Life and Times of
Norman Y. Mineta
Mineta Family Archives
Norman Y. Mineta is born on November 12, 1931, in San Jose, California.
Mineta Family Archives, Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation
Norm and his family are forcibly removed from their home in San Jose, California, and sent to Heart Mountain WWII Internment Camp in Wyoming.
National Archives and Records Administration
Norm's Cub Scout troop invites a local Cody, Wyoming troop to Heart Mountain, and the lifelong friendship between Alan Simpson and Norm Mineta begins.
Mineta Family Archives
The Mineta family returns home to San Jose.
San Jose High School
Norm is elected student body president at San Jose High School.
Mineta Family Archives
Norm graduates from UC Berkeley with a major in business.
Mineta Family Archives
Norm serves as an intelligence officer for the U.S. Army in the Korean War.
Mineta Family Archives
Norm returns home from war and joins his father in the family insurance business.
History San Jose
Norm is the first non-white member appointed to San Jose City Council.
Bridge Media, Inc.
Norm is the first Asian American to become Mayor of a major U.S. city.
Mineta Family Archives
Norm is the first Japanese American member of Congress elected from the lower 48 states. He would win his election 10 times and serve 21 years in Congress.
Densho
HR 442, the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, is passed and signed by PresidentReagan—HR 442 becomes the most important legislation authored byNorm during his entire career.
Kevin Stillman/TxDOT
ISTEA (The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act) authored byNorm is signed into law by President George H.W. Bush. ISTEA created anational transportation system for highways and mass transit programs.
Mineta Family Archives
President Bill Clinton selects Norm as Secretary of Commerce, becomingthe first Asian American Cabinet Member.
Mineta Family Archives
Norm is sworn in as Secretary of Transportation under President George W.Bush, becoming the first Asian American to serve in two Presidential Cabinets.
National Archives and Records Administration
In 2 hours and 20 minutes, Secretary Mineta orders 4,638 planes to begrounded. In the following days, Norm ensures the American people that there will be no racial profiling at security check points at airports.
Bridge Media, Inc.
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is dedicated.
George W. Bush Presidential Archives
Presented by President Bush, Norm receives the Presidential Medal ofFreedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
Embassy of Japan
Norm is recognized by the government of Japan and awarded the GrandCordon, Order of the Rising Sun.
History San Jose
Norm currently resides in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife Deni. He continues to mentor aspiring political leaders and holds speaking engagements across the country and internationally.