As legislative and administrative assistant to Senator Paul H. Douglas during the 1950s and 1960s, Howard Shuman helped carry the banner for civil rights, fought against oil and gas interests, and promoted many other liberal issues on Senator Douglas's agenda. During the 1970s he continued the legislative battle while on the staff of Senator William Proxmire, supporting "Truth in Lending" laws and opposing the SST. As a specialist in economic issues, Shuman also observed the evolution of the federal budget process through his close associations with the Senate Appropriations, Finance, and Budget Committees and with the Joint Economic Committee.
Scholarly citation: "Howard E. Shuman, Legislative and Administrative Assistant to Senators Paul Douglas and William Proxmire, 1955–1982," Oral History Interviews, July 22 to October 22, 1987, Senate Historical Office, Washington, D.C.
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