Speech #1000091647

I came to know them in 1948. and I came to know them well because I ran for Congress for the first time that year. They asked only one pledge of me as candidate for that office. and that was that I would consider favorable legislation which would permit their parents to become citizens. When I was elected to Congress. the first bill I filed was one which would grant the opportunity to become citizens to the Issei. the Japanese immigrants who could not become citizens under the then laws against orientals. It took 4 years for the bill to be passed. In 1952. the Congress passed the bill setting aside Oriental exclusion laws and providing that no person should be deprived of the opportunity to become an American citizen because of race.