Pacific University Archives is offering a look back on the career of Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin. The new exhibit, which is now open in the first-floor gallery of Tran Library, explores AuCoin’s 22 years in public office and highlights his most significant work in human rights, environmental policy, and nuclear arms control. An accompanying digital exhibit, the Les AuCoin Collection, includes an additional 250 documents, photos, and other artifacts from AuCoin’s time in office.
AuCoin served nine terms in the United States House of Representatives between 1975 and 1993 as the first Democrat ever elected to Oregon’s 1st district. When he left the House in 1992 to run for the Senate, he was 84th in House seniority, dean of the Oregon House delegation, a majority whip at large, and a veteran member of the House Appropriations Committee, having served on both the Defense Subcommittee and the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. Before serving in the US House, AuCoin served two terms in the Oregon House of Representatives, from 1971 to 1975, becoming the House Majority Leader in 1973.
As a prominent alumnus of Pacific University, AuCoin donated his professional papers to the Archives in 2020. The Les AuCoin Papers (MS.147) includes nearly 200 boxes of speeches, office files, press releases, and media clippings related to AuCoin’s 22 years in public office.
Located in the first-floor gallery of Tran Library, this exhibit is free and open to the public this summer. A grand opening celebration will take place later this fall, on September 13th.
