Oral history transcript, Joseph C. Swidler, interview 2 (II), 7/11/1988, by Michael L. Gillette

Title:

Oral history transcript, Joseph C. Swidler, interview 2 (II), 7/11/1988, by Michael L. Gillette

Number of Pages:

26

Description:

How the Federal Power Commission (FPC) became more difficult for individual congressmen to manipulate but more amenable to congressional control; dealing with the expiration of hydro and other licenses; Commissioner Howard Morgan's criticism that the commission was dominated by public utility interests; cases regarding Idaho Power Company and Pacific Gas and Electric; Morgan's accusations that the commission and Swidler were dishonest and the [Senate?] Committee on Public Works' resulting investigation and report; Swidler's relationship with Drew Pearson; Swidler's commitment to being fair to private utilities despite his previous position with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA); how Morgan became a FPC commissioner; the merger of Western Light and Telephone with Western Power and Gas; the Con Edison case application at Storm King Mountain; hydropower; the emergence of the environmental movement and the FPC's response to the movement; the creation of the recreation, fish, and wildlife section of the FPC; the relationship between the FPC and the Interior Department; input from the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture on hydro licensing; the Interior Department's support for public power; Swidler's TVA experience with negotiating projects with another company and encouraging power companies to work; creating the National Power Survey to develop plans for companies to work together; cost reductions that resulted from the National Power Survey; LBJ's early opinion of Swidler, based on Swidler's suggestion that Securities and Exchange Commission powers over the utilities be transferred to the FPC; LBJ's influence on Swidler's work; Swidler's talk to New England power companies and the resulting efforts to integrate and coordinate systems without significant changes in ownership; Charles Ross as FPC member; regional diversity among commission members.

Contributor:

Swidler, Joseph C.

Collection:

LBJ Library Oral Histories

Collection Description:

Go to List of Holdings

Series:

Transcripts of LBJ Library Oral Histories

See Also:

See all online interviews with Joseph C. Swidler

Relation:

 

Rights:

Possibly copyright restricted: see deed at end of transcript for details