Telephone pre-interview with Dolores Huerta conducted by Blackside, Inc. for "America's War on Poverty."

Pre-interview with Dolores Huerta (side one) and Alan Cranston (side two).  Dolores Huerta interviewed by Paige Martinez & Sam Sills--at some meeting?(crowd applauding/yelling intermittently--also occasional interruptions and tape stopped).  Discussed largely her role in the Union of Farm Workers and CRLA formation.  Social conditions for migrants/farm workers in early 60s when both formed.  Fights between UFW and CRLA(California Rural Legal Assistance)--basically Huerta feels they do good job, but could do so much more, especially now--gotten more conservative. Opinion of WOP when it got started, etc.--gave sense of hope.  CSO--Community Service Organization started by Fred Ross & others--came out of zoot suit riots in particular in 40s.  Discusses Cesar Chavez--use of the short handled hoe story that Chavez used at many meetings.  Also discusses briefly use of anti-communism by gov't on Chavez--called before state HUAC committee in '66/'67. Martinez/Sills ask about people to talk to.  Counter 24 95. Alan Cranston (former Senator) with Paige Martinez & Sam Sills--at office on March 15, 1994.  Discuss particularly Legal Services and CRLA and Cranston's fight to keep them going when first Gov. Ronald Reagan and then Nixon tried to cut funding.  Talks about early attempt by CRLA to get poor and older people access to Medicaid[later corrected as MediCal]--ultimately successful which cost state lots of money.  Discusses the types of attacks that Reagan and particularly Meese tried to kill it--legilslature in D.C. to kill it.  Generally Cranston is asked about such matters and often has 'vague memory" of it, but says he would have to look it up.  Cranston does remember trying to take CRLA/Legal Services out of OEO to make it independent and therefore less succeptible to threats by Nixon, etc.  Had better support during Ford and Carter--budget around 350 million.  400million with Hilary Clinton, who was formerly on the Board.  Advises talking with Jim Lorenz and Crus Lorenzo who ran it in the early days.  Martinez/Sills asks about Reagans appeal in early days and how many underestimated him.  Talks about CRLA's power--had allies with Cesar Chavez, etc. who was able to mobilize and get support quickly and effectively.  Disagrees with question that WOP created to co-opt Civil Rights movm't--rather effort to score political points and right sense of injustice.  Counter 19 91(approx).
Pre-interview with Dolores Huerta  Dolores Huerta interviewed by Paige Martinez & Sam Sills--at some meeting?(crowd applauding/yelling intermittently--also occasional interruptions and tape stopped).  Discussed largely her role in the Union of Farm Workers and CRLA formation.  Social conditions for migrants/farm workers in early 60s when both formed.  Fights between UFW and CRLA(California Rural Legal Assistance)--basically Huerta feels they do good job, but could do so much more, especially now--gotten more conservative. Opinion of WOP when it got started, etc.--gave sense of hope.  CSO--Community Service Organization started by Fred Ross & others--came out of zoot suit riots in particular in 40s.  Discusses Cesar Chavez--use of the short handled hoe story that Chavez used at many meetings.  Also discusses briefly use of anti-communism by gov't on Chavez--called before state HUAC committee in '66/'67. Martinez/Sills ask about people to talk to.  Counter 24 95.

Subject : Huerta, Dolores Cranston, Alan