Neil Goldschmidt

Neil Edward Goldschmidt (June 16, 1940 – June 12, 2024) was an American Democratic politician from Oregon who served as mayor of Portland from 1973 to 1980, United States Secretary of Transportation from 1979 to 1981 under President Jimmy Carter, and the 33rd governor of Oregon from 1987 to 1991. As mayor, Goldschmidt spearheaded urban revitalization efforts in Portland, including the development of public transit systems and downtown renewal projects that transformed the city into a model for pedestrian-friendly urban planning. His tenure as transportation secretary focused on deregulating the airline industry and promoting energy-efficient policies amid the 1970s oil crises, while as governor, he advanced economic development and environmental initiatives in Oregon. Goldschmidt's career, marked by charismatic leadership and political influence, collapsed in 2004 when he admitted to sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl over three years beginning in 1973, during his time as mayor; the confession followed investigative reporting and revealed efforts to suppress the information through nondisclosure agreements and political pressure.

Neil Edward Goldschmidt was born on June 16, 1940, in Eugene, Oregon, to a Jewish family.

Limited public records detail his family's socioeconomic context, though his upbringing in a modest Oregon community reflected the entrepreneurial and community-oriented ethos common among mid-20th-century Jewish families in the region.

Of Jewish descent, Goldschmidt's family background traced roots to Oregon's early Jewish community, fostering connections that aided his entry into Portland's political circles during his student activism and early legal career. His first wife, Margaret, accompanied him through key phases of his public service, including his tenure as Portland mayor and later as governor, embodying the supportive role typical of political spouses in Democratic circles of the era. The family's relocation to Portland aligned with his rise, though private relational strains emerged over time, culminating in the dissolution of his first marriage amid his post-gubernatorial business pursuits.