Neil Goldschmidt's highly visible public life and much-lauded political acheivements in both Oregon and United States became indelibly tarnished in 2004, when his confession of sexual abuse of a 14-year-old babysitter more than 30 years prior brought Goldschmidt, one of Oregon's most revered political personas, crashing down to public infamy.
The confession came just a days before an alternative weekly newspaper, The Willamette Weekly, published Nigel Jaquiss's pullitzer prize-winning article detailing the abuse and its lifelong consequences for both Goldschmidt and the victim.
The abuse occurred at the beginning of Goldschmidt's illustrious political career. Goldschmidt served as mayor of Portland from 1973-1979. According to numerous interviews and supporting documents, Goldschmidt regularly engaged in sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old babysitter of his 2 small children from 1975-1978.
Goldschmidt went on to become the United States Secretary of Transportion for then-President Jimmy Carter from 1987-1981, based on his highly praised creation of the Portland Bus Mall and its revolutionary light-rail system. Later Goldschmidt was elected governor of Oregon from 1987-1991 before unexpectedly retiring from public life in 1991.
#ventually the victim came forwad with a lawyer and a monetary settlement against Goldschmidt was reached in 1995. as part of the settlement agreement, the victim was unable to officially name Goldschmidt as her abuser, though no more question about the allegations remained after Goldschmidt's public confession in 2004. Research and interviews with the victim, now in her 40s, point a life deeply disturbed by goldschmidt's perversion and irresponsibility.
Goldschmidt stands among numerous other examples of politicians revered for their public achievements yet plagued by irresponsible, arrogant and highly destructive personal life choices.
Neil Goldschmidt's highly visible public life and much-lauded political acheivements in both Oregon and United States became indelibly tarnished in 2004, when his confession of sexual abuse of a 14-year-old babysitter more than 30 years prior brought Goldschmidt, one of Oregon's most revered political personas, crashing down to public infamy.
The confession came just a days before an alternative weekly newspaper, The Willamette Weekly, published Nigel Jaquiss's pullitzer prize-winning article detailing the abuse and its lifelong consequences for both Goldschmidt and the victim.
The abuse occurred at the beginning of Goldschmidt's illustrious political career. Goldschmidt served as mayor of Portland from 1973-1979. According to numerous interviews and supporting documents, Goldschmidt regularly engaged in sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old babysitter of his 2 small children from 1975-1978.
Goldschmidt went on to become the United States Secretary of Transportion for then-President Jimmy Carter from 1987-1981, based on his highly praised creation of the Portland Bus Mall and its revolutionary light-rail system. Later Goldschmidt was elected governor of Oregon from 1987-1991 before unexpectedly retiring from public life in 1991.
#ventually the victim came forwad with a lawyer and a monetary settlement against Goldschmidt was reached in 1995. as part of the settlement agreement, the victim was unable to officially name Goldschmidt as her abuser, though no more question about the allegations remained after Goldschmidt's public confession in 2004. Research and interviews with the victim, now in her 40s, point a life deeply disturbed by goldschmidt's perversion and irresponsibility.
Goldschmidt stands among numerous other examples of politicians revered for their public achievements yet plagued by irresponsible, arrogant and highly destructive personal life choices.