Film Overview

"The battle to preserve Oregon’s beaches for public use heated up and citizens all over the state became passionately involved in the conflict. There were personal threats, smoke filled rooms, phone taps, job threats and plenty of political jockeying. Tom Olsen, Jr. has created a remarkable documentary of the historic political events leading up to and culminating in House Bill 1601. He weaves a fascinating and well balanced story of the conflict and its resolution in 1967." Bob Bacon, Citizens To Save Our Beaches

"Official Selection of the 40th NW Film & Video Festival"

This in-depth history of Oregon's beaches focuses on the political ebb and flow of efforts to keep the coast accessible to the public. The fight, which began with Governor Oswald West's 1913 landmark legislation, has thankfully been effective, though not without substantial effort. Featuring interviews with many of the living key players as well as voices from the past—including Governors Tom McCall & Bob Straub —POLITICS OF SAND provides testimony to the fruits of citizen action.