July 2, 7, 17, 23, August 8, 11, 1997 Los Angeles, California
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California State Archives State Government Oral History Program Volume 3 Oral History Interview with MERVYN M. DYMALLY United States Congressman, 1981-1992 Lieutenant Governor, 1975-1979 California State Senator, 1967-1975 California State Assemblyman, 1963-1967 December 21, 1996, January 4, February 8, March 3, April 5, 12, 26, June 7, 14, 21, 24, July 2, 7, 17, 23, August 8, 11, 1997 Los Angeles, California By Elston L. Carr Oral History Program University of California, Los Angeles TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME 3 SESSION 12, July 2, 1997 [Tape 14, Side A] 692 Dymally*s service on the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Science and Technology Committee—Promoting science and technology in the college curriculum—More on Dymally*s support of the aerospace industry--The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times—Legislation on redress and reparations for Japanese Americans—More on the Los Angeles Times--The 1981 air traffic controllers strike—United States treatment of Haitian refugees--Anwar Sadat's commitment to peace in the Middle East--The U.S. relationship with Egypt and Israel--The Committee on the District of Columbia—The difficulties involved in governing the District of Columbia—Through the Freedom of Information Act Dymally recovers government records on his activities—More on Dymally's congressional staff—Efforts to create a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. [Tape 14, Side B] 726 More on creating a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday—Supports senior citizens' concerns— Claude D. Pepper—Controversy over legislation to ban the export of gold from South Africa--Visits to South Africa in the sixties and the eighties— Dymally's opposition to apartheid—Reasons for becoming involved in Zaire—Impressions of Sese Seko Mobutu—U.S. policy towards Zaire—Jesse Jackson and Dymally negotiate the release of American prisoners in Cuba—Interviewing Fidel Castro in the 1980s—Cuba's treatment of blacks— U.S. policy toward Cuba. SESSION 13, July 7, 1997 [Tape 15, Side A] 757 Report issued by Senator George S. McGovern's Select Committee on Hunger—The movement for divestiture in South Africa—The divestment issue's impact on race issues in the United States--Difficulties involved in bringing businesses back into the inner city—Phillip Burton—Dymally's stance on Israel—First meeting with Yasser Arafat—Effect of meeting with Arafat on Dymally's relationship with Jewish organizations--The American Israel Public Affairs Committee targets certain congressional seats to ensure pro-Israel support—The Congressional Black Caucus's stance on Israel--Second meeting with Arafat—Raising funds as a congressman and as a state legislator—Stance on human rights in the former Soviet Union—Proposed boycott of the 1984 Olympics. [Tape 15, Side B] 790 Supports the Greek community on the issue of Cyprus--Supporting science and mathematics education while in Congress—More on the Job Training Partnership Act—Introduces legislation to prevent Filipinos from being deported and to grant them citizenship--The Filipino community in Dymally's district—Samoan American representation on the Foreign Affairs Committee— Cosponsors legislation calling for limit on chemical weapons—Working with the aerospace industry located in Dymally's district— California appointments to the Appropriations Committee^-Opposes an International Monetary Fund loan to South Africa—Dymally's amendment to the Clean Air Act—Smoking and public health— Involvement with El Salvador—Establishing the Committee for the Caribbean—Opposes military assistance to El Salvador and to the Contras—The invasion of Grenada—Advocates pardon of individuals found guilty of murdering Maurice Bishop—More on the invasion of Grenada—South Africa's annexation of Namibia—Walter Bremond. SESSION 14, July 17, 1997 [Begin Tape 16, Side A] 821 The founding of the King Hospital—Establishing the Drew Postgraduate School of Medicine—Reasons for the Drew School of Medicine's affiliation with UCLA—Senator Ralph Dills—Establishing the King-Drew Medical Center—Choosing the location for the hospital—Community support for the hospital--Naming the school of medicine after Charles R. Drew—Reasons for establishing a school of medicine—More on the reasons for the Drew Medical School's affiliation with UCLA—J. Alfred Cannon--Building the medical school-- Attempts to create the Hawkins Applied Research Institute—Challenges in raising funds for the medical center—Proposal to name a post office after Dymally--Ted Watkins—More on Kenneth Hahn— Billy Mills's unsuccessful race to unseat Hahn— More on Hahn. [Tape 16, Side B] 855 Johnny Otis's involvement in politics—Stance regarding Contragate—The Reagan administration's attitude toward communist countries—Dymally's involvement with Angola—Alex Haley—Promoting human rights issues—Mobutu and Etienne Tshisekedi—Meets Tshisekedi—Opinions on gun control--More on federal aid for local government disappears during Reagan's administration— Differences between running for state office and running for congressional office—Decision to leave Congress—More on the aircraft industry in Dymally's district--More on redress and reparations for Japanese Americans—Lack of support for an African American movement for redress and reparations—Speaker James C. Wright Jr. loses the support of Democrats—More on running for the U.S. House of Representatives. SESSION 15, July 23, 1997 [Tape 17, Side A] 889 Values learned growing up in Trinidad—Richard G. Griffey tries to negotiate an agreement to sell Angolan oil to the United States—Negative press coverage of Dymally's involvement with Griffey-- Dymally's view of what constitutes "conflict of interest"—Protests Uganda's denial of a shipping contract to Mamade Diane—The Rainbow Lobby— Mobutu and the Black Congressional Caucus--How Dymally began working with Mobutu—Jesse Jackson— Jackson's 1984 presidential campaign--Supports Dianne Feinstein's 1994 campaign for the U.S. Senate--News coverage of Jesse Jackson. [Tape 17, Side B] 921 Los Angeles Times article on Dymally's relationship with Mobutu—Maurice Tempelsman— More on supporting Dianne Feinstein's 1994 campaign for the U.S. Senate--White candidates campaigning for black votes—Need for candidates to use personal contacts and newspapers to reach the black community. SESSION 16, August 8, 1997 [Tape 18, Side A] 934 Managing campaigns in the post-Watergate era— White candidates' failure to reach the black community—The 1976 race for the Forty-eighth Assembly District seat between Johnny Collins and Maxine Waters—Johnny Collins as a candidate— Dymally's relationship with Maxine Waters—More on Johnny Collins as a candidate—Maxine Waters as a politician—Why black politicians must continue to identify themselves with black issues—How Dymally became known as "Merv"—Diane E. Watson--Raphael J. Sonenshein's book Politics in Black and White—Dymally's integrated staff-- More on Sonenshein's book—Gwen Moore--Problem with black candidates hiring white campaign managers—More on Gwen Moore—Pat Moore. [Tape 18, Side B] 966 More on Willard Murray—Pat Moore's indictment— Experience testifying before the grand jury— Political corruption among Compton city officials—Howard and Mike Herman's support of black candidates—Kevin Murray's race for the assembly--Dymally's policy of not attacking elected officials—How Dymally became chair of the Congressional Black Caucus—The CBC during Dymally*s tenure as chair--Dymally is named to the Post Office and Civil Service Committee— Complaint against the Bureau of the Census's method of counting poor and minority people— Supports a congressional pay raise--Thomas P. O'Neill Jr.—Dymally's stance regarding Palestine—The regime of General Ibrahim Babangida in Nigeria—More on Mobutu. SESSION 16, August 8, 1997 [Tape 19, Side A] 999 More on the changing demographics of the Thirty- first Congressional District--The relationship between Korean shopowners and the black community in Los Angeles—Opening defense contracts to bidding by minority firms—Dymally's political legacy—Bill Greene—Julian Dixon—Nate Holden— Tom Bradley runs for governor of California— Augustus Hawkins--Errors of judgment Dymally made in his political career--Learning how the political system works—More on plans after retiring from Congress—Legislation Dymally is proud of--Lack of opportunities for retired black legislators—Financial challenges of retirement— The Joint Center for Political Studies—Starts Dymally International to represent African countries--Business activities after retiring— Daughter Lynn Dymally's decision to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. [Tape 19, Side B] 1029 Lynn Dymally's campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. SESSION 17, August 11, 1997 [Tape 20, Side A] 1031 Support for Willie Brown as speaker of the assembly—Los Angeles Times coverage of Dymally— More on errors of judgment Dymally made in his political career—Gwen Moore—Willie Brown--Young blacks' involvement in politics compared to whites* involvement--Establishment of the California Afro-American Museum in Los Angeles— The 1989 amendment to the Civil Rights Act-- Kwaise Mfume—The impact of Dymally's public service on his family—More on Mandela—More on divestment in South Africa—Focus on South Africa detracts from issues in other African countries— The United States' relationship with African countries--The black press—Problems with the white press coverage of blacks—Walter Tucker Sr. [Tape 20, Side B] 1060 Public perception of American politicians—Types of people who entered state political office in the 1960s—Celes King III—Black Republicans— Anti-immigration sentiment in the black community—Rise of Latino political power in Los Angeles—Coalitions between African Americans and Latinos in Los Angeles—The Pentecostal Church— The future of black politics in Los Angeles— Status of Democratic clubs in California— Attitudes toward crime and police brutality in the black community--Dymally's wife, Alice Gueno Dymally. Appendix 1084 692 [Session 12, July 2, 1997] [Begin Tape 14, Side A] CARR: Good afternoon. Congressman Dymally. As I mentioned earlier, in this particular session, I'd like to begin focusing on your congressional years, on specific issues that you were involved in as a congressman.