Jeffrey LaRiche was interviewed by Pam Henson on July 7, 1996. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1947, LaRiche was a Peace Corps volunteer in Afghanistan. He came to Washington, DC, in 1975 and studied anthropology and folklore before coming to work for the Smithsonian. He began his career in 1975 as a coordinator for the Asian and Middle Eastern programs for the 1976 Bicentennial Festival. He continued his work with the Festival of American Folklife on term appointments for many years, finally becoming the Deputy Director of the Folklife Program. LaRiche became the Deputy Assistant Secretary for External Affairs, and then in 1983 he was appointed as the Special Assistant to Ralph Rinzler, who was Assistant Secretary for Public Service. He left the Smithsonian in 1989. This interview discusses how LaRiche came to Washington, DC, and the Smithsonian; his first impressions of working at the Smithsonian; what his duties were during his first appointment; his experiences with an Egyptian performance group; finding authentic folk groups to perform at the Festival; what happens to the groups when they return to their native countries; the Festival's involvement in their readjustment; the difficulties in bringing people from different cultures to the U.S.; logistics of the Festival; troublesome participants; what experiences prepared LaRiche to work at the Smithsonian; and working with Ralph Rinzler. The interview also covers how LaRiche continued to work at the Smithsonian; why he returned to work on the Festival; the different positions and types of work he did during his Smithsonian career; the work he did for the 1977, 1978, and 1980 Festivals; hiring Richard Kurin and his work with the Festival; how he and Rinzler worked together; stories of working at the Smithsonian; the transition from Folklife to an administrative position; and the Smithsonian's transition from Secretary Ripley to Secretary Adams.