{"id":2467,"date":"2010-07-27T17:14:03","date_gmt":"2010-07-27T21:14:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/apanews.si.edu\/?p=2467"},"modified":"2014-12-30T21:59:32","modified_gmt":"2014-12-30T21:59:32","slug":"norman-mineta-portrait","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apa.si.edu\/now\/norman-mineta-portrait\/","title":{"rendered":"Norman Mineta Portrait on Display at National Portrait Gallery"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Secretary<\/p>\n

Reminiscing his past at a podium next to his own portrait, former Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta spoke to an audience of over 100 people who were there to witness the entrance of the artwork, commissioned by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program, into the National Portrait Gallery’s<\/a> permanent collection.<\/p>\n

\"Secretary<\/p>\n

Former Secretary Mineta shared stories of his family and of his experiences in the various positions he served in government, including how he was often confused with CIA Director Leon Panetta, who was in attendance.<\/p>\n

He spoke mostly of his family, about the struggles they went through in a time of animosity toward Japanese Americans. He remembers seeing his brother crying when his Selective Service status changed from a 1A, “Ready, fit, and able to serve,” to a 4C, “Enemy Alien” after President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 in 1942. And he remembers his sister, who wanted to be a teacher, being told, “There are no jobs for Japanese American teachers.”<\/p>\n

\"Secretary<\/p>\n

In face of such struggles, Norman Mineta rose in leadership positions from San Jose City Council to mayor of San Jose, to U.S. Congress, and to serving as a Cabinet member for both President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush, a first for Asian Pacific Americans.<\/p>\n

\"Secretary<\/p>\n

Now, it is only fitting for his accomplishments to be recognized within the halls of the National Portrait Gallery, where his portrait painted by Everett Raymond Kinstler<\/a> will be part of the New Arrivals<\/em> exhibition.<\/p>\n

The presentation of the portrait also included remarks by Deputy Director of the National Portrait Gallery Carolyn Carr; Undersecretary for History, Art and Culture Richard Kurin; and Acting Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program Konrad Ng. A reception followed, featuring a short documentary on Secretary Mineta by E. Samantha Cheng.<\/p>\n\n\nARVE<\/abbr> Error: need id and provider
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