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Oregon's Mid-Century Golden Years Remembered

OSU Press

Newcomers to Oregon can scarcely believe the stories of a few decades ago, a time when Republicans dominated state politics and fought for landmark environmental protections.

All true, and the central focus of Floyd McKay's book Reporting The Oregon Story

McKay, a newspaper and TV reporter for decades, focuses on the period from 1964 to 1986, a time when Tom McCall and Bob Straub moved up the ranks to the governor's office, facing each other in several elections. 

Accomplishments of the time include beach protections, bottle deposits, and land-use regulations, among many others.

Floyd McKay visits the Exchange with the highlights. 

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Geoffrey Riley is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has hosted the Jefferson Exchange on JPR since 2009. He's been a broadcaster in the Rogue Valley for more than 35 years, working in both television and radio.