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Patsy Mink was the co-author of the law known to college women and athletic girls everywhere as Title IX. Photo by the Associated Press.
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First and Only APA Congresswoman Dies
Memorial services to be staged for Rep. Patsy Mink in Hawai‘i
By Sam Chu Lin
Special to AsianWeek
U.S. Congresswoman Patsy Mink (D-Hawai‘i) passed away on Sept. 27, leaving a long and illustrious legacy.
Among her many accomplishments, she became the first woman of color elected to Congress and the first Asian Pacific American woman to practice law in Hawai‘i.
Many legislators and other officials are slated to leave Washington, D.C. this week and fly to Hawai‘i to pay their last respects to the lawmaker. Her memorial service is scheduled to take place at the state capitol this Friday at 10:00 a.m. (local time) with private burial services to follow at the Punchbowl Cemetery.
During the congressional recess, Mink had visited children’s hospital wards. A short time later, the 74-year-old Democrat and 12-term lawmaker was admitted to Straub Hospital Aug. 30, suffering from chickenpox. Her lungs became congested; two days later she was moved to intensive care. Her death is attributed to viral pneumonia.
the definition of trailblazerThe Definition of Trailblazer
Mink was first elected to Congress in 1964 and quickly gained a reputation as a person who fought for education, civil rights, social issues, the impoverished and the environment. She remained in the House until 1976, when she lost to fellow Rep. Spark Matsunaga in the Democratic primary for the Senate. That loss didn’t stop her. She served for two years as assistant Secretary of State during the Carter Administration. She returned to Congress in 1990 in a special election, following Matsunaga’s death, to finish out his term.
Mink, who was born Dec. 6, 1927 as Patsy Takemoto on the island of Maui, was one of the first persons to call for the impeachment of President Nixon and a halt to America’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
Her colleagues point out Mink was never afraid of controversy or ever tried to win a popularity contest. Perhaps that is why McCall’s Magazine in 1992 cited her as one of the 10 best lawmakers in Congress.
She was consistent about her beliefs. Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Mink raised concerns about the possible loss of civil liberties with the creation of the new Department of Homeland Security. She also joined 11 members of Congress who refused to support a resolution condemning terrorist attacks on Israel. She argued such action would cut off diplomatic channels with the Palestinians.
A Mentor to Many
Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, who served in Congress for more than two decades, described Mink as both a friend and mentor.
When the former San Jose lawmaker championed the efforts to form an Asian Pacific American Congressional Caucus and the Asian Pacific American Congressional Institute to help APAs to learn more about government, Mineta said the Hawaiian lawmaker enthusiastically supported those concepts.
“Patsy is truly an American hero, a leader and a trailblazer who made an irreplaceable mark in the fabric of our country,” said Mineta, who is representing President Bush at the funeral. “She spoke for the forgotten, the disenfranchised [and] the poor, and worked unceasingly to remind the nation of its obligations to those whom it has sometimes forgotten. She’s going to be sorely missed.”
When freshman Rep. Mike Honda (D-San Jose) went to Congress, he made it a top priority to meet her. He concluded she was a “very down to earth person. I watched her work on the floor. Whenever people had issues on education, women’s issues, welfare reform or social justice, people would go to her and talk with her. And she’s always willing to step up and do the right thing.”
Honda added, “When the Black Caucus was protesting the votes in Florida and then walked out on the floor, she was the only other person that walked out with them. She was adamant about issues, but she always thought about things. She voted with her heart, common sense and with principles. Most people looked at her to see how she voted.”
Honda’s colleague Rep. David Wu (D-Portland, Ore.), the first Chinese American in Congress, agreed. “She blazed trails for many of us,” Wu said, “and encouraged students, community leaders and APA elected officials to get involved with the legislative process.”
her shining accomplishmentHer Shining Accomplishment
Title IX of the Education Act (1972), which Mink co-authored, “mandated gender equality in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
Title IX had far-reaching effects. Scholarship money for women increased from $100,000 in 1972 to $179 million in 1997.
“To be frank,” Mink stated in 1997, the 25th anniversary of Title IX, “I thought this was great, a beginning statement of policy and intent. At the moment we were doing it, we didn't think it would have this fantastic momentum and the enforcement of the courts.”
Speaking at a fundraising event at Cal State Los Angeles, Mink’s alma matter, tennis-great Billie Jean King applauded and thanked Mink for going the extra mile to help create equal opportunities for women in education and sports.
Cal State LA tennis coach Tina Watanabe Karwasky, who attended the benefit, joined in the praise.
“Title IX is just incredible,” she stated. “Woman athletes wouldn’t be where they are today unless she founded Title IX. We’d still be paying tuition. There would be no professional leagues [for women]. They wouldn’t have been able to star in college sports as a sounding board before they moved on to turn pro.”
Colleen Matsuhara, women’s head basketball coach at West Los Angeles Community College, also applauded Mink. She points out the women’s league didn’t even exist six years ago.
“The WNBA grew up with the benefit of having Title IX in force when they went to college,” she stated. “They were extremely fortunate that they were probably all players who received full athletic scholarships for their collegiate careers. As a result, they were able to compete and not have any student loans to pay off.”
Still in the Running
Mink’s name remains on the November ballot and a special election to finish out her current term of office is set for Nov. 30. If Mink wins that election, another special election will be held on Jan. 4, 2003 to fill the new vacancy.
Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hi.) and other Democrats are encouraging Mink’s constituents to vote for her posthumously. With her passing, seven seats in the House of Representatives will determine which party will hold the leadership positions.
“I hope that the people of Hawai‘i will indicate at the polls their sense of gratitude to her and I think this is a good way to honor her,” Inouye stated.
U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hi.) added, “Patsy was a petite woman with a powerful voice and a peerless reputation as a champion for equal opportunity, civil rights and education. She was a courageous and tenacious leader whose lifetime of public service made Hawaii a better place.”
Mink’s survivors include her husband John and daughter Wendy. In lieu of flowers, friends and colleagues are encouraged to make contributions to the Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Fund for Low-Income Women and Children, which the family is establishing in her honor.
The Associated Press has contributed to this story.
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