UPDATED:  July 25, 2010 11:57 PM
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Smithsonian Unveils Mineta Portrait



WASHINGTON–Norman Y. Mineta, who served two presidents in major Cabinet posts, was honored by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program with the installation of his portrait in a private ceremony at the Portrait Gallery last July 27 in this nation’s capital.

In 2000, Mineta became the first Asian Pacific American to hold a Cabinet post, when President Bill Clinton appointed him secretary of commerce.

In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed him secretary of transportation–one of the few citizens ever to serve in the Cabinet of both a Democratic and Republican President. During the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, Mineta issued the historic order to ground all civilian aircraft, the first time this had been done in U.S. history.

Remarked Martin Sullivan, director of the museum: “Secretary Mineta’s service to this country and his leadership efforts are central to the story about Asian Americans in the U.S. I am delighted that this generous gift to the Portrait Gallery will be in our permanent collection.”

The portrait, by artist Everett Raymond Kinstler, will become part of the museum’s permanent-collection exhibition, “New Arrivals.” The oil-on-canvas painting was offered as a gift to the Portrait Gallery from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program.

“It is with great pride that we see Secretary Mineta’s remarkable story of leadership and service honored in the Portrait Gallery,” said Konrad Ng, director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program. “He represents the key roles that Asian Pacific Americans have played in U.S. culture, history and politics.”

 

Public Service

Born in 1931 to immigrant Japanese parents in San Jose, California, Mineta and his family were detained along with 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent at an internment camp during World War II.

Mineta’s career in politics began with an appointment to a vacant seat on the San Jose City Council in 1967. Two years later, he won the seat in his own right. In 1971, he was elected mayor of San Jose, becoming the first Asian American mayor of a major U.S. city.

As a member of Congress from 1975 through 1995, Mineta co-founded the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). He engineered the passage of H.R. 442, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988–an official government apology for the internment of those of Japanese ancestry during World War II.

Mineta retired as U.S. transportation secretary in 2006. That same year, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award.

Mineta also served on the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents from 1979 through 1995 and supported the establishment of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American program in 1997. Currently, he is vice chairman of Hill & Knowlton, a leading global communications consultancy.

The portrait commission was made possible through the support of benefactors George and Sakaye Aratani, Hill & Knowlton and Verizon Communications, with additional support from many others.

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