Les AuCoin is a writer and author, a retired nine-term U.S. congressman from Oregon, a former university professor of government, and now a kicked back devotee of the wild outdoors (the intrinsic logic of which surpasses all the stuff he had dealt with in DC). He was the first Democrat in Oregon history to win in its First Congressional District (it has remained in Democratic hands ever since). His congressional service is the sixth-longest in Oregon history.
When AuCoin left the Congress in 1993, he was dean of the Oregon House delegation, a Democratic majority whip-at-large, an official congressional observer at the Geneva Strategic Arms Reduction Talks, and a veteran member of the House Appropriations Committee.
He is a visiting lecturer at Southern Oregon University and the Maxwell School of Government at Syracuse University, a corporate director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle and, by appointment of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a former adviser to the Pentagon’s Joint Forces Command. He has authored and co-authored numerous essays, book reviews and books, including Wildfire: 100 Years Of Failed Forest Service Management (Island Press, 2006) and Inalienable Rights, Fundamental Freedoms: A U.N. Agenda for Advancing Human Rights in the World Community (United Nations Association-USA, 1996).
In this occasional blog, AuCoin comments on politics and current events. For a full biography, go to his Wikipedia biography.
February 21st, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Welcome to the arena, Les.
January 18th, 2011 at 8:58 am
Thanks, Hart. I don’t think I ever really left but this medium is a way to push the envelop more publicalluy.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
Thanks, Hart. You’ve been there. Are there.
April 29th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Greetings from Medford.
Les, I was reading your name recently. I started by reminding myself of the 14th Amendment as part of my thinking about the Arizona immigration law.
That got me reading about Oregon’s sad–shameful, from the perspective of 2010–history of anti black (and Indian and Chinese) racism at the time of its great pioneer past and entry into the Union. Oregon adopted the 14th Amendment and then promptly rescinded the adoption.
And you were in the state legislature back in the dinosaur days (1973, actually) and you were a co-sponsor of re-adoption.
Thanks!!
Peter Sage
January 18th, 2011 at 8:59 am
Thanks, Peter. And thanks for all you do for the Southern Oregon community.
September 8th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Steve, I got your letter. I’ll reply by this weekend on our regular email. It was a pleasure to meet you at the Willamette Writers Conference. I’m currently deeply into the second draft of my manuscript.
Hope all is well!
December 20th, 2011 at 10:58 am
Les,
Gore Vidal wrote a great line in “Washington DC”. For too many politicians, hypocrisy is their shield, inaction their sword. Why is it the most vociferous advocates of “smaller” government are the people most eager to become employed by it, yelling to reduce benefits which we’ve paid for with our taxes, while they take our money as paychecks for their “public service”? Can Hypocrites like Rob Cornilles be educated by being placed for a day in stocks?
December 27th, 2011 at 4:51 am
I haven’t checked in here for a while as I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend :)
January 6th, 2012 at 10:42 am
Hi Les, I do love your writing and you can (maybe) help me find my way to publication….:-) Hi to Sue and Stacy & Kelly PS Carl Dominey asked for me to put you in touch but I somehow lost his email….has that connection been made? Deb Rengo Boone
January 6th, 2012 at 10:44 am
Thanks, Debbie. Good to hear from you. Carl Dominey? No.
March 12th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
I am impressed with this site, real I am a fan .
March 13th, 2012 at 9:51 am
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what they are talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
July 25th, 2012 at 9:22 am
Les – I hope this is an appropriate way to reach you. I am Bob Horel chair of the Curry County Democratic Central Committee. We are having our Democratic Dinner on August 4 in Gold Beach. Ann Vileisis of our committee suggested you as a speaker. We would love to have you attend and give an address to energize the Democrats of Curry County. If this may be possible please contact me so we can work out the details. Thank you. – Bob
July 25th, 2012 at 8:28 pm
Hi Bob,
Sue and I moved permanently to Bozeman, MT, two years ago to be closer to our daughter Stacy’s family, and our two little granddaughters. It would be impossible for me to be the Curry County Democratic Party’s guest speaker on August 4. Please extend my regrets to Ann and the rest of the central committee. I have fond memories of your Curry County Democrats. If I lived closer, I’d be pleased to accept your kind invitation.
All best in Democratic solidarity,
Les
July 26th, 2012 at 11:41 am
Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you happen to be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will often come back later in life. I want to encourage you continue your great work, have a nice holiday weekend!
August 7th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Les, on behalf of the Oregon Department of Transportation and the local Parkway Committee in Yamhill County, I want to invite you to a major celebration/groundbreaking event on Aug. 29 for the Newberg-Dundee Bypass (Phase 1) Project. Since you were an early proponent of the project, I thought you would like to know about the event which starts at 10 a.m. with a reception and program at 11 a.m. in Newberg. We are expecting our congressional delegation to be represented along with many other officials and key supporters. Major construction of Phase 1 is scheduled to start next spring. We are all excited to see this long-time highway project come to fruition. Take care.
Lou Torres, ODOT Region 2, Salem, OR
August 13th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Thanks a ton for this – love the info and agree with your perspective. However many others will not, so thanks for speaking up. Nice blog, well done!
August 27th, 2012 at 7:14 pm
I don’t seek approval. I seek thought. Thanks.
August 16th, 2012 at 8:14 am
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Many thanks!
August 27th, 2012 at 7:10 pm
Yes. Let me try to do that.
September 9th, 2012 at 8:43 am
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September 10th, 2012 at 1:08 am
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December 6th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Last night, I read one of your blogs about the key in communication being how one phrases an offer or an issue. This morning, I used it in court. Thank you! (I’m a Public Defender in W Va). By the bye, I read in Almanac of US Politics that one of your opponents dreamed up the slogan “Toss AuCoin”. Please say it aint so.
December 6th, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Glad my piece was helpful. I do have to tell you that one of my opponents did use that slogan. I buried him. ;-)
March 12th, 2013 at 11:05 am
Les,
Bozeman, MT. Lucky you! I was there in Dec. 2011 to organize TSA security at the airport. TSO’s had voted to go with AFGE union earlier in the year, but membership is all voluntary in the federal sector. It was tough to engage TSO’s there, as they still seemed skittish of management, which is a common workplace dynamic. Easier at Billings and Missoula. I heard the airport authority is applying to go go with private security, which I think would be a mistake. Anyway, Bozeman is a beautiful city and downtown was all holidayed up.
I was at Eastern OR Univ. in ’92 and your wife and daughter represented you well at a candidates forum in May, ’92.Gordon Smith was there running for state senate, and it was clear he was going places. I suppose for a modern Republican he was fairly moderate, nothing like Hatfield/McCall, but they couldn’t win today.
I ended up at OSU and was active in the dynamic Benton Dems. Many of them remember you fondly as their Congressman in the 70′s. I interned for Ed Lindquist for congress in ’94 and recall your endorsement on his leaflet. You two and others were quite an impressive caucus in the 70′s. I am starting to read Tom Marsh’s OR political book, “To the Promise land,”, and, as you might know, there is a new Straub bio.
Best Wishes to you and your family,
Grant Schott
Portland, OR
April 11th, 2013 at 10:16 pm
Great to hear from you Grant. Sue and Stacy remember that visit! Thanks for you support, and know that I am a unionist in my heart.
May 15th, 2013 at 10:12 pm
Thanks, Grant. Give my best to all my friends in Benton County.
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April 12th, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Thanks, Marshall. Stay in touch.
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Thanks. Don’t get fired!
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