Interview with Deborah M. Sale, August 24, 2018

Interview Summary

Deborah Sale, a former employee in the Carter administration, begins the interview by discussing her personal background. Sale then highlights her early political career. Additionally, Sale explains how Bess Abell helped Joan Mondale adjust to being Second Lady of the United States. Sale talks of her work in the Advance Office of Vice President Walter Mondale. Sale recalls the trip that Bess Abell took to the Philippines and Thailand with other Johnson administration officials. Sale explains how she, Bess Abell, and Joan Mondale promoted the arts to different communities across the country. Sale highlights some of the domestic travel that she accompanied Bess Abell and Joan Mondale on to support the arts. Sale discusses her involvement with Walter Mondale's 1984 presidential campaign. Sale describes her level of contact with Bess Abell after they were no longer colleagues in the White House. Sale evaluates how Bess Abell balanced promoting art with political concerns. Sale describes how Bess Abell and Joan Mondale approached each visit with artists in different American communities. Sale considers how Bess Abell's career in the federal government would have played out differently had she been born later than her actual birth year (1933). The most important influences on Bess Abell's life are also considered. Sale also reflects upon some notable trips she took with Bess Abell and Joan Mondale to support the arts including places such as Serbia, Venezuela, Spain, and Italy. Sale characterizes Bess Abell's sense of humor. Sale assesses how federal work culture for women in terms of career advancement has changed since the 1960s and 1970s. Sale talks of her family life. She talks about the rising prominence of the Renwick Gallery in D.C. in craft art. Sale details how the CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) federal program promoted the arts in terms of job training. Sale concludes the interview with an explanation of a program that she developed with Bess Abell and Joan Mondale that provides Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to working artists.

Interview Keyword

Bess Abell Joan Mondale Walter Mondale Vice president Section 8 Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA)

Interview LC Subject

Politicians Washington (D.C.) Art Early life Arkansas Federal government Work Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities Crafts & decorating Travel Serbia Yugoslavia United States Diplomacy Personality Artists

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.