The Goldschmidt Resignation: The ex-governor quits several posts amid sex-abuse allegations (thanks, Gordie!)
Yesterday, I wrote about the sad story of Neil Goldschmidt, the former Oregon Governor and political Golden Boy who has owned up to an affair with a 14-year-old girl during his time as Mayor of Portland in the '70s.
As nuances of the story begin to emerge, it's beginning to appear that the Oregonian newspaper, long a staunch supporter of Goldschmidt, may have soft-pedalled Goldschmidt's action's just a wee bit.
Goldschmidt did not return repeated calls made to his office this week. Willamette Week understands the timing of the resignation is connected to this newspaper’s two-month probe into reports that between 1975 and 1978, while Goldschmidt was mayor of Portland, he had sexual relations with a girl who was 14 years old at the time the relations began.
WW has interviewed more than a dozen people (some spoke on the record; others signed statements but requested anonymity) who said they were told about the relationship.
In Oregon, if an adult has sex with someone under the age of 16, it is considered rape. (According to law-enforcement officials, however, the statute of limitations for prosecution has long since passed.)
Powerful public figures are often the subject of whispering campaigns, rumors and outright lies. But, during the course of WW’s investigation, clear evidence emerged of the alleged sexual relationship, as well as a three-decade-long effort to cover it up.
In addition to the statements of the people interviewed, WW has found two separate court records that refer to the relationship, though neither names Goldschmidt. Those documents, along with the interviews, suggest that later in life the woman was deeply troubled by their earlier relationship and, for the past nine years, has been receiving monthly payments from Goldschmidt.
Though we will judge a 30-year-old offense by today's standards, there is nothing that can change the fact that Neil Goldschmidt took advantage of a teenage girl. In no way can this begin to be viewed as a consensual relationship, even if the girl "consented". The seduction allegedly began when the girl was 13. There is no way that any sort of sexual activity between a 14-year-old girl and a 35-year-old man can be construed as "consensual".
The simple, sad fact is that Neil Goldschmidt if guilty of rape. No, he cannot be prosecuted, since the statute of limitations has long since lapsed. That hardly reduces his culpability.
In 1975, Neil Goldschmidt was 35 and three years into his first term as Portland’s mayor.
Saying he was mayor, however, is like saying Mozart wrote music. Goldschmidt transformed a parochial backwater into a city of international renown. Pioneer Square, Tom McCall Park and the bus mall—all are products of Goldschmidt’s tenure. He cajoled Nordstrom into building downtown and scrapped a freeway through Southeast Portland to Mount Hood, using the money to build light rail instead. “Goldschmidt made the region a national model,” says Oregon State University political-science professor Bill Lunch.
Goldschmidt was known for attracting smart, dedicated staffers. One of his aides happened to live six doors from the mayor’s home in the Sabin neighborhood. The aide had a daughter. For the purposes of this story, her name is Susan.
Friends say Susan was beautiful, bright and charismatic and had a warm, embracing laugh. She was 14.
According to three sources interviewed by WW, Susan claimed that one evening in 1975, after a dinner party at Susan’s parents’ home, Goldschmidt began a sexual relationship with the teenager.
At the time, Goldschmidt was married and had two children, ages 6 and 3, for whom Susan babysat. The relationship would last for three years, according to the story she later told friends and lawyers.
During my time in Oregon, I admired Neil Goldschmidt. He was a hard-working dedicated public servant who understood what the words "public servant" meant. It's sad to think that his legacy will be (deservedly) tarnished by a mistake made 30 years ago. Of course, given that the "mistake" was a felony which today would have him branded as a sex offender only makes matters worse.
Goldschmidt accomplished a hell of a lot for the people of Oregon, and he deserves to be remembered for those accomplishments. It's too bad that he inability to control his libido will prevent this from happening.
