Chandler, Nancy oral history interview, 2002

File

Identifier: MOH 361

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Interview includes discussions of: family background; Bates College in the 1950s; Chandler’s interest and involvement in state politics; George Mitchell; Bob Hirshon; National Committeewoman years; Maine Women’s Lobby; Ed Muskie campaigns; Muskie’s temper; people who knew Muskie ; occasions with Muskie; Muskie’s role on the American Bar Association and the Maine Bar Foundation; leadership of the Maine Bar Foundation; Muskie family occasion at the Blaine House; and the Equal Access to Justice Award.

Dates

2002

Access Restrictions

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Biographical / Historical

Nancy Chandler was born in August of 1933 in Stoneham, Massachusetts. Chandler’s family moved throughout New England, New York and Pennsylvania during her childhood. Her father was a salesman for several different companies including Proctor & Gamble and Frigidaire. She attended Bates College, graduating in 1955. After college, she helped with mayoral campaigns including one for her husband Bruce Chandler of Waterville, Maine. After working briefly in politics at the local and state level, she became a National Committeewoman for the state of Maine. While there, she was also appointed to the Charter and Site Selection Committees for the National Convention. During this time, she worked with Ken Curtis and George Mitchell. Nancy also belonged to the Democratic State Committee and worked on Senator Muskie’s 1972 presidential campaign. She held an executive position for the Maine Bar Foundation where she met with Senator Muskie many times through the American Bar Association.