Patsy Mink

Patsy Mink

Patsy Takemoto Mink (born December 6, 1927 in Pāʻia , Maui County , Hawaii , †  September 28, 2002 in Honolulu , Hawaii) was an American politician . Between 1965 and 1977, and between 1990 and 2002, she twice represented the state of Hawaii in the US House of Representatives .

Early years

Until 1944, Patsy Mink, born Takemoto, who visited Maui High School and then to 1946 the Wilson College in Chambersburg ( Pennsylvania ). In the following years she studied at the University of Nebraska , the University of Hawaii and the University of Chicago . At the latter she graduated in law in 1951. She then practiced as a lawyer. At the same time she taught law at the University of Hawaii between 1952 and 1981.

Political career

Mink became a member of the Democratic Party . In 1955 she became the legal representative of the Territorial House of Representatives of Hawaii. From 1956 to 1958 she was a deputy member of this body and between 1958 and 1959 she was a member of the last territorial senate. From 1962 to 1964 she was a member of the State Senate . In 1960, 1972, 1980 and 1984 she was a delegate to the respective Democratic National Conventions . In the 1964 congressional election, she was elected to the US House of Representatives for the first constituency of Hawaii to succeed Thomas Ponce Gill . After a few re-elections, she was able to exercise this mandate between January 3, 1965 and January 3, 1977. In Congress she was instrumental in drafting the ninth amendment to the Education Act ( Article IX of the Education Ammendments ). In 1976 she decided not to run again. For this she applied unsuccessfully for her party's nomination for a seat in the US Senate .

From 1977 to 1978 she worked for the US State Department under President Jimmy Carter . There she served as State Secretary ( Assistant Secretary of State in charge) for oceanic and international environmental and research affairs. Between 1983 and 1987 Mink was a member of the Honolulu City Council and has been its chairman since 1985. In 1990 she was re-elected to the US House of Representatives for the second constituency after Daniel Akaka's move to the US Senate. She exercised this mandate from September 22, 1990 after several re-elections until her death in September 2002. She had also won the 2002 elections posthumously. Her successor was Ed Case , who was elected in a by-election in January 2003.

Patsy Mink was married to John Mink, with whom she had a daughter. In 2014 she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom .

Web links

• Patsy Mink in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Patsy Mink in the database of Find a Grave (English)