Les AuCoin

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American politician

title: "Les AuCoin" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1942-births", "20th-century-members-of-the-oregon-legislative-assembly", "20th-century-united-states-representatives", "american-columnists", "american-people-of-acadian-descent", "democratic-party-members-of-the-oregon-house-of-representatives", "democratic-party-united-states-representatives-from-oregon", "educators-from-oregon", "living-people", "pacific-university-alumni", "people-from-forest-grove,-oregon", "people-from-redmond,-oregon", "politicians-from-ashland,-oregon", "politicians-from-bozeman,-montana", "radio-personalities-from-oregon", "southern-oregon-university-faculty", "united-states-army-soldiers"] description: "American politician" topic_path: "technology/web" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_AuCoin" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American politician ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox officeholder"]

FieldValue
nameLes AuCoin
imageLesaucoin.jpg
stateOregon
district
term_startJanuary 3, 1975
term_endJanuary 3, 1993
predecessorWendell Wyatt
successorElizabeth Furse
office1Majority Leader of the Oregon House of Representatives
term_start1January 1973
term_end1January 1975
predecessor1Thomas Young
successor1Ed Lindquist
state_house2Oregon
district24th
term_start2January 1971
term_end2January 1975
predecessor2David Frost
successor2Bill Ferguson
birth_nameWalter Leslie AuCoin
birth_date
birth_placePortland, Oregon, U.S.
partyDemocratic
spouse
children2, including Kelly
educationPortland State University
Pacific University (BA)
allegianceUnited States
branch
::

|name = Les AuCoin |image = Lesaucoin.jpg |state = Oregon |district = |term_start = January 3, 1975 |term_end = January 3, 1993 |predecessor = Wendell Wyatt |successor = Elizabeth Furse |office1 = Majority Leader of the Oregon House of Representatives |term_start1 = January 1973 |term_end1 = January 1975 |predecessor1 = Thomas Young |successor1 = Ed Lindquist |state_house2 = Oregon |district2 = 4th |term_start2 = January 1971 |term_end2 = January 1975 |predecessor2 = David Frost |successor2 = Bill Ferguson |birth_name = Walter Leslie AuCoin |birth_date = |birth_place = Portland, Oregon, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic |spouse = |children = 2, including Kelly |education = Portland State University Pacific University (BA) |allegiance = United States |branch = Walter Leslie AuCoin ( ; born October 21, 1942) is an American politician. In 1974 he became the first person from the Democratic Party to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from since it was formed in 1892.{{cite magazine |title=The House: New Faces and New Strains |magazine=Time magazine |date=November 18, 1974 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,945101-1,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104083837/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,945101-1,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=October 8, 2009

AuCoin's 18-year tenure—from the 94th United States Congress through the 102nd{{cite web |title=AuCoin, Les |publisher=United States Congress |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000337 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |first=Don |last=Phillips |title=AuCoin: Ready to 'Kick Ankles' for Abortion Rights; Oregon Democrat Says Legal Restrictions Have Made Women 'Victims of Tyranny' |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 8, 1989 |url=http://www.sierraclub.org/awards/downloads/award_sr.pdf |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Sierra Club Awards |year=2007 |title= Compromised Reached on Spotted Owl |work=New York Times |date=September 30, 1974 |title=Through Ups and Downs, Oregon Has Helped Steer Energy Policy |first=Keith |last=Chu |work=The Bulletin (Bend) |date=June 15, 2008 |title=House Votes For Defense Bill Loaded With Arms Curbs |first=Bob |last=Secter |work=Los Angeles Times |date=August 16, 1986 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19910722&id=cLgSAAAAIBAJ&pg=6552,2671489 |title=Northwest's Senate races will be dirty |last=Swisher |first=Larry |date=July 22, 1991 |work=Spokane Chronicle |page=A6 |access-date=August 11, 2009}} a majority whip-at-large, and a veteran member of the House Appropriations Committee.

AuCoin was a two-term member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1971 to 1974. In his second term, he was House Majority Leader, at the age of 31. He is a full-time author, writer, lecturer and occasional blogger. AuCoin is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One. He and his wife Susan live in Portland.{{cite news |title=Think Too Much: AuCoin reflects on a life in politics |url=https://www.gazettetimes.com/opinion/editorial/think-too-much-aucoin-reflects-on-a-life-in-politics/article_9ec67e5d-5df4-5dd0-8ec4-f60f8b0377d0.html |work=Corvallis Gazette-Times |date=September 22, 2019 |last=McInally |first=Mike |access-date=November 20, 2019

Early life

AuCoin was born in Portland, Oregon, on October 21, 1942, to Francis Edgar AuCoin, a short order cook from Portland, Maine, and Alice Audrey Darrar, a waitress from Madras, Oregon. When he was four, his father abandoned the family.{{cite news |title=AuCoin carries baggage of incumbency |work=The Register-Guard |date=April 11, 1992 |last=Walth |first=Brent |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fH8VAAAAIBAJ&pg=3283,2475015 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Oregon Central Oregon: Adaptation & Compromise in an Arid Landscape (Subtopic: Pre-Industrial Period: 1870–1910: Pre-Industrial Communities: Redmond) |url=http://www.ohs.org/the-oregon-history-project/narratives/central-oregon-arid-landscape/ |year=2004 |work=Oregon History Project |title=AuCoin named most valuable |work=The Bulletin (Bend) |date=March 26, 1960 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3DYVAAAAIBAJ&pg=4999,3900881 |access-date=October 8, 2009

AuCoin enrolled at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, then transferred to Portland State University. In 1961, he enlisted in the United States Army. He was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division and the 10th Mountain Division where he served as a public information specialist, writing dispatches to The Nashville Banner, the Louisville Courier-Journal, The Nashville Tennessean, Stars and Stripes, and Army Times, among other publications.{{cite news|title=Aucoin-Engdahl part of Pacific |work=Pacific University Index |publisher=Pacific University |date=October 3, 1980 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RUIWAAAAIBAJ&pg=1708,3453570 |access-date=October 8, 2009

Following his Army career, AuCoin worked for one summer at The Redmond Spokesman newspaper, then returned to Pacific University, where he was hired as the director of the school's public information department and simultaneously completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism in 1969. He married Susan Swearingen in 1964, and the couple had two children: Stacy in 1965 and Kelly in 1967.

Oregon House of Representatives

In 1968, AuCoin's opposition to the Vietnam War led him to co-chair Eugene McCarthy's Presidential campaign in Oregon's Washington County, west of Portland. AuCoin stayed with McCarthy after President Lyndon B. Johnson dropped out of the race. McCarthy's upset victory over Robert F. Kennedy in the Oregon Democratic primary encouraged AuCoin to run for elective office in 1970, seeking and winning an open seat in the Oregon House of Representatives in Washington County. Two years later, he was re-elected to the 57th Oregon Legislative Assembly. The Democrats took control of the chamber and he was elected House Majority Leader, the second highest position in the House.

During his time in the Oregon House, AuCoin championed environmental, consumer protection, and civil rights issues. As the Democratic floor leader, he helped pass maverick Republican Governor Tom McCall's plan (opposed by legislative Republicans and later rejected by voters) to provide 95% state funding for public schools,{{cite news |title=McCall tax reform plan rejected |work=The Bulletin (Bend) |date=March 21, 1973 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=t-USAAAAIBAJ&pg=4626,1582312 |title=Oregon voters soundly defeat proposal to alter tax system |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=May 2, 1973 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/692259482.html?dids=692259482:692259482&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023081604/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/692259482.html?dids=692259482:692259482&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2012 | first=Philip | last=Hager |title=Subdivision control bill given support |work=The Register-Guard |date=March 27, 1973 |last=Uhrhammer |first=Jerry |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SWoRAAAAIBAJ&pg=5087,6539401 |access-date=October 8, 2009}} reduced penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana,{{cite news |title=Bill would cut pot penalties |work=The Bulletin (Bend) |date=June 21, 1973 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LDcVAAAAIBAJ&pg=2851,4699145 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Mass transit funding backed |work=The Register-Guard |date=February 23, 1973 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SWoRAAAAIBAJ&pg=5087,6539401 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Oregon 25th state to ratify rights amendment |work=The Bulletin (Bend) |date=February 7, 1973 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tzoTAAAAIBAJ&pg=3000,4716877 |access-date=October 8, 2009

U.S. Congress

In 1974, United States congressman Wendell Wyatt of Oregon's 1st congressional district announced that he would not seek a sixth term.{{cite news |title=4 More Representatives Plan to Retire Before Next Election |work=The New York Times |date=February 16, 1974 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/02/16/archives/4-more-representatives-plan-to-retire-before-next-election.html |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Official primary results |work=The Bulletin (Bend) |date=June 27, 1974 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sS8VAAAAIBAJ&pg=6505,1292961 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Oregon District 1 race, November 4, 1974 |publisher=OurCampaigns.com |access-date=September 1, 2009 |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=32584 |title=The lost innocence of Congressman AuCoin |work=The New York Times Magazine |date=August 31, 1975 |first=James M. |last=Naughton |url=https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F10711FD3C5E1A7493C3AA1783D85F418785F9 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=GOP woos 1st district voters anew |date=September 19, 1993 |work=The Oregonian |first=Jeff |last=Mapes

Defense

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Les_AuCoin_in_1986.jpg" caption="Congressman AuCoin in 1986"] ::

In 1981, AuCoin won a seat on the House Appropriations Committee, and two years later, was appointed to the subcommittee on Defense appropriations.{{cite news |title=Senate losing some of its stature |work=The Register-Guard |date=August 21, 1983 |last=Forrester |first=Steve |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bogRAAAAIBAJ&pg=5684,4780850 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Allies surprised by plans to speed 'Star Wars' tests |first=Michael R. |last=Gordon |work=The New York Times |date=February 6, 1987 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/06/world/allies-surprised-by-plans-to-speed-star-wars-tests.html |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Congress makes own arms control treaty |last=Nelson |first=Lars-Erik |work=The Evening Independent |date=February 21, 1986 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19860221&id=XxcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6880,1681412 |access-date=October 8, 2009

AuCoin supported the nuclear freeze movement{{cite news |title=AuCoin keeps up a formal front |work=The Register-Guard |date=September 27, 1992 |last=Walth |first=Brent |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b3wVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5636,6213925 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |date=November 1984 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1AUAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA7 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Freeze |last=AuCoin |first=Les |journal=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists |page=7 |volume=40 |number=9 |doi = 10.1080/00963402.1984.11459276|bibcode = 1984BuAtS..40i...7A|url-access=subscription |date=June 20, 1983 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/1983/06/20/1983_06_20_039_TNY_CARDS_000337300 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=A Political Journal |last=Drew |first=Elizabeth |magazine=The New Yorker |page=39 |title=Congress urged to support MX |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=March 10, 1985 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-10-mn-25699-story.html |access-date=October 8, 2009

Although he opposed the Reagan administration on strategic weapons, AuCoin used his position on the defense subcommittee to improve U.S. conventional arms. On an inspection tour at Fort Benning, he learned from the commander of the United States Army Infantry School that replacement of the aging M47 Dragon anti-tank missile was a major infantry priority{{cite web |title=Pilum High: The Javelin Anti-Armor Missile |date=July 12, 2009 |url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/pilum-high-the-javelin-anti-armor-missile-03440/ |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Arms and the Congress: Anti-Tank Weapons: Pork-Barrel Politics Takes a Back Seat |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 13, 1990 |first=Dan |last=Morgan |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1131879.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025211654/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1131879.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |access-date=October 8, 2009

Foreign policy

AuCoin's opposition to U.S. support of authoritarian governments in El Salvador and Guatemala and the Nicaraguan Contras—irregular forces armed by the Reagan administration to topple the Sandinista government—led him to travel frequently to Central America to document right wing human rights abuses. In 1987, a constituent of AuCoin's named Ben Linder was killed by Contra forces while helping build a small hydroelectric electricity generator for Nicaraguan villagers.{{cite news |title=Room honors Ben Linder: Volunteer killed in Nicaragua remembered |first=Jeff |last=Wright |date=April 24, 1990 |work=The Register-Guard |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i3oVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3003%2C5884473 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=U.S. groups lay blame for killing of volunteers on administration |first=Elaine |last=Sciolino |work=The New York Times |date=April 30, 1987 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/30/world/us-groups-lay-blame-for-killing-of-volunteers-on-administration.html |access-date=October 8, 2009 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/16/world/contras-killing-of-american-doubt-cast-on-rebel-account.html |title=Contras' killing of American: doubt cast on rebel account |last=LeMoyne |first=James |work=The New York Times |date=June 16, 1987

In his second congressional term, AuCoin's 1978 amendment to grant partial most favored nation trade status to the People's Republic of China was the first China trade bill to reach the House floor. Though narrowly defeated, it presaged the United States' formal normalization of political and trade relations with China less than a year later. In February 1979, AuCoin led a trade mission of Oregon business leaders to China, the first such delegation from any U.S. state.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sPJVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5399,3104711 |access-date=April 8, 2011 |title=Oregonians depart for China |work=The Register-Guard |date=February 11, 1979 |url=http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/aucoin_les_1942_/ |title=Les AuCoin (1942– ) |last=Pavlich |first=Paul |publisher=The Oregon Encyclopedia |access-date=April 8, 2011}}

Oregon economy

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/LesAuCoinPlaza.jpg" caption="Washington Park MAX station"] ::

AuCoin used his seat on the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee to address a number of economic priorities throughout Oregon, including construction of the Oregon Trail Center in economically distressed Baker City,{{cite news |title=Oregon enjoying yummy meal feasting at federal 'pork barrel' |first=Larry |last=Swisher |date=August 21, 1988 |work=The Register-Guard |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AWwVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3226%2C5058736 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Oregon gets its pork, but Washington fattens up |first=Larry |last=Swisher |work=The Register-Guard |date=December 12, 1989 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=920VAAAAIBAJ&pg=2158%2C3390173 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Grand Ronde Restoration Hearing |publisher=Oregon Historical Society |work=The Oregon History Project |year=1983 |url=http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/historical_records/dspDocument.cfm?doc_ID=DF2B3771-A6C1-EF95-0A6FD64CE0E0A00A |access-date=October 8, 2009}} and Confederated Tribes of Siletz,{{cite news |title=Restoration due |work=The Register-Guard |date=November 7, 1977 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rxMRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6218%2C1674255 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Research center |work=Ellensburg Daily Record |date=June 10, 1987 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SN4PAAAAIBAJ&pg=4560%2C5043751 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126061507/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SN4PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cI8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4560,5043751 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 26, 2013 |access-date=October 8, 2009

Working together, AuCoin and Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield secured federal funding for the construction of Portland's acclaimed{{cite journal |title = America's Street Car Renaissance |journal = Infrastructurist |date = May 4, 2008 |url = http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/05/04/chart-americas-streetcar-renaissance/ |last = Freemark |first = Yonah |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091002053251/http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/05/04/chart-americas-streetcar-renaissance/ |archive-date = October 2, 2009 |title = Words, Words, Words |last = Farmer |first = Paul |journal = Blueprints |volume = XXVII |number = 1–2 |date = Winter–Spring 2008 |url = http://www.nbm.org/about-us/publications-news/blueprints/words-words-words.html |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100505060532/http://www.nbm.org/about-us/publications-news/blueprints/words-words-words.html |archive-date = May 5, 2010

AuCoin had a hand in the rescue of Northwest lumber and plywood mills during the recession of the early 1980s. The mills faced financial ruin when federal timber sales contracts they had purchased at a face value of hundreds of millions of dollars were rendered worthless by the collapse of the lumber and plywood markets. Along with Senators Hatfield and Howard Metzenbaum, AuCoin helped write the Federal Timber Contract Payment Modification Act of 1984. After requiring timber companies to pay a penalty to the U.S. Treasury, the bill released the firms from their contracts and allowed them to return approximately 9.5 e9board feet of standing timber to the government, much of it commercially pre-thinned.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZjgTAAAAIBAJ&pg=7264 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Senate OKs timber firms' bailout |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=September 27, 1984 |last=Rose |first=Robert L. |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b2oVAAAAIBAJ&pg=4783,7433936 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Timber contracts bill textbook example |work=The Register-Guard |date=September 30, 1984 |last=Forrester |first=Steve

Environment

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/RockMesa.jpg" caption="Rock Mesa in the [[Three Sisters Wilderness"] ::

AuCoin's environmental record earned him the endorsement of major environmental organizations in each of his House elections. In addition to blocking offshore oil exploration, AuCoin prevented mining in the center of Oregon's Three Sisters Wilderness area by buying out a mining claim in the area's geologically significant Rock Mesa{{cite news |title=Environmentalists applaud wilderness area mining ban |publisher=Associated Press |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=November 21, 1982 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SdgRAAAAIBAJ&pg=7115%2C2693841 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |url = http://www.lcv.org/images/client/pdfs/1979_Scorecard.pdf |title = How Congress Voted on Energy and the Environment |publisher = League of Conservation Voters |access-date = October 15, 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100620213853/http://www.lcv.org/images/client/pdfs/1979_Scorecard.pdf |archive-date = June 20, 2010 |title=Necessary Work: Discovering Old Forests, New Outlooks and Community on the H. J. Andrews Forest: 1948–2000 |publisher=U.S. Forest Service publication |last=Geier |first=Max G. |year=2007}} supported the Columbia Gorge Scenic Protection Act, helped stop the construction of Salt Caves Dam on the last free-flowing stretch of the Klamath River,{{cite news |title=Klamath Falls Still Fighting For Its Hydroelectric Plant – Scenic River Pitted Against City's Economic Recovery |work=Seattle Times |date=August 29, 1990 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19900829/1090351/klamath-falls-still-fighting-for-its-hydroelectric-plant----scenic-river-pitted-against-citys-economic-recovery |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kcYUAAAAIBAJ&pg=5351,779083 |title=Hatfield bill would protect scenic rivers |date=March 5, 1988 |work=The Register-Guard title=An Aging Cache Of Nerve Gas – U.S. Plan To Burn Huge Stores Of Outdated Chemical Munitions In Oregon Has Its Risks |work=Seattle Times |date= February 17, 1991 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19910217/1266687/an-aging-cache-of-nerve-gas----us-plan-to-burn-huge-stores-of-outdated-chemical-munitions-in-oregon-has-its-risks |first=Eric |last=Nalder

His work on the 1984 Oregon Wilderness Act, which doubled wilderness acreage in Oregon's federal forests, earned him a Distinguished Service award from the Sierra Club.

Timber harvest controversies

Soon after the decades-long effort to expand wilderness was resolved, annual timber harvests on Forest Service lands in Oregon and Washington had increased to reach a crisis point in the late 1980s. Critics charged that AuCoin, along with other Northwest members of Congress, were forcing unsustainable logging levels, noting Congress's proposed annual timber harvests of more than 4 billion board feet per year—well above historical averages of 2.6 to 3 billion board feet (bbf) for the region.{{cite book |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/publications/pnw_rb198/pnw_rb198b.pdf |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Production, prices, employment, and trade in Northwest forest industries, third quarter 1993. |last=Warren |first=Debra D. |year=1993 |publisher=United States Forest Service |page=107

However, Randal O'Toole, a self-described libertarian and environmental economist,{{cite news |title= A Son of Portland, Ore., Tries to Puncture the Myth of 'Smart Growth' |first=Saqib |last=Rahim |date=July 15, 2009 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/07/15/15climatewire-a-son-of-portland-ore-tries-to-puncture-the-52412.html |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Are Region 6 Forests Being Overcut? |last=O'Toole |first=Randal |author-link=Randal O'Toole |date=May 1987 |journal=Forest Watch |title=U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of the Interior and Related Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1989. Part 2: Justification of the Budget Estimate |chapter=1989 Budget Explanatory Notes for Committee on Appropriations |author=100th United States Congress, Second Session |publisher=United States Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |year=1988 |page=1255

AuCoin was also criticized for working with Senator Hatfield, Washington Representative Norman D. Dicks, and House Speaker Tom Foley for legislating a special timber sales program in 1990. The legislation, referred to disparagingly by some environmentalists as "The Rider from Hell,"{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R7ybC3kgcQkC&pg=PA119 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=The Rebirth of Environmentalism: Grassroots Activism from the Spotted Owl to the Polar Bear |last=Bevington |first=Douglas |year=2009 |pages=119–120 |publisher=Island Press |location=Washington, DC |isbn=978-1-59726-656-7 |title=Conferees Reach Timber Compromise; Plan Protects Owl's Virgin-Forest Habitat, Lifts Ban on Lumbering |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73901593.html?dids=73901593:73901593&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+30%2C+1989&author=Dan+Morgan&pub=The+Washington+Post+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=Conferees+Reach+Timber+Compromise%3BPlan+Protects+Owl%27s+Virgin-Forest+Habitat%2C+Lifts+Ban+on+Lumbering&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131232342/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73901593.html?dids=73901593:73901593&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+30,+1989&author=Dan+Morgan&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Conferees+Reach+Timber+Compromise;Plan+Protects+Owl's+Virgin-Forest+Habitat,+Lifts+Ban+on+Lumbering&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |newspaper=The Washington Post |last=Morgan |first=Dan |date=September 30, 1989 |url = http://www.andykerr.net/GenForests/Opt9.html |access-date = October 8, 2009 |last = Kerr |first = Andy |author2 = Rick Brown |date =Summer 1997 |title = The Bottom Line on Option 9. |journal = Wild Earth |volume = 7 |number = 2 |pages = 31–34 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090101223915/http://andykerr.net/GenForests/Opt9.html |archive-date = January 1, 2009

Abortion

AuCoin was one of the House's key leaders for abortion choice,{{cite news |title=AuCoin is only missing, not lost |date=July 27, 1993 |last=Duin |first=Steve |work=The Oregonian |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=NewsBank&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=0EB087DCB64276B1 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=House, in big shift, votes to restore aid for abortions |first=Robin |last=Toner |work=The New York Times |date=October 12, 1989 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/12/us/house-in-big-shift-votes-to-restor-aid-for-abortions.html |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=House Defense Bill Eases Abortion Ban Military |work=The Los Angeles Times |first=Paul |last=Houston |date=May 23, 1991 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/61297280.html?dids=61297280:61297280&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+23%2C+1991&author=PAUL+HOUSTON&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=House+Defense+Bill+Eases+Abortion+Ban+Military%3A+Overseas+hospitals+would+again+be+allowed+to+perform+the+procedure.+The+measure%2C+sent+to+the+Senate%2C+faces+a+veto+threat+over+the+issue.&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021041030/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/61297280.html?dids=61297280:61297280&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=May+23,+1991&author=PAUL+HOUSTON&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=House+Defense+Bill+Eases+Abortion+Ban+Military:+Overseas+hospitals+would+again+be+allowed+to+perform+the+procedure.+The+measure,+sent+to+the+Senate,+faces+a+veto+threat+over+the+issue.&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19910605&id=ysMLAAAAIBAJ&pg=4227,867513 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Bush threatens veto on abortion reform |date=June 5, 1991 |work=The Victoria Advocate

Gun control

His opposition to gun control legislation angered many of his urban constituents while pleasing numerous rural voters.{{cite news |title=Lawmaker is target on gun issue |work=The New York Times |date=May 7, 1991 |first=Gwen |last=Ifill |author-link=Gwen Ifill |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/07/us/lawmaker-is-target-on-gun-issue.html |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Confessions Of A Former NRA Supporter |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 18, 1991 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19910320/1272727/confessions-of-a-former-nra-supporter |last=AuCoin |first=Les |access-date=October 15, 2009

1992 race for the U.S. Senate

Main article: 1992 United States Senate election in Oregon

In 1992, AuCoin ran for the United States Senate against Republican incumbent Bob Packwood, giving up his seat in the House of Representatives. Both the Democratic primary and the general election were strongly contested, and involved several controversies.

As the election season got underway, analysts from both major parties predicted that Packwood would have one of the toughest seats to defend in what was anticipated to be a volatile election year.{{cite news |title=Demos, GOP look to the West for vote gains |work=The Oregonian |date=December 21, 1991 |first=Roberta |last=Ulrich |title=Bob Packwood |work=Willamette Week |date=September 16, 2009 |title= Packwood Is Leaving As a Pariah In His State |first=Timothy |last=Egan |work=The New York Times |date=September 9, 1995

For AuCoin, however, first came the Democratic primary. He faced Portland attorney Joe Wetzel and Bend businessman Harry Lonsdale in what became a "brutal, bitter"{{cite news |title=Great political lineup in Oregon primary, but it's not the NBA – is voters' mood a pregame show for Washington? |first=Mark |last=Matassa |work=The Seattle Times |date=May 18, 1992 |title=Senate aspirant proposes restoring tax deductions |date=December 31, 1991 |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |work=The Oregonian |title=U.S. Senate candidate urges tax law reforms |first=Dan |last=Hortsch |date=January 30, 1992 |work=The Oregonian |title=No debate for Wetzel? Inconceivable! |first=Steve |last=Duin |date=January 28, 1992 |work=The Oregonian

In a race the Seattle Times called "as negative as many voters can remember," Lonsdale attacked AuCoin as "corrupt" and tied to the timber industry.{{cite news |title=Demo Senate primary gets rough |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |date=February 9, 1992 |work=The Oregonian |title=Lonsdale Firm's Hazardous Waste Violated No Rules |work=The Register – Guard – Eugene, Or. |last=Walth |first=Brent |date=March 21, 1992 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/registerguard/access/6606344.html?dids=6606344:6606344&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |access-date=October 8, 2009 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023081627/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/registerguard/access/6606344.html?dids=6606344:6606344&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT |url-status=dead |title=Lonsdale, in about-face, opposes nuclear power, Trojan restart |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |date=January 5, 1992 |newspaper=The Oregonian |title= AuCoin takes Lonsdale's role in debate |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |date=March 29, 1992 |newspaper=The Oregonian

On the Republican side, Packwood had gone through a divorce in 1991, and his ex-wife threatened to run against him amid mounting concerns about his "eye for the ladies." The socially conservative Oregon Citizens Alliance (OCA) was at the apex of its statewide prominence with 1992's anti-gay Measure 9 and its newly formed American Heritage Party (AHP). The group endorsed Republican challenger Joe Lutz, who had run against Packwood in the past on a family values platform; but Lutz soon withdrew, announcing a divorce of his own. As early as January, the OCA considered backing former gubernatorial candidate Al Mobley as an independent or as a member of the AHP.{{cite news |title=Mobley, OCA consider independent Senate race |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |date=January 16, 1992 |newspaper=The Oregonian |title= OCA party needs more normal name |first=David |last=Sarasohn |author-link=David Sarasohn |date=July 26, 1992 |newspaper=The Oregonian |title=Big break for Sen. Packwood |first=Maralee |last=Schwartz |author2=Thomas B. Edsall |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 16, 1992

Even during the primary, Packwood and AuCoin traded barbs on various issues.{{cite news |title=Packwood, AuCoin exchange accusations |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |date=February 18, 1992 |newspaper=The Oregonian |title=Oregonians check books |first=Alan K. |last=Ota |author2=Roberta Ulrich |date=March 14, 1992 |work=The Oregonian |title=The 1992 Campaign; Close Vote for Oregon Senate Seat Insures Recount |date=May 24, 1992 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/24/us/the-1992-campaign-close-vote-for-oregon-senate-seat-insures-recount.html |access-date=October 8, 2009

The results of the Democratic primary were so close that an automatic recount was triggered. On June 18, over a month after the primary election, AuCoin was certified as having won by 330 votes.{{cite news |title=State puts its seal on AuCoin's victory |work=The Oregonian |date=June 18, 1992 |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |title= A recount in the Democratic Senate primary is... |work=The Oregonian |date=June 9, 1992 |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |title=Lonsdale concedes primary loss with attack on AuCoin, Packwood |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |date=June 19, 1992 |work=The Oregonian

By the end of June, when the recount was complete, AuCoin was nearly out of campaign funds; Packwood entered the general election race with $3.2 million{{cite news |title=Let's make a deal |date=June 26, 1992 |work=The Oregonian |title=Packwood rejects AuCoin's spending-lid plan |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |date=June 23, 1992 |work=The Oregonian |title= Packwood ranked sixth in Senate in raising money outside of state |first=Alan K. |last=Ota |date=July 2, 1992 |work=The Oregonian

AuCoin opposed weakening the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to erase the northern spotted owl's impact on the timber industry, but Packwood ("one of the timber industry's chief allies," according to Oregon State University political scientist William Lunch{{cite news |title=Catching a 'Chameleon': Senate Wrestles With Packwood |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-03-mn-52686-story.html |date=November 3, 1993 | first=Karen | last=Tumulty | access-date=May 7, 2010 |title=Packwood Wants Changes In Endangered Species Act |work=Spokane Chronicle |date=October 18, 1990 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19901018&id=EssSAAAAIBAJ&pg=6800,2600184

In September, Packwood pulled ads that had falsely criticized AuCoin for missing votes while speaking to special interest groups.{{cite news |title= Inaccuracy found |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |work=The Oregonian |date=September 26, 1992 |title=Data sparse on Packwood's donors |first=Alak K. |last=Ota |work=The Oregonian |date=October 30, 1992 |title=Packwood sets '92 campaign spending record |work=The Oregonian |date=May 25, 1993 |first=Don |last=Hamilton |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ORGB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB087CBCE407D62&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D10F2CADB4B24C0 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title= Packwood, AuCoin in dead heat, new poll finds |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |work=The Oregonian |date=October 29, 1992

The outcome of the bruising race was too close to call on election night, but on the following day, Packwood emerged as the winner with about 52% of the vote to AuCoin's 48%. In his victory press conference, Packwood endorsed AuCoin for Secretary of the Interior in the Clinton administration.{{cite news |title=Sen. Packwood Backs Foe For Cabinet |work=The San Francisco Chronicle |date=November 5, 1992 |author=The Associated Press |title=Victorious Packwood boosts foe for cabinet |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |date=November 5, 1992 |work=The Oregonian

Magnifying the controversy of the race was a decision by the Washington Post to delay until after the election{{cite news |title=What Delayed Packwood Expose? |date=December 3, 1992 |first=Raymond R. |last=Coffey |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4143666.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025112731/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4143666.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Packwood may quit soon, his lawyer says |work=Chicago Tribune |date=November 20, 1993 |first=Elaine S. |last=Povich}} coverage of its year-long investigation into detailed claims of sexual abuse and assault made by 10 women against Packwood. The paper published the story two months after election day. Oregon's largest daily newspaper, The Oregonian, did not break the story either, despite its own investigation and its congressional correspondent being subjected to Packwood's advances.{{cite news |title=A Newspaper Confesses: We Missed the Story |date=January–February 1993 |first=Cheryl |last=Reid |work=American Journalism Review |url=http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=2101 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613032339/http://ajr.org/Article.asp?id=2101 |archive-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |title=Dubious achievements: The Oregonian 1974–1999 (The Oregonian's Big Oh's) |first=Paul |last=Koberstein |work=The Willamette Week |year=1999 |title=A Newspaper Confesses: We Missed the Story |first=Cheryl |last=Reid |date=January–February 1993 |work=American Journalism Review |url=http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=2101 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613032339/http://ajr.org/Article.asp?id=2101 |archive-date=June 13, 2010 |url-status=dead

A group of Oregon voters battled Packwood lawyers in briefs before the Senate Rules Committee in an unsuccessful attempt to persuade the panel to refuse to seat the senator on the grounds of election fraud for lying about the abuses.{{cite news |title=Group says Packwood lied, asks Senate to nullify election |work=Chicago Tribune |date=May 11, 1993 |first=Elaine S. |last=Povich |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FFEC9C4E25EA4AA&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D10F2CADB4B24C0 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title=Decline and fall: Senator Bob Packwood resigns after censure by Senate Ethics Committee |work=Newsweek |date=September 25, 1995

AuCoin was considered for Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of the Army in the new Clinton administration, though he was not offered either post.{{cite news |title=Capitol to Cabinet: Some potential picks |work=USA Today |date=December 3, 1992 |first=Richard |last=Wolf |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/56243132.html?dids=56243132:56243132&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT%3A |access-date=October 8, 2009 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023081639/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/56243132.html?dids=56243132:56243132&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT: |url-status=dead |title=AuCoin takes job as lobbyist in D.C. |first=Foster |last=Church |date=January 26, 1993 |work=The Oregonian |title=AuCoin now lobbying for timber industry |first=Jeff |last=Mapes |date=June 11, 1993 |work=The Oregonian

A decade later, Governor Ted Kulongoski nominated AuCoin for the Oregon Board of Forestry, reportedly to balance out the perceived dominance of the timber industry on that board. But the industry mounted an extensive lobbying campaign against the former congressman, accusing him of environmental extremism, and his appointment was derailed in the Oregon State Senate.{{cite news |title=AuCoin says no to Board of Forestry |first=Michelle |last=Cole |date=March 12, 2005 |work=The Oregonian |title=Moderate picked to lead Oregon Board of Forestry |work=The Bulletin (Bend) |date=November 30, 2008 |title=Ex-Oregon lawmaker withdraws nomination |first=Niki |last=Sullivan |date=March 14, 2005 |work=The Columbian

Life after political office

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Les_AuCoin_2014.jpeg" caption="AuCoin in 2014"] ::

AuCoin went into higher education five years after leaving the Congress, joining the faculty at Southern Oregon University in Ashland as a visiting professor of political science and business ethics.{{cite news |title=AuCoin resigns from Southern Oregon University |date= February 13, 2004 |first=Bill |last=Choy |work=Ashland Daily Tidings |url=http://archive.dailytidings.com/2004/0213/021304n2.shtml |access-date=October 8, 2009 |title = Former Congressman Les AuCoin to speak in Coos Bay |publisher = Southwestern Oregon Community College |date = January 13, 2009 |url = http://www.socc.edu/news/former-congressman-les-aucoin-to-speak-in-coos-bay.shtml |access-date = October 8, 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110720044806/http://www.socc.edu/news/former-congressman-les-aucoin-to-speak-in-coos-bay.shtml |archive-date = July 20, 2011 |date=April 2003 |title=Public Radio Paradise |work=American Journalism Review |first=James V. |last=Risser |url=http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=2884 |access-date=October 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512073328/http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=2884 |archive-date=May 12, 2013 |url-status=dead |title=Les AuCoin on the Huffington Post |work=The Huffington Post |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/les-aucoin |access-date=October 8, 2009

AuCoin and his wife Sue campaigned in Wisconsin in 2004 for Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry for the last month of his presidential race. In 2008, they drove to Ohio to spend the last five weeks of the election cycle campaigning for Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

The former congressman lectures at and serves on the advisory board to the Maxwell School's National Security Studies program at Syracuse University in New York. In 2009, Defense Secretary Robert Gates appointed him to the Transformation Advisory Group of the Pentagon's U.S. Joint Forces Command.{{cite web |url = http://www.jfcom.mil/about/fact_tag.htm |title = About USJFCOM: Transformation Advisory Group (TAG) |publisher = United States Joint Forces Command |access-date = October 16, 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100102074059/http://www.jfcom.mil/about/fact_tag.htm |archive-date = January 2, 2010 |title=Director biographies |publisher=Federal Home Bank Seattle |url=http://www.fhlbsea.com/OurCompany/Leadership/BOD/biographies.aspx#aucoin |access-date=September 1, 2009

In 2019, AuCoin wrote a political memoir, Catch and Release: An Oregon Life in Politics, published by Oregon State University Press.{{cite book |last=AuCoin |first=Les |date=2019 |title=Catch and Release: An Oregon Life in Politics |publisher=Oregon State University Press |isbn=9780870719738

References

References

  1. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp Official database of U.S. Congress] {{webarchive. link. (April 23, 2010)
  2. "To amend and extend the Export-Import Bank act of 1945": hearings the [[United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade. House Subcommittee on International Trade, Investment, and Monetary Policy]] of the [[United States House Committee on Financial Services. Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs]], House of Representatives, Ninety-fifth Congress, second session on H.R. 11384, March 13, 15-17, 1978
  3. House Committee Hearings by Date, Digest, Congressional Record, 101st Congress, January 23, 1990-January 3, 1991.
  4. (2025). "Issue One – ReFormers Caucus".
  5. Mapes, Jeff. (April 19, 1992). "AuCoin, insider, vs. Lonsdale, challenger". [[The Oregonian.
  6. ''Javelin: The Potential New Beginning in Land Warfare'', monogram by U.S. Army Major Dennis S. Sullivan, School of Advanced Military Studies, U.S. Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
  7. Smith, A. Robert. (March 9, 1975). "200-mile limit in hopper again". [[The Register-Guard]].
  8. (June 20, 1986). "House Panel Hears Plan For Gorge". [[The Spokesman-Review]].
  9. Section 318, H.R. 2688 [Enrolled], 101st U.S. Congress
  10. ''The Oregonian'', June 13, 1988.
  11. Duin, Steve. (September 19, 1991). "THE RETURN OF A CAREER CANDIDATE". The Oregonian.
  12. Hamilton, Don. (May 24, 1992). "AUCOIN WAITS FOR OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF VICTORY". The Oregonian.
  13. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1597260878 Island Press, 2006]
  14. Pacific Today, Fall, 2007.
  15. Pacific University Catalog, 1995–1996.
  16. Kavanagh, Vickie. (November 20, 2014). "Les AuCoin, Jeremy Nootenboom and Bill Thorndike make Southern Oregon University news". The Oregonian.

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