Early family history; childhood on farm in Northwood, Iowa: farm operations, early education, influence of father's political views, admiration of William Jennings Bryan, speakers and performers on Chautauqua Circuit; impact of Depressions of 1919, 1929 on farm economy; University of Minnesota, B.S. business 1919-1923: Beta Gamma Sigma, Chi Phi, class treasurer, Studio Players; Harvard Business Sch ool 1925-1927, Harvard Business Review Board; Standard Oil Company: Assistant to the President Standard Oils of Ohio 1928-, Executive Vice-President, 1945; Gulf Oil: Executive Vice President, 1948, President, 1949- ; crude oil business: government regulation of oil production, government control of oil industry during World War II, expansion of American oil industry to overseas production sites in Middle East; Committee for a National Trade Policy, 1956-1961; views on overpopulation: involvement in Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception; Chairman, Western Hemisphere section of International Planned Parenthood Federation; views on illegal immigration: support for more restrictive immigration policy, sanctions against employment of illegal labor, perceived problems with sanctuary movement, relationship between illegal immigration and overpopulation, board member, contributor to Federation for American Immigration Reform, late 1970s- ; various philanthropic associations including scholarships, Sidney A. Swensrud Foundation, The Conservancy - southwest Florida environmental protection organization; Pittsburgh community involvement: building of Pittsburgh Civic Auditorium, member of Carnegie Mellon Board of Trustees; family life: marriage to Isabelle Miller, two children
Businessmen; Petroleum industry and trade--United States; Overpopulation; Birth control; Population policy; Immigration opponents; Chautauquas; Norwegians--United States; United States Population; United States Emigration and immigration; Northwood (Iowa); Swensrud, Sidney A., 1900-1996; Standard Oil Company (Ohio); Gulf Oil Corporation; Planned Parenthood Federation of America; International Planned Parenthood Federation; Federation for American Immigration Reform
Format
oral histories; sound recordings
Genre
Interviews
Date
1989
Note (Biographical)
Businessman
Note
Interviewed by: David Fowler on December 19 and 20, 1988, January 27, 28, 29 and 30, 1989 in Naples, Florida; October 17, 1989 in Ligonier, Pennsylvania