50 years Milestones for Rep. Patsy Mink

Trailblazer Patsy Takemoto Mink of Hawaiʻi entered the Oregon Presidential primary on March 10, 1972, making history as the first Asian American woman to run for President of the United States. Carl Fisher of Oregon shares some other remembrances of her firsts.

• She was the first Asian American woman ever elected to Congress
• She was the first woman of color ever elected to Congress
• She was the first woman ever elected to Congress from Hawaii
• She was the first Asian American ever to seek the nomination of the Democratic Party
• She was the first Democratic woman to deliver a State of the Union response
• She was the first person of color appointed as Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

Another 50 year milestone for Mink is the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Rep. Mink advocated for women’s issues throughout her time in Congress. She garnered critical support for the passage of Title IX at the time there were only eight women who were members of Congress. (The story is told in a newly-released picture book here.)

To learn more, Kimberlee Bassford has a documentary on Congresswoman Mink, which is available for rent on Vimeo.

MHC