Abstract
An oral history with Barbara Stone, retired political science professor. This interview was conducted for the Women, Politics, and Activism Since Suffrage Oral History Project for California State University, Fullerton, and the Center for Oral and Public History. The purpose of this interview was to gather information on Stone’s career in political science. Specifically, this interview discusses Stone’s family background in Los Angeles, particularly the role of her politically active father, California Assemblyman Joe Stone; reflects on her father’s role in the California Republican Party, including an attempted run at governor against Richard Nixon; how politics were discussed in her home; college years at USC and being the first woman to serve on the student senate; early role models and values acquired from her family; meeting her husband; teaching political science at Pepperdine University; earning her PhD, which centered on the John Birch Society; landing a professor’s position at Cal State Fullerton in 1969, and what it was like to teach in those early years; balancing a teaching career with being a wife and mother; serving as CSUF’s faculty rep to the NCAA; becoming involved in local Republican politics, including Whittier Republican Women Federated; why she happens to be pro-choice; serving on the Republican State Central Committee; involvement with the local Republican organization, the Lincoln Club; why she believes Republican women need their own organization; attempted runs at California State Assembly and what she learned from the experience; the current role of women in the Republican Party; current party challenges; positive influences of the Republican Party, including Barry Goldwater and Newt Gingrich; why she does not consider herself a feminist; differences in how men and women lead; why Stone believes there are so few women in elected office; appointment by George Deukmejian to the Little Hoover Commission, which made recommendations regarding the efficiency in economy and state government; serving on the Rio Hondo Community College Board; why it is important for women to be actively engaged in politics; advice she would give young women interested in running for office; shares her proudest accomplishments; and finally, what she enjoyed most about teaching at Cal State Fullerton.
