Neil Goldschmidt

Neil Edward Goldschmidt (born June 16, 1940) is a former politician and businessman living in the State of Oregon and a member of the United States Democratic Party. He served as mayor of Portland (1973 - 1979), and as governor of Oregon (1987 - 1991), as well as Secretary of Transportation.

2004 public confession

On May 6, 2004 shortly before a planned article in the local Willamette Week newspaper, Goldschmidt publicly announced that he had engaged in a lengthy sexual relationship with a girl, 14 years old at the beginning of their sexual relationship, in the mid 1970s during his first term as mayor of Portland. He subsequently resigned from his positions with the Texas Pacific Group and the Oregon state Board of Higher Education. Political observers believe this relationship was the true reason why he had not run for re-election as governor, nor for a United States Senate seat.

Related Topics:
May 6 - 2004 - Willamette Week - 1970s - United States Senate

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Willamette Week article, written by Nigel Jaquiss, was awarded the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting.

Related Topics:
Nigel Jaquiss - 2005 Pulitzer Prize - Investigative reporting

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Further developments revealed that he was helped in keeping this relationship a secret by businessman Robert K. Burtchaell, whom Goldschmidt in turn gave support in Burtchaell's unsuccessful bid to extend a lease for a houseboat moorage on the Willamette River while governor. http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/front_page/1085313388145970.xml?oregonian?fpfp

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although the statute of limitations has expired for his act of having sex with a minor, the Oregon State Bar began an investigation that could have led to his disbarment. However, on May 14 he announced he was resigning from the state bar, and would not be eligible for readmission. Because of complaints from local media over access to his public papers stored at the Oregon Historical Society, the State Archivist announced May 29 that he would seize the 256 boxes of documents to guarantee public access as defined in a state law passed in 1973. He was the first governor to keep his papers under his control since the state passed that law.

Related Topics:
Statute of limitations - Sex with a minor - Oregon State Bar - Disbarment - Oregon Historical Society

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~