Content and Scope: John O. Pastore (1907-2000) had a long career in public service on the State and national level. He began his political career in 1934 with election to the Rhode Island House of Representatives, never lost an election, and retired from the U.S. Senate in 1976. The bulk of the material deals with the later part of his years in Washington. Committee service is well documented-Joint Committee on Atomic Energy (e.g., early support for peaceful uses of atomic energy and influence in passage of 1963 Limited Nuclear Test Ban and 1969 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaties) and Senate Commerce Committee Communications Subcommittee (e.g., advocacy of 1962 establishment of Communications Satellite Corporation and 1967 Corporation for Public Broadcasting). Pastore wielded considerable influence during the Kennedy presidency through Committee assignments and even more during the Johnson era, strongly supporting Great Society legislation, playing a pivotal role in passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and, in that same year, delivering a memorable Democratic National Convention keynote address. Pastore was proud of his heritage (he became the 1st Italian-American U.S. Governor and Senator, in 1945 and 1950 respectively). He paid continued attention to the interests of his constituents, introducing, for example, legislation regarding immigration affecting many ethnic groups and lobbying to strengthen the State's industrial base, especially the fading textile industry.

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