Indiana Legislative Oral History Intitiative

Craig Fry served in the Indiana General Assembly from 1988 to 2012. In this interview, Fry discusses the political battles during his service, the split house sessions he witnessed, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the viewpoints...

Kathy Smith served in the Indiana General Assembly from 1986 to 1996. In this interview, Smith discusses her inspiring journey to the Indiana General Assembly, the 1988 50-50 House Session, and much more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent th...

Mark Palmer served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1984 to 1990. In this interview, Palmer discusses the differences between the House and Senate, the 1988 50-50 House Session, and shares a funny story about how he was left behind by his colleagues at an Indiana University basketball game. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews o...

Marc Carmichael served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1986 to 1991. In this interview, Carmichael discusses his focus on combating partisanship, the 50-50 House Session, his ability to overcome the odds to win political races, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (IL...

Pat Miller served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1982-1983 and the Indiana Senate from 1983-2016. In this interview, Miller discusses her influential healthcare legislation, her work regarding government ethics and bipartisanship, and much more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initi...

Ralph Foley served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1992 to 2012. In this interview, Foley discusses lobbying, bipartisanship, and more in the Indiana General Assembly. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the viewpoints of, or spea...

Jesse Villalpando served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1983 to 2000. In this interview, Villalpando discusses his surprise journey to the Indiana General Assembly, the 50-50 Session of 1988, and the legislative issues he witnessed. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI)...

David Jones served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1984 to 1992. In this interview, Jones discusses the importance of bipartisanship, serving in the 50-50 House session, the role of gerrymandering, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do...

Mendle Adams served in the Indiana General Assembly from 1975 to 1976. In this interview, Adams discusses his effort to best represent his constituents, the various legislation he worked on, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the vi...

Tracy Boatwright served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1986 to 1992. In this interview, Boatwright discusses the relationship between Democrats and Republicans, the 50-50 session, and his effort to regulate fireworks in Indiana. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and...

Otto Bonahoom served in the Indiana House of Representatives in 1963. In this interview, Bonahoom discusses his journey to the Indiana General Assembly, the complexities of the legislative process, the family work balance, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related d...

Bill McCarty served in the Indiana Senate from 1983 to 1997. In this interview, McCarty discusses gerrymandering, the role of money in politics, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the viewpoints of, or speak for the Indiana Historic...

Vi Simpson served in the Indiana Senate from 1984 to 2012. In this interview, Simpson discusses how the Indiana General Assembly has changed over time, her influential legislative work in regard to healthcare and the environment, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and re...

Robert Bischoff served in the Indiana Senate from 1977-1978 and the Indiana House of Representatives from 1980 to 2010. In this interview, Bischoff discusses the ins and outs of the Indiana General Assembly, the influence of party leadership, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (...

Vern Tincher served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1982-1994, 1996 to 2002, 2004-2010. In this interview, Tincher discusses the differences between the House and Senate, how Indiana has changed, the 1988 50-50 House session, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOH...

Dan Pool served in the Indiana General Assembly from 1983 to 1994. In this interview, Pool discusses campaigning for office, how legislation gets passed, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the viewpoints of, or speak for the Indiana...

Darrell Felling served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1977 to 1982. In this interview, Felling discusses gerrymandering, political polarization, what he learned from his service, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the...

John Day served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1974 to 1994 and from 1996 to 2012. In this interview, Day discusses the complexities of getting a bill passed, his work on school nutrition legislation, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents...

Stephen Ferguson served in the Indiana Senate from 1967 to 1974. In this interview, Ferguson discusses how he accidentally became a politician, political polarization, and Unigov. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the viewpoints of, or speak...

Bill Montgomery served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1979 to 1982. In this interview, Montgomery shares several stories about his time in the general assembly, including one about his unique campaign strategy. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents...

Graham Richard served in the Indiana Senate from 1975 to 1978. In this interview, Richard discusses how he got involved in politics, how money has changed politics, and the issues he saw in government. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the v...

Gregory Reising served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1974 to 1976. In this interview, Reising discusses how politics has changed in Indiana, as well as his work on the various legislative issues like the Equal Rights Amendment, liquor laws, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History...

Dennis Neary served in the Indiana Senate from 1976 to 1992. In this interview, Neary discusses his work on the Equal Rights Amendment, how the Indiana General Assembly has changed, and more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the viewpoints...

Janet Hibner served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1977 to 1986. In this interview, Hibner discusses what it was like being one of the few women in the Indiana General Assembly, as well as what it was like being a non-political person in a political environment. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative O...

Richard Boehning served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1967 to 1972. In this interview, Boehning discusses his work on Unigov, his attempt to lower the state voting age, and much more. (The memories, comments, and viewpoints shared by the narrators/interviewees in the interviews of the Indiana Legislative Oral History Initiative (ILOHI) and related documents do not represent the view...