BONUS EPISODE: Archival Interview with the late John Spellman, the Evergreen State's Most Recent Republican Governor
Update: 2025-09-29
Description
On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel digs into the "field tape archives" for part one of his 2015 conversation with the late John Spellman, the Evergreen State's most recent Republican governor. John Spellman passed away in 2018 at age 91.
John Spellman was a King County Commissioner in the 1960s, and then served three terms as King County’s first County Executive. He was elected governor in 1980, and served one term during those tough economic times. This far-ranging conversation was recorded in downtown Seattle on June 8, 2015. In part one, we talk about being elected governor in 1980, running against Dixy Lee Ray in 1976, and against Booth Gardner in 1984. We talk about the Forward Thrust project, including the construction and ultimate demise of the Kingdome – and about Spellman’s support for President Richard Nixon. Part two will be presented in an upcoming BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY.
CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.
Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes.
John Spellman was a King County Commissioner in the 1960s, and then served three terms as King County’s first County Executive. He was elected governor in 1980, and served one term during those tough economic times. This far-ranging conversation was recorded in downtown Seattle on June 8, 2015. In part one, we talk about being elected governor in 1980, running against Dixy Lee Ray in 1976, and against Booth Gardner in 1984. We talk about the Forward Thrust project, including the construction and ultimate demise of the Kingdome – and about Spellman’s support for President Richard Nixon. Part two will be presented in an upcoming BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY.
CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle.
Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes.
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