislators, committee work, and the differences between Pat Brown and Ronald Reagan. He also comments on education issues and his time with the State Board of Education and as the Secretary of Education.

Molina, Gloria (OH 92–12)

Oral History Interview with Gloria Molina. (1990). Los Angeles County Supervisor, 1991– ; Los Angeles City Councilwoman, 1987–1991; Assembly Member, 1983–1987.

Molina describes her family background, education, and development as a Chicana activist and feminist. She discusses her successful campaign for a seat in the California State Assembly and her primary legislative interests and activities, and details Chicano politics in Los Angeles. In the interview all stages of her political and public career are covered.

Moore, Gwen (OH 2004-21)

Oral History Interview with Gwen Moore. (2003, 2004). Assembly Member, 1978-1994.

Moore’s interview describes her experiences serving with the Los Angeles Probation Department, the Economic and Youth Opportunities Agency, the Urban Affairs Institute, the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees and the California State Assembly. She also details legislative efforts relating to women owned and minority owned businesses, deregulation of electricity, and the impact of term limits.

Moorhead, Carlos (OH 99–1)

Oral History Interview with Carlos Moorhead (PDF). (1997). Assembly, 1967–1972; United States Representative, 1973–1997.

Moorhead discusses his family background and childhood in California and his successful bids for state assembly and House of Representatives. He details serving in the assembly during the Democratic leadership of Jesse M. Unruh and the Republican governorship of Ronald Reagan. He also talks about the United States House of Representatives Judiciary Committee during the Richard M. Nixon impeachment hearings and various activities while in the state assembly and Congress.

Morgan, Rebecca (OH 2023-02)

Oral History Interview with Rebecca Morgan (PDF)  (2021). Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education, 1973-1978, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, 1980-84; State Senator, 1984-1993.

Morgan discusses her family background and education, why she ran for the Palo Alto School Board in 1973 and her early years working on the board, the impact of Title IX, her decision to run for the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, her encouragement to run for the California State Senate, her first days in the Senate, the gender dynamics of the Senate, authoring the legislation to save Caltrain on the Peninsula, her decision to leave public office, how she transitioned out of the Republican Party, reflections on women in politics and on American politics today.

Mori, S. Floyd (OH 2023–03)

Oral History Interview with S. Floyd Mori (PDF) (2021). Mayor of Pleasanton 1972-1975; Assembly Member, 1975-1980.

Mori discusses his early life, family, growing up on a farm, experience during World War II, participation in the Mormon church, education, experience in Hawaii on a mission assignment, developing an interest in politics, time working as an economics instructor, grassroots approach to both mayoral and assembly campaigns, relationship with the media, importance of endorsements, growth of Asian Americans in the political world, experience in Sacramento, decision to vote to decriminalize marijuana, oversight of the agriculture labor relations board committee, authoring bills, perspectives on economics, colleagues, time at the Office of International Trade, visiting Japan, serving as national president of the Japanese American  Citizens League, working on a bill to preserve WWII Japanese American incarceration camps, creation of a Asian Pacific American Heritage month in Utah, involvement in the Asian American Pacific Islander caucus, time as CEO of Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, and reflections on his career in civil service. 

Mosk, Stanley (OH 98–4)

Oral History Interview with Stanley Mosk (PDF) (1998). California Attorney General, 1959–1965; California Supreme Court Justice, 1964–2001.

Mosk covers his childhood, legal education, and years of private law practice in Los Angeles. He talks about his early involvement in the California Democratic Council and Democratic campaigns which led to his work with Governor Culbert Olson in Sacramento. He addresses legal issues which came before him in the Los Angeles Superior Court and California Supreme Court, including independent state grounds theory, civil liberties, and affirmative action. He includes comments on colleagues on the California Supreme Court and United States Supreme Court, governors of California, and Justice Hans Linde of the Oregon Supreme Court.

Moss, John E. (OH 91–9)

Oral History Interview with John E. Moss (PDF). (1989). Assembly Member, 1949–1952.

Moss discusses his family background, education, arrival in California in 1923, pre–legislative employment, Democratic party activities, election to the California Assembly, service in the assembly, election to the U.S. House of Representatives, and Freedom of Information Act.

Mulder, Carel E.H. (OH 90–31)

Oral History Interview with Carel E.H. Mulder (PDF). (1990). Director, Dept. of Health Care Services, 1967–1970; Chief, Division of Medical Care, Dept. of Social Welfare, 1957–1965.

Mulder discusses accounting work and the state welfare program in the 1930s, his work for the Bureau of Collections and for the California Dept. of Health Care Services, especially the Medi–Cal program. The interview covers his career from 1936–1970.

Mulford, David Donald (OH 2000–2)

Oral History Interview with David Donald Mulford (PDF) (1988–1989). Assembly Member, 1957–1970.

Mulford begins with a discussion of his family background and business. He talks about the leadership of Assembly Speakers Jesse Unruh, Luther Lincoln, and Ralph Brown, and the evolution to a full–time legislature. He reflects on contributions of Governors Goodwin Knight, Pat Brown, Ronald Reagan, and George Deukmejian. He also comments on the University of California budget and student protests, changes in election campaigns, and working with Democrats on fair housing and health care issues.

Murray, Kevin (OH 2023–04)

Oral History Interview with Kevin Murray (PDF) (2021). Assembly Member, 1994-1998; Senator, 1998-2006.

Murray discusses his early life, family, education, his pre-legislature career in the entertainment industry and as a lawyer, his election to the legislature, the first member to serve alongside his father, chair of Assembly Transportation Committee, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, chair of the Senate Transportation committee, chair of the Democratic Caucus, chair of the Legislative Black Caucus.

Myers, Helen Linder (OH 91–12)

Oral History Interview with Helen Linder Myers. (1990). California Democratic Council, Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee, Democratic Party Politics.

Myers reviews her family background, education and life in the Midwest. She describes her volunteer work for the Democratic party in Los Angeles beginning in 1946. She relates experiences while managing Evelyn Johnson's and Helen Rudd Brown's campaigns. In addition she explains the formation of the California Democratic Council.