Robert E. Nisbet was an attorney, lobbyist and general manager of the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District from 1957 to 1984. Nisbet was born in Oakland, California and attended Oakland High where he developed an interest in law and politics through his classes and work with the Young Democrats and Congressman Tolan. He graduated from UC Berkeley in 1941 and was drafted during WWII where he served in the Navy. Upon return, he attended law school at George Washington University before graduating from UC Hastings. From there he began working at private law firms, such as Edwards & Friborg as well as working for the U.S. Department of Labor, the Public Housing Administration and being the deputy legislative counsel for the California Attorney General in 1949, and the deputy city attorney of Oakland, California from 1953 to 1957. In 1960, the privately owned Key Route transit system of the Bay Area transitioned to the publicly owned special transit district, AC Transit. Nisbet became the attorney and general manager from 1957 to 1984 and worked on writing the Transit District Law of 1955, lobbying the California legislature, collective bargaining issues and labor strikes, forming the Regional Transit Association, relations with district board, the interface with BART, Muni, and other California transit agencies, Transit Development Act of 1971, and bus safety and access issues for senior citizens, disabled passengers, and drivers. In this interview, Nisbet discusses his early years in California, growing up in San Diego and Beverly Hills, attending UC Berkeley, WWII, Hastings and George Washington University, the transition from Key System to AC Transit, effects of Proposition 13 of 1978, considerations for regional government, affirmative action and other staff management issues, financial aspects of managing the district and a lifelong interest in Democratic Party politics. This interview is part of a group of interviews documenting the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District.