EXPLORE THE MINETA-SIMPSON INSTITUTE
The Mineta-Simpson Story
Two American Legends
In 1942, the US government forced more than 110,000 Japanese Americans—men, women, and children—from their homes and incarcerated them at ten camps in remote locations across the country. The government claimed these Japanese Americans were acting as spies and saboteurs, aiding the enemy. Yet, they never produced any evidence of wrongdoing. Young Norman Mineta and his family were among those sent from their home in San Jose, California to Heart Mountain, Wyoming.
Alan Simpson grew up in Cody, Wyoming, just 13 miles from the Heart Mountain camp. Simpson was at first frightened when his Scoutmaster announced a visit to the incarcerated Japanese American Boy Scouts inside Heart Mountain. Once at the camp, Simpson and Mineta were paired up to share a pup tent. Neither forgot the friendship forged during those few days spent together at Heart Mountain.
Years later, Mineta would be elected the first Asian American mayor of San Jose, and go on to serve 20 years as a US Congressman for California. Though a Democrat, Mineta’s reputation won him favor across party lines. President Clinton appointed him as Secretary of Commerce in 2000 and President George W. Bush named him Secretary of Transportation in 2001.
Simpson spent 12 years in the Wyoming Statehouse before serving 3 terms as the Republican Senator from Wyoming. In 2010, at the request of President Obama, Simpson served as co-chair of the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility.
Throughout their long careers, spent on opposite sides of the political aisle, Mineta and Simpson maintained the friendship they built as children. Their patriotism and values overcame their political differences, and they worked together to find common ground. Among their proudest accomplishments was the passage of the 1988 Civil Liberties Act, which provided redress for Japanese Americans unjustly imprisoned during World War II. Mineta and Simpson are now united in their support for the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation and our efforts to learn from history and build a better tomorrow.
“One time, we were having dinner and someone came up to us and said, “Senator Simpson, you’re a conservative Republican and he’s a liberal Democrat, what’s the biggest difference between the two of you?” Alan thought about it and he said, “Well, I wear size 15 shoes and he wears a size 8 and a half.”
Norman Mineta
Remembering Norman Y. Mineta
On May 3, 2022, Norman Yoshio Mineta passed away.
Remembering Alan K. Simpson
On March 14, 2025, Alan Kooi Simpson passed away.