Oral History Center University of California The Bancroft Library Berkeley, California Hadley Roff Hadley Roff: A Life in Politics, Government and Public Service Interviews conducted by Lisa Rubens in 2012 and 2013 Copyright © 2017 by The Regents of the University of California Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley ii Since 1954 the Oral History Center of the Bancroft Library, formerly the Regional Oral History Office, has been interviewing leading participants in or well-placed witnesses to major events in the development of Northern California, the West, and the nation. Oral History is a method of collecting historical information through tape-recorded interviews between a narrator with firsthand knowledge of historically significant events and a well-informed interviewer, with the goal of preserving substantive additions to the historical record. The tape recording is transcribed, lightly edited for continuity and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewee. The corrected manuscript is bound with photographs and illustrative materials and placed in The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, and in other research collections for scholarly use. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete narrative of events. It is a spoken account, offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is reflective, partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. ********************************* All uses of this manuscript are covered by a legal agreement between The Regents of the University of California and Hadley Roff dated June 21, 2013. The manuscript is thereby made available for research purposes. All literary rights in the manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved to The Bancroft Library of the University of California, Berkeley. Excerpts up to 1000 words from this interview may be quoted for publication without seeking permission as long as the use is non-commercial and properly cited. Requests for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to The Bancroft Library, Head of Public Services, Mail Code 6000, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000, and should follow instructions available online at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/libraries/bancroft-library/oral-history-center/rights It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Hadley Roff, “Hadley Roff: A Life in Politics, Government, and Public Service” conducted by Lisa Rubens in 2012 and 2013, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2017. Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley iii Hadley Roff Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley iv Hadley Roff (1931-2016) was a top aid and advisor to four San Francisco mayors from 1967 to 1992: Joseph Alioto, Dianne Feinstein, Art Agnos and Frank Jordan. He attended Stanford University from 1950 to 1954 where he was editor of the Stanford Daily. From 1957 to 1964 he was a night beat reporter for the S.F. News. He became a vocal advocate for firefighter safety and was beloved by the San Francisco Fire Department, serving on the Fire Commission beginning in 1995. In these interviews, Roff recalls the turbulence in San Francisco in the 1970s and 1980s: Harvey Milk’s and George Moscone’s assassinations in 1978, Jonestown, the early years of the AIDS crisis. He recalls events on the national stage as they played out in San Francisco: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination and Watergate, among others. In 1992 Roff was press secretary for Dianne Feinstein’s senatorial campaign, and head of her California senate staff office from 1992 to 1995. Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley v Table of Contents—Hadley Roff Interview History by Lisa Rubens xi Interview 1: November 27, 2012 Audio File 1 1 Family background — Early memories of life in Fresno and Santa Cruz, California; impact of the Great Depression on family and Roff’s consciousness — Growing interest in politics and journalism: role of an outstanding teacher; editor of high school newspaper; interviewing political figures — Attending Stanford University — Editor of the Stanford Daily; covering General Douglas MacArthur’s return to the United States and a campaign appearance of Adlai Stevenson — Stanford connections lead to an internship with the San Francisco News, a job with the Bend [Oregon] Bulletin and the Stockton [California] Register — Hired by the San Francisco News; variety of assignments Interview 2: December 4, 2012 Audio File 2 15 Further reflections on memories of the Great Depression and its impact on politics — Recalling Upton Sinclair’s EPIC campaign and the role of political consultants — Vivid recounts of experiences during World War II — Working as a night beat reporter for the News — Crusading for protective masks for firefighters — Married to Mary Killoran in l958; birth of three children in subsequent years; daughter Kelly’s swimming prowess — Serving as administrative assistant in the San Francisco Housing Authority; importance of assistant director Revels Cayton — Considering the political landscape of San Francisco 1934 – 1967 — Working for Alan Cranston — More on working in the Housing Authority Audio File 3 28 Observations about redevelopment and growth in San Francisco; impact on neighborhoods and political resistance — Reflecting on the history of progressivism in San Francisco — Working for Alan Cranston’s re-election as state controller — Connecting with important labor leaders in San Francisco — The student movement as a foil for conservative politicians — Observations about the 1960 student protest of HUAC at San Francisco City Hall — Introductory remarks about Joseph Alioto Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley vi Interview 3: December 11, 2012 Audio File 4 37 Realignment in San Francisco’s Democratic Party leads to the nomination of Joseph Alioto for mayor — Press Secretary in Alioto’s campaign and administration — Identifying the strengths of Alioto: smart, personable, valued community, sensitivity to minorities and labor — Description of Alioto’s home during Roff’s interview for press secretary — Quieting the City in the wake of Martin Luther King’s assassination, April 4, 1968 — Roff’s relationship with the news corps — Defending Alioto against Look magazine’s charge of Mafia association — Alioto’s role at the l968 Chicago Democratic Party Convention — Meeting life-long friends who were powerful in San Francisco Audio File 5 49 Working in John Tunney’s 1970 campaign for the U.S. Senate; high caliber of political reporters covering the campaign — Moving to Washington DC and serving as Tunney’s Press Secretary — Reflections on Tunney Interview 4: January 15, 2013 Audio File 6 57 More on political reporters covering Tunney’s senatorial campaign — Media director, Edmund Muskie’s 1972 presidential campaign — Responding to attacks on and gaffs of Muskie — After Muskie’s defeat rejoins Tunney’s office as chief of staff — Recruited by Mayor Joseph Alioto to work with him the last month of his re-election campaign — John Tunney’s losing campaign for re-election, 1976 — Reflections on weathering the Watergate crisis “Saturday Night Massacre” and working with Ted Kennedy — Aside on the 1973 oil crisis and Tunney’s interest in environmental protection Audio File 7 70 Duties as chief of staff for Tunney’s office — Recruited by Ted Kennedy as press secretary, 1976 — Serving as Staff Director of the Senate Subcommittee on Governmental Efficiency and DC Governance Interview 5: January 30, 2013 Audio File 8 79 More on directing the Senate subcommittee — Working with Senator Thomas Eagleton, chair of the subcommittee — Recruited by Mayor Dianne Feinstein to become deputy mayor — Overview of the progressive history of San Francisco — Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California Berkeley vii Reflections on economic and social changes in San Francisco as background to Feinstein’s political rise — The landscape of political players in the 1960s and 1970s: Harold Dobbs, Bill Malone, Mo Bernstein, Harry Berman, Joseph Alioto, George Moscone — Reflecting of the political relationship between Moscone and Feinstein — Describes Feinstein’s experience the day Harvey Milk and George Moscone were assassinated on November 27, 1978 — Overview of Feinstein’s mayoral campaign, November 1979 Audio File 9 91 Roff’s marriage to Susan Trommald — Remembering Richard Blum and Dianne Feinstein’s marriage — Reflections on Feinstein’s governance: departmental head meetings; appointing a new police chief; working with the gay community; contending with re-development and Calvin Welch’s impact on growth and planning in San Francisco — On Dianne Feinstein’s empathy and relationship to people — More on the contest over development; Dean Macris’s Downtown Plan— Issues facing the Chinese community and the homeless; “does the City arrest Mother Theresa?” — More on relationship to the press — Feinstein’s triumph over the 1983 recall election and ascent to a national arena; her profile in the New York Times Interview 6: April 17, 2013 Audio File 10 107 More on becoming deputy mayor for Mayor Dianne Feinstein — Evolution of responsibilities as chief of staff — Outstanding quality of Feinstein’s appointments — Feinstein’s adroitness of being on the scene of newsworthy incidents — More on Feinstein’s engagement with the