Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes pollster Merv Field for a discussion of his remarkable career. Tracing his intellectual odyssey, he describes his education, early work with George Gallup, and his stint in the Merchant Marines. He recalls the early history of polling in the US including the founding and development of the Field Research Corporation and the Field poll. He analyzes the challenges of conducting reliable polls while maintaining ethical standards in the profession. Field reflects on the skills required in survey research and the challenges of adapting to new technologies. He reflects on the changes in California since his arrival after World War II and the shifting agenda of California politics. Looking to the future, he concludes with his thoughts on the future of survey research. (#23599)