Helen Sommers: An Oral History

Daniel J. Evans
Governor daniel J. evans
Interview on Rep. Helen Sommers’
Oral History
Daniel J . Evans, former Governor and U.S.
Senator, is recognized as one
of the most distinguished
leaders in the history of Washington.
A study at the Univ.
of Michigan named him one
of the 10 Most Outstanding
Governors of the 20 th
Century.
Daniel Jackson Evans 1965
(Courtesy Washington State Archives)
Evans’ public leadership
began 53 years ago, when
he was first elected to the
Washington State House of
Representatives (1957-1965 –
43 rd District). Evans was elected governor in 1964,
the youngest governor in the history of the state,
and the only governor to be elected to three terms.
Evans declined to run for a fourth term in 1975 and
became president of the Evergreen State College, an
institution that was created during his tenure.
In 1983 U.S. Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson died.
Evans was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Gov. John
Spellman, and then Evans won a special election
to serve the remainder of Senator Jackson’s term.
Evans retired from politics in 1989, and returned
to the Northwest, where he is active on a number
of boards and commissions, including the Board
of Regents of the University of Washington, with
two years as President of the Board.
Dan Monahan: This interview about Representative
Helen Sommers is with Washington Governor
and U.S. Senator Daniel J. Evans. Governor Evans,
thank you so much for taking time to remember
Representative Helen Sommers, who retired from
the Washington State House of Representatives in
2009 after a 36 year career representing Seattle’s
36 th Legislative District.
pg. 95
I conducted a series of 25+ hours of interviews
with Helen Sommers in 2009, covering her 36-year
career - second only to former Speaker John O’Brien,
who had served 52 years in the House. Helen’s first
session was in 1973, and she had a pretty fascinating
career, 36 years serving the 36 th Legislative District.
Helen Sommers was first elected to the House
in November 1972, the year you won your third
consecutive election as Washington’s governor; and
the only Washington governor to serve for three
consecutive terms (1965-1977).
But, Helen told me that she had her first dealings
with you in 1971, before she was a legislator.
She was the first president of the new Washington
Chapter of the National Organization of Women
(NOW) and also a member of the Seattle Chapter
of the League of Women Voters. She told me her
group came to Olympia to talk to you about issues
of interest to NOW. She said she remembers well
how comfortable and cordial you were to the new
women’s group, and how supportive you were to the
issues they brought to you.
When she and her group first met with you,
you agreed to establish a Women’s Council in your
administration to look at issues, opportunities and
programs for the advancement of women issues.
Governor Daniel J . Evans: I do remember when the
group came down to talk about women’s rights
and the Equal Rights Amendment. I was very
interested in working with them and I remember
my promise to form a Women’s Council – which
I did – so we could not only deal with the specific
issues they brought forward at that time, but, on
a more regular basis, continue our dialogue about
women’s issues.
I came out of the Legislature into the governorship.
I had served in the House from 1957-1965
from Seattle’s 43rd District. During my legislative
career, my Republican party was in both the minority
and the majority. So, in 1965 when I was elected
governor, one of my real advantages was the fact
that I knew all the legislators from both parties.
As governor, I made a point to really get to know
the new members as they came along, and keep in