Oct. 2, 1997 Contact Maureen Shine (541) 346-3145 WHAT: Interview opportunity with former White House counsel, federal judge and congressman Abner Mikva, who will share his views on campaign financing and the initiative-referendum process as the 17th occupant of the University of Oregon's Wayne Morse Chair of Law and Politics. WHEN: 10-10:45 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6 WHERE: Conference Room, 105 Johnson Hall, 1098 E. 13th Ave. BACKGROUND: Mikva, 71, served as White House counsel for President Bill Clinton from October 1994 until November 1995. He served as judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1979 to 1994, and became its chief judge in January 1991. Before coming to the bench, he was elected to Congress for five terms, representing portions of Chicago and its suburbs, and served on both the Ways and Means committee and the Judiciary committees. Mikva started his political career in 1956 in the Illinois House of Representatives where he served five consecutive terms. Mikva will give public lectures in Eugene and in Portland during his two-week visit to Oregon, Oct. 6-18. He will address such issues as campaign finance reform and the importance of legislative history, offering his perspective on Sen. Wayne Morse as a legislative craftsman. Mikva also will examine the initiative-referendum process, including a number of Oregon's recent controversial ballot measures, and explain why he believes this "mischievous process" is seriously flawed. Mikva's lecture schedule includes: * Friday, Oct. 10--Morse Chair Lecture, "The Initiative and Referendum Process; Lights that Failed," Noon, Portland City Club, Grand Ballroom, Hilton Hotel, 921 S.W. 6th Ave., Portland. The lecture is free to Portland City Club members, $5 for the general public. * Wednesday, Oct. 15--Morse Chair Lecture, "The Unique Success of Divided Government," 7:30 p.m., Ballroom, Erb Memorial Union, University of Oregon, 1222 E. 13th Ave., Eugene. Free and open to the public. The Wayne Morse Chair was created in 1978 as a living memorial to the late Oregon senator and former dean of the UO School of Law. The chair is an endowed professorship financed by private donations and a matching federal grant. -30- #A-4013/Local