Abstract
An oral history of Beverly McCarthy, former longtime Republican and political supporter. The interview was conducted for the Women, Politics, and Activism Since Suffrage Oral History Project for California State University, Fullerton’s Center for Oral and Public History. The purpose of this interview was to gather information regarding McCarthy’s political involvement. Specifically the interview talks about McCarthy’s early childhood in Orlando, Florida, memories of her grandparents; shares story about meeting President Roosevelt; what she remembers about December 7, 1941; recalls humorous story of her younger sister putting ration coupons in a sticker book; explains why her family moved to Washington D.C. in 1942 and memories of the city during World War II including: rationing, her family’s military service, reaction to President Roosevelt’s death, and V-E Day; defines patriotism; talks about her father’s job with the Truman administration post-WWII and the family moving to Jacksonville; shares about an article she wrote for her school paper on the Truman/Dewey election; tells how she met her husband, Justin McCarthy; experience at the Washington School for Secretaries and employment at Wardman Park Hotel; talks about her husband’s military career and living in Japan during the Korean War; how she and her husband became interested in politics; recalls Justin’s campaign for and election to Westminster City Council; involvement with local Republican politics including the California Federation of Republican Women; why she supported Ronald Reagan throughout his career; recalls running local campaign headquarters for husbands State Assembly race; how Watergate affected politics in Orange County; election between David Rehmann and Jerry Patterson; remembers attending the 1976 Republican primary as a California delegate for Ronald Reagan; talks about when her husband died; running North Orange County Republican Headquarters in 1987; political climate during Bush campaign; current state of the Republican Party; why she changed her political affiliation to Independent; talks about her children; differences in how men and women lead; defines feminism; what she’s most proud of in her political life; attending Governor Deukmejian’s inauguration; what she’s most proud of in her life; what it was like attending George H.W. Bush’s inauguration; talks about her role models; and finally, why she’s proud of the person she is.
