After a decade of working on political campaigns in the Seattle area, Pritchard ran successfully for state representative in Seattle’s Thirty-sixth District in 1958. He entered the Legislature during a period of Republican minorities and worked closely with fellow legislators Dan Evans, Slade Gorton, Charles Moriarty, and others to build a new team of dynamic and moderate Republicans. Later, as a state senator, Pritchard was the chief architect of the liberalization of the state’s abortion law. He was a noted supporter of civil rights, environmental legislation, anti-gambling measures, and other reforms.

In 1972, Pritchard was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving the First Congressional District and served for 12 years. He came home to Washington State to pursue a dream that he had cherished for some time, serving as lieutenant governor. Pritchard realized that dream in 1989 and retired in 1997. Following his retirement, he remained active in many areas, including becoming an active board member of TVW, Washington’s statewide public affairs television channel.

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Joel M. Pritchard: An Oral History. (2.9M)

Photographs

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	Joel Pritchard among a group of children in Vietnam
	Congressman Pritchard with President Gerald Ford
	Pritchard with his parents - Frank, Sr. and Jean Pritchard
	Lt. Gov. Pritchard with grandchildren Matt and Christie Irwin
	Lt. Gov. Pritchard tutoring a student at Seattle's Beacon Hill Elementary School
	Pritchard as a young adult
	Pritchard and the "telephone gag"
	Members of the Wednesday Group (l. to r.) California Representative Peter McCloskey, Virginia Representative Caldwell Butler, Pritchard, Minnesota Representative Bill Frenzel and Wednesday Group Executive Director Pat Goldman
	Pritchard's enthusiasm for sports started at a young age
	Pritchard during WW2
	Joel Pritchard with his brother, Frank Pritchard, Jr.
	Congressman Joel Pritchard with Washington's U.S. Senators Dan Evans and Slade Gorton.
	The Pritchard family on the Chilkoot Trail in Alaska with (l. to r.) son Frank, Pritchard, nephew Jeff and brother Frank.
	Pritchard on the rostrum of the Washington State Senate.
	Congressman Pritchard listening to listening to tapes made by President Richard M. Nixon and released as part of the Watergate investigation.
	Pritchard at a 1980 press conference about the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
	Pritchard actively campaigned for many local, state and national Republican candidates.