Norman Mineta, Golden Bear Alum, Resigns From Bush’s Cabinet
Many people did not realize that there was a UC Berkeley alumnus serving in President Bush’s cabinet. Even fewer realized that there was a Democrat serving in President Bush’s cabinet. Last week, Bush lost both.
Norman Mineta, the former mayor of San Jose (the airport is named after him) and member of the UC Berkeley Class of 1953, announced his resignation from the Bush cabinet on Friday. Mineta serverd as the Secretary of Transportation. Despite his departure, it is refreshing to see that alumni from Berkeley do have a chance at success in the political arena.
The California Alumni Association did an article on Mineta shortly after the 9/11 attacks that is fairly interesting. My favorite quote:
Despite, or maybe because of, the serious matters he must deal with these days, Mineta seems to relish talking about his days at Cal. “I loved Berkeley,” he says, grinning widely. He arrived on campus as a freshman in September 1949, intent on becoming an aeronautical engineer. Since there was no such major at the University back then, he started off pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. He was doing just fine, he says, “until I took calculus.”
Even with a tutor, the subject derailed his career plans. “I decided that, for the safety of the country and my own future, I had better find something else to do,” jokes Mineta. He switched to business administration.
so long “underperformin’ norman”, we hardly knew you.
Comment by staff sergeant anonymous — June 25, 2006 @ 6:08 pm
He had an airport named after him, and was the only hold-over from Clinton’s cabinet. His focus on transportation safety has been admirable.
Comment by ian — June 26, 2006 @ 7:27 am
Do you feel safe with the TSA handling airport security? Neither do I. Practically every week I read a news story about FBI agents getting through security with mock explosives, or entire airports having to be emptied because someone walked through the security checkpoint and the TSA people lost them.
I assume that you believe Ronald Reagan was one of our greatest presidents. He has an even bigger airport named after him.
Comment by staff sergeant anonymous — June 26, 2006 @ 8:44 am
Ronald Reagan is my hero.
Comment by ian — June 26, 2006 @ 4:34 pm
Pete Wilson is a Cal alum too. 2 governors that I know of that are Republicans went to Cal.
Comment by Anonymity — June 26, 2006 @ 4:52 pm