Republican National Hispanic Assembly
Encyclopedia
The Republican National Hispanic Assembly is an American
political organization founded in 1967 which seeks to promote Hispanic
issues and interests within the Republican Party
, and the Party's interests and candidates within the Hispanic population. The group is partially an outgrowth of the Spanish Speaking Advisory Committee of the Republican National Committee
, which itself was created as a response to successful efforts to attract Hispanic voters to the presidential candidacy of Richard Nixon
.
, none of the them felt especially attached to any political party.
Having had their offers to organize some kind of Hispanic outreach rebuffed by both the Democratic and Republican Party's national offices, the dejected group returned to their hotel. Eventually, the gathering dwindled down to five: Ben Fernandez
, Manuel Lujan, Fernando Oaxaca, Martin Castillo, and Vega. These last attendees continued to talk, bonded over their common World War II
service and political ideologies, and, eventually, formed the Republican National Hispanic Council. Fernandez was selected as its first president. The next year, the name of the organization was changed to the Republican National Hispanic Assembly with Fernandez taking up the title of national chairman.
Without formal acknowledgment from the Republican Party, the group immediately began to organize chapters in their home and surrounding states. They also managed to raise more than $400,000 by the end of 1968 which they presented to astonished Party officials. Relations between the two political entities soon warmed considerably.
sought to increase Hispanic electoral participation. In addition to others, key RNHA personnel were tapped to assist in this endeavor and the Spanish Speaking Committee for the Re-Election of President Nixon was formed. This committee has been credited an integral role in garnering more than 35% of the Hispanic vote for the President- a vast improvement over the previous three election cycles where the Republican candidate averaged only 10%. Additionally, Fernandez and Vega occupied several important positions within Nixon's re-election campaign, in particular, the Hispanic Finance Committee. Chaired by Fernandez, the HFC raised over $250,000 for the President in 1972. Later that year, newly-appointed RNC chairman George H. W. Bush
began to lay the groundwork for a more permanent organization to woo and retain Hispanic voters.
In April, 1973, Bush authorized the formation of the Spanish Speaking Advisory Committee; Castillo became its national chairman. In meetings held with the SSAC in Crystal City
, Virginia
from July 11 to July 13, 1974, the RNHA was formally recognized and chartered by the RNC (it is also from this point that the RNHA dates its existence for organizational purposes). Since that time, it has been the only Hispanic Republican group officially affiliated with the national Republican Party.
The RNHA began increasing their public profile by holding Annual Banquets starting in 1976. President Gerald Ford
delivered the keynote address at the first such event on July 29. At that time, Oaxaca was serving as an Associate Director in the Office of Management and Budget. A "Hispanic Heritage Leadership Breakfast" series was added in 1995.
Nevertheless, attempts at increasing Hispanic participation at the highest levels of the RNC were stymied in 2009. The leaders of several prominent Republican and Republican-leaning Hispanic organizations- including the RNHA- complained in a March 6 letter to RNC chairman Michael Steele of the situation. Despite assurances in a follow-up meeting, RNHA's Vargas and others would report that no movement had taken place as of a few months later.
Hispanic leaders also decried the state of Hispanics in the Party at a RNHA conference entitled "Future of Hispanics in the GOP." Citing the debate over- and the Party's stance on- immigration as the single most important issue driving away potential voters, Vargas stated: "We know that the party will not recover its majority until we get this right."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political organization founded in 1967 which seeks to promote Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
issues and interests within the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, and the Party's interests and candidates within the Hispanic population. The group is partially an outgrowth of the Spanish Speaking Advisory Committee of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
, which itself was created as a response to successful efforts to attract Hispanic voters to the presidential candidacy of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
.
RNHA formation
In 1967, an informal meeting was held in Washington, DC by thirteen Hispanic men. As one participant, Francisco Vega, later recalled: "... the meeting came about by word of mouth... we were from Florida, California, Texas, New Jersey, Michigan, and several other states...." The purpose of the gathering was to discuss how they could increase Hispanic political involvement. Although all of men intimated some kind of affiliation with the DemocratsDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, none of the them felt especially attached to any political party.
Having had their offers to organize some kind of Hispanic outreach rebuffed by both the Democratic and Republican Party's national offices, the dejected group returned to their hotel. Eventually, the gathering dwindled down to five: Ben Fernandez
Ben Fernandez
Ben Fernandez was an American politician, financial consultant, World War II veteran, ambassador, and the first known Hispanic to run for President of the United States....
, Manuel Lujan, Fernando Oaxaca, Martin Castillo, and Vega. These last attendees continued to talk, bonded over their common World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
service and political ideologies, and, eventually, formed the Republican National Hispanic Council. Fernandez was selected as its first president. The next year, the name of the organization was changed to the Republican National Hispanic Assembly with Fernandez taking up the title of national chairman.
Without formal acknowledgment from the Republican Party, the group immediately began to organize chapters in their home and surrounding states. They also managed to raise more than $400,000 by the end of 1968 which they presented to astonished Party officials. Relations between the two political entities soon warmed considerably.
RNC affiliation
As part of its 1972 re-election campaign strategy, the Nixon AdministrationRichard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
sought to increase Hispanic electoral participation. In addition to others, key RNHA personnel were tapped to assist in this endeavor and the Spanish Speaking Committee for the Re-Election of President Nixon was formed. This committee has been credited an integral role in garnering more than 35% of the Hispanic vote for the President- a vast improvement over the previous three election cycles where the Republican candidate averaged only 10%. Additionally, Fernandez and Vega occupied several important positions within Nixon's re-election campaign, in particular, the Hispanic Finance Committee. Chaired by Fernandez, the HFC raised over $250,000 for the President in 1972. Later that year, newly-appointed RNC chairman George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
began to lay the groundwork for a more permanent organization to woo and retain Hispanic voters.
In April, 1973, Bush authorized the formation of the Spanish Speaking Advisory Committee; Castillo became its national chairman. In meetings held with the SSAC in Crystal City
Crystal City
Crystal City is the name of some places in the United States and Canada:* Crystal City, Missouri* Crystal City, Texas* Crystal City, Virginia* Crystal City, Manitoba* Crystal, North Dakota-Books:* Crystal City by Lee Cloward...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
from July 11 to July 13, 1974, the RNHA was formally recognized and chartered by the RNC (it is also from this point that the RNHA dates its existence for organizational purposes). Since that time, it has been the only Hispanic Republican group officially affiliated with the national Republican Party.
The RNHA began increasing their public profile by holding Annual Banquets starting in 1976. President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
delivered the keynote address at the first such event on July 29. At that time, Oaxaca was serving as an Associate Director in the Office of Management and Budget. A "Hispanic Heritage Leadership Breakfast" series was added in 1995.
Recent developments
The RNHA ran into financial difficulties in 2007 due to declining membership concomittant with declining Hispanic numbers within the Republican Party. However, chairman Danny Vargas reported that new fundraising efforts were underway. Additionally, a new executive director, Bettina Inclan, was hired to revitalize the group's image.Nevertheless, attempts at increasing Hispanic participation at the highest levels of the RNC were stymied in 2009. The leaders of several prominent Republican and Republican-leaning Hispanic organizations- including the RNHA- complained in a March 6 letter to RNC chairman Michael Steele of the situation. Despite assurances in a follow-up meeting, RNHA's Vargas and others would report that no movement had taken place as of a few months later.
Hispanic leaders also decried the state of Hispanics in the Party at a RNHA conference entitled "Future of Hispanics in the GOP." Citing the debate over- and the Party's stance on- immigration as the single most important issue driving away potential voters, Vargas stated: "We know that the party will not recover its majority until we get this right."
Mission
The mission of the RNHA is to increase Hispanic participation in electoral politics at all levels as well as boost Hispanic membership in the Republican Party. Furthermore, the RNHA seeks to promote the philosophy and political ideology of the Party within the Hispanic community. Finally, the RNHA desires to create and sustain an association of Hispanic Republican leaders. To that end, a series of objectives- as posted on their official web site- were formulated:Objectives
- To promote the core principles and values of Republicanism throughout the Hispanic community in the United States
- To develop and maintain a strong, effective and informed Republican Hispanic constituency throughout the country.
- To recruit and encourage qualified, Hispanic Americans, as registered Republicans, to seek office at all levels of government.
- To ensure candidates who represent the true values of Republicanism are elected to office and continue to represent those values.
- To adopt resolutions and policy positions on local, state and national issues and to seek to implement these resolutions and policy positions through networks of the Republican Party and other appropriate means.
- To promote and encourage civic participation
- To insure the participation of citizens of Hispanic heritage in the American political process and in all levels of the Republican Party.
Past Chairs
- 1967-1978 Benjamin FernandezBen FernandezBen Fernandez was an American politician, financial consultant, World War II veteran, ambassador, and the first known Hispanic to run for President of the United States....
- 1978-1983 Fernando Oaxaca
- 1983-1985 Dr. Tirso del JuncoTirso del JuncoDr. Tirso del Junco-Mesa is a general surgeon, Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, Fellow of American College of Surgeons....
- 1985-1987 Fernando C. de Baca
- 1987-1989 Catalina Vásquez VillalpandoCatalina Vasquez VillalpandoCatalina "Cathi" Vásquez Villalpando was the 39th Treasurer of the United States from December 11, 1989 to January 20, 1993 under President George H. W. Bush. She had previously held minor positions under President Ronald Reagan and was also a chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly...
(resigned to assume the post of U.S. TreasurerTreasurer of the United StatesThe Treasurer of the United States is an official in the United States Department of the Treasury that was originally charged with the receipt and custody of government funds, though many of these functions have been taken over by different bureaus of the Department of the Treasury...
) - 1989-1989 Al Villalobos (acting- completed Villalpando's term)
- 1989-1993 Jose Manuel Casanova
- 1993-1995 Alicia Casanova
- 1995-1997 Antonio Monroig Malatrasi
- 1997-2001 Jose "Cheo" Rivera
- 2001-2005 Massey Villareal
- 2005-2007 Pedro Celis, PhDPedro CelisPedro Celis is a Distinguished Engineer at Microsoft Corporation.He has served at the U.S. President'sInformation Technology Advisory Committee from 2003 to 2005....
- 2007-2009 Raul "Danny" Vargas
See also
- List of Latino Republicans
- Republican National CommitteeRepublican National CommitteeThe Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...