<Begin Segment 8>

MN: Okay, I'm gonna shift into redress now.

RO: Okay.

MN: Okay. So let's just start on redress. Floyd Shimomura was then National JACL president and he contacted you. How did you get to know Floyd? How did you get to know Floyd Shimomura?

RO: Probably from Asian Bar. I had started the Japanese American Bar Association in Los Angeles, and then there have been other minority bars that sort of kind of come together, and I believe I met Floyd through that. Because at that time, while I was a member of the East L.A. JACL chapter, I was not really involved.

MN: Now, why did Floyd want you on the National JACL board?

RO: It's kind of unusual. One, I think it's because he's young, and two, their top priority was passage of redress legislation. And he knew that I had served on the Carter Commission, and that I knew all the top judiciary senators and house members, and he thought that I could help, and plus, that I had worked on legislation in city, and that I could bring that expertise.

MN: Now, you worked very closely with Min Yasui. How was that working relationship like?

RO: With Min Yasui?

MN: Uh-huh.

RO: Well, you know, he was someone that I admired. He had been involved in civil rights in Denver and nationally, and so we have connected even before JACL. I... you know, I can recall there was one concern, that there wouldn't be enough monies to pay for all the settlements, and I had suggested that you stagger the payments by age, and then that went forward. So there were opportunities where I could use my legislative background. But it was quite an experience being on the JACL board. I remember my first meeting, one gentleman said, "That's pretty astute for you, a woman." I said, "Oh, okay." It's about a three-day meeting. The Sunday afternoon when this fellow makes a very brilliant observation, I interrupted and I said, "Denny, that was quite good." [Laughs] Anyway, I try to have, make good.

MN: Okay. Now, you also ran for national president of the JACL. Can you tell us how that campaign went?

RO: How the campaign --

MN: Yeah.

RO: it was very difficult. I think, I think that there was a very positive response from younger women, younger males, but generational folks, male or female, had a little problem. Any event, it was a very close election, but in the end, while there were some irregularities and all, my husband pulled me aside and he said, "You can help redress, you don't need to be here." And so we left. And I continued to work on redress in my individual capacity.

MN: So no hard feelings between you and JACL because of that.

RO: No, actually, the gentleman who won, Harry Kajihara, was a fine, fine fellow, and supported their efforts in any way I could.

<End Segment 8> - Copyright © 2010 Densho. All Rights Reserved.