Browse Interviews

Oral history interview with Robert Cavano, a lifelong Cleveland resident born in the 1920s. Cavano served as City Club president in 1976 and was a member from 1970-2004. The interview documents his observations of the club's evolution from its original Short Vincent location through major institutional changes including the admission of women's in 1972, notable speakers and controversial forums, and the City Club's role in Cleveland's political discourse during periods of significant social…

Oral history interview with Stanley Adelstein, a longtime member of the Cleveland City Club who joined in 1941 and served in various leadership roles over 63 years. Adelstein discusses the club's evolution from its original location on Vincent Avenue to its current Citizens Building headquarters, including the transition from Saturday to Friday forums and the admission of women members in the 1970s. He describes the club's distinctive traditions, including the famous Soviet Table where members…

This 2006 oral history interview documents Bob Lustig's recollections as a longtime member, having joined the club in 1964 and regularly attended forums over a 40 year period. Lustig, a Cleveland-born attorney whose father was also a club member, provides detailed descriptions of the club's former location on Short Vincent, including its dining room layout with three named conversation tables (the Soviet Table, Sanhedrin Table, and Schoolmaster's Table), and discusses the club's transformation…

Reverend Hilton Smith discusses his journey from North Carolina to Cleveland in 1968, drawn by Carl Stokes' historic mayoral victory. Smith worked as a field epidemiologist for the Cleveland Public Health Department before joining Turner Construction Company in 1972. He became one of the first African American board members of the Cleveland City Club in 1972, joining alongside Rena Blumberg, the first female board member. Smith describes the City Club as a "citadel of free speech" that provided…

Steve Bullock, former head of the American Red Cross in Cleveland and Ohio, discusses his involvement with the Cleveland City Club from 1982 to 2006. Bullock moved to Cleveland in 1982 to lead the Red Cross organization and joined the City Club in 1990, motivated by his commitment to public education and informed citizenship. He served on the club's board for seven years, including one year as president around 2003. The interview covers the club's transformation from a relatively invisible…

Dick Pogue, a lawyer in Cleveland, describes his positions at Jones-Day and at the City Club. He describes what he did while he worked for Jones-Day, and how he had a hand in making it the second largest law firm in the country. He then moves into his membership and involvement into the City Club. He spends much of the time describing the membership and direction of the City Club. He points to a change in the mid-1990s that became more welcoming to business members. He says the key points to…

In this 2004 interview, Ione Biggs talks about racism and women’s issues in the City of Cleveland. Biggs discusses the role and impact of the Cleveland Chapter of the NAACP. She discusses the racism in city administration and the politics of working for the city. The later part of the interview includes discussion of the City Club. Biggs discusses some of the memorable speakers at the City Club which included individuals such as Cesar Chavez, Robert Kennedy and Jane Fonda. She also talks about…

In this 2004 interview, Len Calabrese discusses his involvement in the City Club of Cleveland, Ohio. According to Calabrese, it is a place for community outreach, fostering community and diversity. He says, “I appreciate having a place where different viewpoints can be expressed.” A portion of the interview focuses on corporate and philanthropic contributions, membership and programming. During the interview, Calabrese also talks about memorable events and speakers. At the end of the interview,…