Max Friedersdorf

Oral History detailed view.

Speaker: Max Friedersdorf

Date: October 24, 2002

Description:

Max Friedersdorf examines his role as the chief congressional liaison during the critical first year of the Reagan presidency, and the other various posts he assumed during the remaining seven years of the administration. Friedersdorf begins by discussing his service both in the Office of Economic Opportunity and the congressional relations staff under President Nixon (and his observations of the Nixon resignation), his decision to remain in the Ford congressional affairs staff, and his position as Federal Election Commission Chairman under President Carter. He then discusses his year-long tenure as President Reagan's Assistant for Legislative Affairs in 1981, with analysis of the White House staff, Reagan's relations with Congress, and key legislative battles over personnel, Central America, and the sale of the AWACs weapon system to Saudi Arabia. Friedersdorf also covers his nine-month return to the White House in 1985 as a legislative strategist, as well as his ambassadorial posts in Bermuda and Switzerland.

	Downloadable Content
	Transcript: Materials: