Political campaigns

In the first portion of this interview, Mazzoli discusses the Louisville mayoral race of 1968: why he ran, and what he learned during the campaign. He talks about how his campaign worked, including the "coffee caucuses" they held, the theme song that Harry Watson wrote for him, and the roles of his brother Richard, his wife Helen, Ken Kiely, and Bill Boughey. He discusses his loss to Frank Burke and Jim Thornberry in the primary and his subsequent entry into the congressional race against Republican incumbent William Cowger, an election he won narrowly. He discusses the issues of the 1970 election, including the war in Vietnam and his own commitment to being accessible to his constituents, which he believes was a factor in his victory. He discusses the delay in certifying his election, as well as his entry into Washington and the role of Peter Rodino (D-NJ) in helping him get settled in the capital. He describes his philosophy when dealing with controversial issues, as well as his people-oriented approach to campaigning. He talks about his decision to give up PAC funds in the early 1990s. Finally, he discusses the positive and negative effects of his congressional career on this family, and the important role that Helen Mazzoli has played throughout.