 So I'll start off. I thought what I would do is I'm gonna ask you two questions. The first question is What what is it that you believe that most people already know about him? Let's do that. Okay, and then the next question is going to be what is it that you wish they knew? Let's do the first one. Well, and Diego, thank you very much as you can tell Diego really likes doing this interview I always thought that he should be a talk show host and maybe in the future Because he's not making any money now being a state rep It's gonna get a job. I've got a face for it you Thank you there for everything and I want to acknowledge You know my my nephew Henry is here and my niece is Yvette and and be loud And so again, so you have some Gonzalez members here and I almost embarrassed to throw it out there But the truth is The one thing that people always talk about what do y'all think? Or labels and there was oh, yeah, you know your dad or cars that he punched that guy out Well, that wasn't the only thing my father did in his career But it's it's something that was very symbolic for people now was he right wrong doing it, you know As lawyers we would say you don't do that right and doing it But I think that his independent spirit I think they all and of course, you know Hemisphere and things like that and in the early days the segregation bills that he filibustered and then when he was in Congress many of the things that he did that Maybe weren't as sexy and such but you know the savings and loan debacle and the meltdown and what it cost the United States affordable housing all of that and of course some of this Resolutions of impeachment on like George Bush the first George Bush and such So those are some of the things but I think overall I think they just look at his Independent spirit and that he was a real fighter and that he related to his constituents the most important thing And it's like would be his constituents and that he never Was really absorbed by Washington he never became part of Washington he came home every weekend and in those days that was unheard of Now everyone does that for a lot of reasons because they have to raise Money to run for office and they have to go home a lot more often So I think that's what they remember the the relationship with constituents and I believe is sort of a Calling card or hallmark, but as someone who's served on the local level and now at the state level You know, I I find myself grappling with doing what I consider real work and then other things that I call being a show Right and I've tried not to do the show home stuff And I think that the connection with constituents if it's real and genuine as they really believe it was Was unique what did he do? What did he do that made him so? Beloved by the folks you represent it wasn't they liked him or they had confidence in him But they they love this man. I was sorry you've heard this story But I have a story about that, but people love this this me All right, how about this I will speak up and then if you're in the back, let's move up So I'm not yelling because they don't we don't have microphones. Let's do both If anyone can hear us in the back So what is it about that relationship with the community that made him so below? What did he do and I'm just gonna put it out there and I have a philosophy that If as an elected person you're spending a lot of your time doing ribbon cuttings and Groundbreaking and the openings of businesses. That's not really work. Maybe it's work to get reelected But it's not really you're not really advancing an agenda. You're not really representing people You're not fighting for them. And so when that's all you do people know you and respect you, but they're they don't really Care for you the way that they cared for your dad. What what what did he do that? Generated that kind of that kind of connection. I think he spent time with people and he took time with people I always found it extraordinary because when I was in public office, as you know, there are only so many hours in a day But he would take as long as it was necessary to listen to somebody genuinely listen and And then act on it. You weren't forgotten if you approached him Well, first of all, he's gonna remember your name your address your phone number. You know, he didn't even have to write it down The story always tells when I was running and somebody would come up and they'd say we were for your father Are gonna be with you and that's so I had my little pad and you would yeah It's if we put his your name and they'd look at me And that's and they said well, it's a Arduro Salvador and so and they look at me and I thought what's wrong us and I looked and he said your father never had to Write it down And so that's the thing is that you run into that issue, but he genuinely cared you go I mean it was so sincere now the other thing too is that he sought people out People came to him, but he was very proactive and and I'll give you examples of If dad went to a banquet, we're talking about ribbon cuttings and banquets and going and and you know Where he started when he would go to a banquet. He started Greeting people in the kitchen and the wait staff. He always made sure that's who he talked to and Sometimes people that were sponsoring an event weren't too crazy about that because it added time and it delayed that's what he was gonna Do if he was gonna go to the Express News or back then sent on your life to be interviewed By the editorial board He insisted he was gonna go to that those back rooms and where the presses were and everything Because that's the people that he really felt Comfortable with now. That's the other thing too. So I think that had a comfort zone that would lend itself much more To the average constituent citizen Just and I and maybe that's what he felt he could make a real difference in their lives because they probably needed the greatest improvement or had the greatest needs So I want to give you guys my own personal example of what of what this looks like and Despite my youthful appearance. I turned 40 in a couple weeks So I'm old enough So there was one there was one weekend where my mom and I who wrote the bus She said I'm gonna take you to a birthday party. There's a very important man is having a birthday party outside So we hopped on the bus and we ended up I think at I think it was San Pedro Park and She walks me around there's this nice older guy who She says hello to and she talked to him for You know a longer period of time didn't men usually talk to my single mom She was I was like, who's this guy? You know and then he leaned over and shook my hand and they talked again I Said okay, and then I think I had some big red and cake And we wrote the bus we rode the bus back and I didn't think much of it. And so then you fast forward, baby two or three weeks I'm in my room. I don't know And my mom comes into my my mom comes into my room and says there's a package for you and The mailman this is back when you had the same mailman for decades So we knew him we always leave cookies out for him and milk on Christmas of the holidays Just the mailman wants to come inside and watch you open this package Which is weird, right? So I come out of my room and he's already standing in the house, which is really weird and There's a and there's a envelope waiting for me. I don't know if I have my name on it could be but I Opened it and it was a it was a calendar from your dad Which is cool. It's cool to get a calendar But what I remembered even as a kid was there's something about whoever sent me this calendar that meant so much to Our mailman that he wanted to watch this kid Open it and wondered why this kid was getting mail from this person. Does that make sense? And that's what I really knew that wasn't just that they liked him or they respected him it wasn't that That you know, he was sort of the elected rep for the area that he meant So much more to them that that someone would want to sort of break those societal Protocols and ask themselves into a house to watch some of course it'll open up a Package there's something really special about that Now as a as a congressperson As a congressperson just like a state rep if you've got if you've got an issue We want to help but it's hard to snap our fingers and make it happen Right and so if you're really trying to help people with their problems Sometimes you have to sort of work your way around other like people with the city government the county government How how did he manage that? Getting things done he they see don't have relationships everywhere where he can make a phone call and Call the city council person or call the county commissioner because it was someone that needed help with something that as a congressperson He couldn't do but that had to happen and now And dad's career of course started before 1961 when he got elected to the Congress and Here is Jean Rodriguez is here who was a young college student who worked for dad Who wrote his master's thesis on my father that covered a period up to about what 1960? About 65 so that was all those early years late 40s through the 50s and What was consistent even when he went off to Congress was exactly what you're talking about is that? One people would know that he would not forget them and that he would respond Nothing was worse They're not answering my father's inquiry if you work for an agency or a department because he expected that was your job If it was the VA social security immigration, that's your job You're supposed to get me an answer. You're supposed to tell me, you know We're Mrs. Sanchez's application is in this process. You haven't told her, but you're gonna tell me because if you didn't my father would take you to task on it and And he went to the very top. I mean, you know, they're supervisors stuff He would just go to the department of you know department head or agency head and say look I sent this letter of inquiry. I haven't got a response. I have followed up One thing my father did not let the bureaucracy do is wait or wear you out Which happens often because they're you know, they're overburdened in such and sometimes You just don't have people that take your job the way they should so it was the follow-up and dad had great staff And yeah, well, you're learning that too. All of us know that we're only as good as the individuals that Work in that office because he couldn't do it all himself And he worked everybody hard and he and he was going to respond I don't know if he could survive in today's environment, but even when we were kids or The neat thing was when you finally got a driver's license because you could drive and the bat the downside was When dad would come in They would deliver he would have boxes of mail At 10 o'clock at night and he would start reading every letter and sign in them and put in ps's on him and everything Then around two in the morning. He'd say take them to the post office So, you know, and you had a car so you had to And you're going What does it matter, you know if we take them now because you go downtown Remember the big post office and you had you just shove stuff in there at all hours What did it matter? But to dad, you know, he wanted that to be there as soon as possible if it meant one day Delay it was there. So I think it just everything he did the other I think translated to giving that person That secure feeling that he was not going to let you down and he took it personally He took it personally. I guess it's the best way to explain it. I'm gonna ask a personal question. Sure if you've got this this man a great man who's beloved by the city he's in the people of that city and He demands excellence and he's a taskmaster He wants people to do their job and fulfill their responsibilities and he's not In town all the time at least in that phase What's that like when that's your dad Well, you know, it's difficult and that's why and my mother never got much credit for anything But it wasn't for mom dad wouldn't have had any success at all because it's what dad was telling you He was gone all the time when we were younger And I'm thinking of You know The honors dad Henry jr. And VEVA my sister event's dad a Mom and when we're younger. I mean he just Came in went out came out. He was just on the go all the time And so when we would meet people they would go oh your father He was at my daughter's wedding. Oh, he threw out the first baseball or he was at a baptism And we always would go so that's where he was And so it was a real sacrifice and I think to be a total dedicated servant public servant There's sacrifice in any family that tells you that there's not something's wrong and it's not that other jobs aren't going to take you away from your family, but You know, it's not like being in the service where you know, you're shipped out and you're gone for it That you understand that concept But what if someone is supposed to be living in that house and you hardly see him and then when he went to Congress? well, that was it because You know, he would leave on a Sunday come back on a Thursday or Friday every I mean just all the time and So it's you know, it wasn't I think it was real hard on the family and he was never on time He was never on time for the family Jean you remember The big thing was his dad was going to take us camping for instance To Frank modelers right Frank model a senior out in the lotus and met and dad was wonderful about it Oh, and so let's say we're supposed to leave at five o'clock and so you'd be out there With your friends because he would let you bring a couple of friends We'd have our camping gear. Well, you know what time we'd get out to modelers ten at night And I mean or any that the car lights so that we could set up our camping stuff It was it wasn't I mean it takes a lot of sacrifice, but I think you know, but you also understand That that people are just counting on him and and you he needs your support and whether you're there Supporting him every day or you just you know kind of tolerate things You've got to be supportive one way or another and I always tell and I we've had our talks and everything And I sat down with Joaquin and I told him look Washington can do things, you know You're gonna you will neglect your family And so if people say are you saying your father neglected the family and the answer is of course he did because he couldn't create time, right? And he made up, you know, he made up for many things, but it's it's pretty tough and as far as now will tell you is you reach your teenage years and In your dad and your poor mom there you have seven brothers and sisters and she's can't corral everybody and your dad's gone a lot I had a lot of fun as a teenager We'll do it after hours version this time So I want to I want to follow that trail to talk about Given that and given your your perch and watching all that what In God's name you want to do it, but I Want to ask a two-parted question about your dad's work I mean as you can imagine that's one of the things that I'm most interested in The family sacrifice piece, you know, I got married not too long ago, so we're figuring that out But I'm not nearly as busy as As he was So we sort of went through what people may know him for what you wish they knew him for But let's say that You know, I think when you're when you're in any when you're in any position and you're dealing with people There there are things that you're known for doing those may not be the biggest wins to you personally Right there might be something I get you into the paper Or a lot of fanfare or gets you headlines But those might may not be the accomplishments of the way that they mean the most to you personally if we were to if we were to ask him What of the things that you've done are you most proud of I think that we have an instance well our answer But what would his answer be what were the things that he did that he felt most proud that he that he fulfilled His purpose at a certain well on one hand because I remember a dad always saying that he always wanted to be part of the legislative branch Because policy into law could impact so many people out at once The problem was to make sure that the law was carried out and you know, its goal was met and such But deep down I always thought that's greatest Graphication was when people came up and said you made a difference in my life, you know You brought my son home from Vietnam for the funeral and I it's things like that. Are you were able to get that visa? Oh, you you got my dad into into the VA when when they were giving him a hard time. I Think that just it's it fed his spirit And that's not to say get going you're in we're all built the same way We wouldn't be part of something really big that does get publicized to show that we're making a difference to An entire population, but his big thing I think it was the individual and if you look at big accomplishments and such I would say that a lot of the things that he would be the most proud of would He didn't succeed at we were interviewing somebody in Washington two weeks ago that worked for dad in the 50s When he was a law student this young man Young man, he's probably 75 now, but he was a law student In Austin and dad was in the state Senate And so we always talk about the filibusters against the segregation bills and all those things and that being the first Mexican-American elected state center all those things, but then Richard said oh man, but you know Where we had the greatest fun was introducing bills that we knew were never going to pass because they were so controversial and And so far ahead of the time and so we said well we're like what well your dad introduced a minimum wage bill in the state Senate in the 50s You know it was 45 cents an hour or something like that But I mean the whole thing is I to be honest with you that's right, but I'd forgotten but those are the things that he just loved tossing that stuff out there and getting the conversation knowing it wasn't going anywhere and you know there was controversial stuff in Congress that you'll never hear because he would have an amendment that Would embarrass the heck out of the people who are trying to pass You know very arbitrary laws The amendment would never pass, but I think that also fed his spirit and that is To draw on people's consciences and say look you're not you're not ready for this because the powers that be are never going to accept it But you know it's the right thing I think dad You know doing things because it was the right fair and just thing even though it was not going to pass What was that his personality to Even though he was a person in power to sort of speak truth to power to challenge people In power to get them to look at the world a different way than they might have I know he derived a lot of pleasure in making some people feel very uncomfortable And And that was good. I mean whether it was he would get in these huge fights that were losing fights You know with the head of the FAA and things like that that you were never going to prevail even though Lyndon Johnson was his friend You know, but I mean dad made a point and such and made people feel real uncomfortable and sometimes you would succeed I still remember I Forget who dad was going after on something and it was on the financial services committee and there was a cartoon and It was dad is donkey what they you know with On a horse in a spear and there's a windmill and it shows that He didn't the windmill, but the windmill is all falling and everything else in other words He was tilting that windmills, but once in a while you can bring them down and that's what he had done to this individual It was just a wonderful cartoon. I always thought it's I still remember that cartoon So it didn't matter who it was if dad thought it was an illegal act or misbeasons malfeasance duties He called you on it and I will say that He didn't let friendship get in the way of that if you were his friend Yeah, and you and I it will have experienced this you in public office. You will have friends that are going to let you down he may get in trouble and You cannot support them and people will say well what kind of friend were you but he had the same standard for everyone You know, I mean you're honest You know if you're dishonest how he's not going to be with you if you do an illegal acting wasn't going to be with you And I can think of two individuals that I love those guys. They were around our house for many years They were dad's biggest early supporters, but they got in trouble On some things that were very clear-cut. There are these things were There was no way of looking at it other than this is not good. You know, this wasn't Something misspelled and some you know, whatever it is. This was bad stuff. And so everybody knew I mean Dad would be a loyal friend to you But he really expected you to maintain you know those standards By the way, I just I just want to point out to you guys if we didn't have This opportunity we wouldn't hear all this great stuff. This is really it's really good stuff Even though I'm asking all the questions is very therapeutic for me if you can imagine as a You know being who I am the folks who represent the party I'm in being in the Texas legislature right now If you know you need stories of sort of courage and people being four to five and and be comfortable upsetting people but You know one of the things that happened to me in my first session was that I went in coming from city council I had Julianne with me and we were sort of rocking and rolling We were doing all kinds of great stuff and then I go through the legislature, you know, it's a different environment It's much more partisan seniority matters. I had none of those advantage And and I I'm almost ashamed of how Personally and emotionally affected I was in my disappointment In the way that some things turned out or votes that we lost or things that we couldn't stop from happening And I know that that's not sort of the the Constitution of someone who is going to do this for a long while. So I'm working on it This is therapy part But I but but you also just told a story about him purposefully filing bills He knew we're going to fail purposefully doing things that were he knew he was swimming upstream and yet it was Not only was it important, but he enjoyed it and just out of curiosity Can you remember a time on an issue on a policy issue where he was? Genuinely disappointed or he really felt like there was something that he really wanted any for whatever reason it just didn't happen and it It's left an impression even though it's temporary work. He just said That that was wrong And you know he was chairman of the financial services committee and major pieces of legislation on financial reform But because you're in the body of 435 and you have a committee of 70 or whatever it is and they're from all over Even on your side of the aisle, you know that and such so I think he probably would have liked to have seen more far-reaching financial reform when it came to banks and That wasn't going to happen. And so I But he learned that you have to compromise now. That's the other thing is That wasn't it's all or nothing on certain issues. It had to be all or nothing But I'm just talking on piece of legislation. He understood you have to cobbled together You had to bring in the Republicans you have to bring in Democrats, you know You had Wall Street Democrats or people from New York that are Democrats, right? It's a democratic city for the most part. And so I think that it was a measure of Disappointment there because he really wanted to do some things that were never going to really happen But they passed a piece of legislation that was an improvement on the situation and that was the bottom line and That was not going to compromise principle But the legislative process Diego you've learned I mean you've got 150 reps and you have committees and it's a new already And you're in the minority and more than one way, right? And it's a horrible existence because you can become irrelevant And you have to then learn to work within that system and you can be hardheaded and you don't get things But sometimes you just have to stay on your ground and And lose something of value at that moment Because you you just can't compromise on that. There's a line. Yeah, I mean I never Now staff will hate you for it because they work so hard and you're this close to getting your amendment Submitted and voted on in past and then So a real quick example and you're gonna run to these things And it's horrible. So there was no way any Democratic amendment was getting In the committee that I served on but I had a great amendment and I had a co-sponsor from oklahoma republican and it was great and It looks like The chairman's gonna let it, you know, and so but suddenly we get something from Chief counsel on the republican side and they said look we're gonna Pass your amendment we're gonna the chairman's gonna let us have a vote on it, but you're gonna have to vote against congressman stupex amendment a fellow democrat and I thought But it's stupex amendment to good amendment So no we we We need some votes on it You're just gonna trade I said I'm not gonna do that. I mean, I just not gonna do that And so my staff went nuts because it would have been one of the few amendments. We ever got passed in that day committee But how could I vote against sparse stupex amendment that kind of a trade and from I mean from the dais the the chairman basically looked at me says Well, do we have an understanding and I just wow, you know, and I said we do not And that was the end of it And so I mean but that would have been like a moment my dad did that on a grand scale I did an amendment in a subcommittee Um, but that's the kind of stuff and but his whole life was characterized by taking stands like that and say no, you know What I'm offering is on its merits. Don't go over there and try to deal But you're gonna learn the a o that in a big legislative body And especially where you have leadership that appoints you to committees and stuff. They want a team player They want a team player and I'm going to say it now, but dad was not a team player And uh And that's uh That can be a liability in a big legislative body. Yeah I mean, I think that that for me one of the things that we're trying to constantly sort out a constant conversation you have with yourself is You know, there are you've got your principles and part of the principles means that you spend your time Kind of wagging your finger at the other side where they do things you don't like But then you've got your legislative agenda the package of bills that you want to pass that You know incrementally make things better for the people that You represent Um, but they also expect you to be a fighter and they also expect you to play defense and stop certain things from happening Because some things that are proposed in texas are probably not good for our community So I'm being diplomatic So there's sort of there's a balancing act between There's a balancing act between how vocal an opponent you want to be And getting your things passed. I guarantee if you're silent the likelihood of these things passing goes way up Right if you participate in the larger body and Are more of a voice In an opponent and a fighter even if you're just being what I call the chimney cricket if you're being the conscience of the house The likelihood of your bills passing goes down. And so there's a I'd like to believe there's a sweet spot We need to find but it's not easy, but but your comments segue into uh Something really important to me, especially and that is that I don't You know, obviously And I hope it's obvious the legacy of your dad didn't end with your dad But part of it is you And your career and the way that you approach it I don't think that that I don't think that that narrative is complete without including All the incredible work that you've done and what you stood for and when you continue to stand for it So I want to ask you about your career Because without that conversation We don't get a full picture of the contributions of your dad after seeing him do all of that and go through all of that and Not be around and throw those grenades and get me up. Why would you want to do this? I often ask myself that after after the fact But no, I mean that's the very reason you did it Is there a very reason I did it is because I saw that and I It was an incredible thing now. I knew I was going to law school and I knew I was going to practice law and uh But then I wanted to be an electric official I wanted to be and so being a judge was the best of all worlds I never thought that dad, you know That day would come that he wouldn't be in congress even though that of course the day would come that he's no longer in congress and uh, but I was around it and I was the I was just the right age to hang around with my father more than my brothers and sisters My older brother and sister were getting in those teenage years where they had you know A new world my younger ones were too small But I was the one that was in the station wagon going to austin when dad was in the state senate I was the one going all over the state of texas in a station wagon when he ran for governor and us senate I mean, I still remember all those days like you know We'd be driving all over with three mariachis in the back seat And his press secretary with one of those little remember the type writers that were in those little cases and you'd open them In a station wagon and then of course, you know where I was I was with the baggage in the back over there and stuff And then I read where dad's opponent was Flying in a private airplane a little airplane and I thought we're going to lose Ain't no way we're going to win this one but it's but to see that and The hopes and aspirations of people go and things are bad today But I don't want to even tell you what they were like in in the mid and late fifties. Tell us a little bit Oh, you're talking about poverty and discrimination that was institutionalized legalized I mean, they there's no joke about Segregation here. I'm talking about not just african-americans, but the latinos, you know that there was school for the white kids It was school for the brown kids As a matter of fact, right where I live Now, you know, you had Gonzales elementary and you had maverick. What was that about, you know? And of course my parents just decided that we wouldn't go to either we wouldn't go to travas We went our lady of sorrows, which was a catholic school and it was just Pretty interesting, especially when the fourth and fifth grade were together It was a private education but uh, it lacked many things I often think like My brothers and sisters went to public schools and I went to Edison at the end, but it was just To follow in dad's footsteps and this is really really bad if I always tell the stories there goes and I was the beneficiary of this good name and that Open doors like, you know opportunities because So, uh, they would be interviewing people when I was running in 1998 And there were seven of us running and there was some really great qualified people. Maria. That was a lot Christina Anandis, Walter Martinez. That's just, you know, hey, you had people that had been, you know, Commissioner's court the dean of the state house and and Maria who came with a few hundred votes of being mayor I mean, you know, these were, you know, really incredible people and a bunch of others But I did have my father's name. So that was a great advantage The disadvantage is that you can never live up to it, you know, but but I had his name And so when they would interview people I didn't even have a name. They would just who you voting for and they'd say El Hijo, okay, you know That's fine with me. And so when I got to Congress, there there are other children of members Roy Ball Allen Lucille her father was my dad's colleague congressman Roy Ball But there were others Lacey clay. I mean on the the you dolls on and on and on So I was talking to Lacey clay That's his middle name is Lacey That wasn't his father's first name, but he wanted his own identity. His father's leaving Congress. He runs, but he really is junior So I said, you know, Lacey Do you ever have a problem following your dad's footsteps when you're out there campaigning and they're always Comparing you to your dad. He says, oh man And it was just like I would say he said I didn't even have a name They would ask who you voting for and they'd say junior and I go I said and he called junior I understand so we had that but we were always being measured By our father's voting record Personalities and stuff and you're a different person, you know, dad raised us to be pretty independent Right And when you asserted that independence, you know, he wasn't real happy about it As a parent, you know, I can say do your own thing and everything else And then you don't follow their advice and then you get on your kids, you know Why are you following my advice of being so independent? Uh, so it was uh You know, it was it was a great decision. I had seen all those wonderful things that had done And I thought I could really do the job anyway And it was it was time I had been a judge for about 14 years And the opportunity was just great and I'll never regret it Uh, but it was really uphill and then every because I looked like my father Everybody there in washington That served with that I was called Henry more than you couldn't believe Hi, Henry. I didn't even correct them And one last one because it's really it was an embarrassing moment for me. I had just gotten elected and uh My good friend who's a lawyer was the u.s. Attorney bill blight. We played baseball together. I love bill blight We played baseball. We did everything together And he comes up and it's my first year You got to remember when I was getting there And they had just voted on articles of impeachment By trial in the senate and uh chairman hide the judiciary committee was I mean he was internationally known and so bill uh blight and I were having lunch in the members dining room and uh So in he's the u.s. Attorney now. He's my buddy and everything and here comes chairman hide I don't know chairman hide. I just gotten there, right? And so bill goes. Oh my god There's hide. There's chairman hide the guys on tv. So I have to act like I know everybody. I go. Yeah. Yeah, it's chairman hide Oh, crud. He's walking towards us. He says you think you can introduce me and I'm going Oh man, so The chairman's coming by and I go Good afternoon. Mr. Chairman. He goes. Hi, Henry Bill whites looks like That's like I mean that's that's not so bad when When you know when I got to city council, I mean it's so small everybody knows everybody when I got to the Legislature people kept asking me which rep I worked for Who's your rep this guy better now? Oh, yeah, he's new, right? Yeah I But so I I totally get and understand that you're your own person. You want to do your own thing But I I do suspect that the things that you cared about were also informed by watching your dad work and so What were the things in your time there that That you cared about What were the things you made priority and you said look I've I've got this district here these communities Here's what they're expecting of us, you know, I've got to take these two or three issues I think it's usually we have two or three that we really focus on and others that we just vote well on What were the what were the ones that you cared most about? Well, you know, I mean the first thing you care about in in any member of congress is the economic vitality of your district And so you're going to identify your major employers Right, you are going to listen to them and you should because they provide a lot of jobs for a lot of people And if you help them they maybe will listen to you when you're talking about the needs of your constituents that happen to be their employees So that it always found that really kind of easy identifying What are the needs of your district just by looking at the economics and then education working with your educators? God that was incredible. I mean and it was a joy to work with the educators I mean you couldn't get a more dedicated group of individuals So it really just came down, you know, what we're in them and protecting our our military because we still have a huge military investment in san Antonio um So those were and really it wasn't all that difficult now. There were issues that came up That I learned from dad And a lot of them had to do with, you know, our military policy and uh, you know, my my father I think and I believe this and even though I know that I've seen memos prepared for him on the vietnam war that dad did not Oppose the vietnam involvement to the degree that he saw the dangers of it You know, and that was not to take anything away From military families and the soldiers that were following these orders to go there And so when I got there, I was just always real conscious of like no matter what because we're military city usa And and you got you know, you just we have this incredible pride as we should have But when let's say the invasion of iraq and such, you know, there were only about 134 38 of us that voted no the entire congressional hispanic caucus which numbered maybe 20 all voted against it and we have a lot of veterans there Because they had not made their case and so I I would think that you know sitting there and going if dad was listening to this argument By condolese arise and cheney and romsfeld and everything. Well, I'm afraid he probably would have called for impeaching everybody But you know, what what would he do and I did at times say, you know, what what would dad do in a situation like that? Because these were huge huge issues and so, you know, he was always going to be a guiding light and and you took hard votes And you could get criticized but in a way I think dad did a lot of that and he wore that as kind of his red badge of courage and so Uh, it was but it still made it tough though. Yeah on a lot of issues because Like on back. I was on the banking committee initially Because dick airport just said you're going to be on it. Your dad was chairman used to be on it Which was very difficult because I'd be sitting there and there was a big portrait of my father behind me like looking over me And then what and he's like this in the picture. I think and my staff said don't do that pose like that when you're I It's kind of weird you going But there were issues and they were and people would say, you know, your dad wouldn't ever vote it that way And I used to say maybe you didn't know dad very well There were very few but and there were some votes that I think mine were different than dad's I do think that it's still a good guiding light like you guys I could do this all day I've and we've done this a couple times privately Uh, but it's a real honor to do it in public Uh, you know, I look to you and your family as Examples on how to do this the right way Um, I actually believe and you know, I'm a little bit of a not nice person. He knows this Um, I'm much harder on my other elected colleagues in any level of government I think they could keep doing I think we all could be doing a lot more if we took the The fortitude and the strength and the courage And the the real Lack of being afraid to get unelected because you're going to do the right thing and all of us did that We could really move the city and the state to a better place very quickly Um, I think there's too many of us sort of playing it safe right now. And that's sort of my own frustration is that You know, I don't I don't believe And I'll close with this and then I want to take questions I don't believe even though it's Hispanic heritage much. I don't believe the legacy For me of your father and your family you Is that there are a bunch of brown people sitting in office? Like that's not What we aspire to I think we aspire to people who are really There and spending their time working Sacrificing to make the lives of the people we represent better and that takes courage that takes determination that that takes A sort of fearlessness that I think is lacking compared to when you were in office until your dad is in office And so I like that we brought that story back out because I hope it acts as a reminder to folks that we're here to serve people And that doesn't mean Just the sort of pageantry and showponing part, but that's actually to do work and do things that are risky Because only the risky things that get us anywhere. That's a different place than we are now But thank you in terms real quick so I'm gonna say something about Diego And he knows how I feel about this because we have had these discussions and the frustration Of the system and legislative process and such and and when you take stands and But you know you took an incredibly courageous stand when you were in the city council But you're not screwed to or you did not discrimination ordinance. You're way ahead of your time See that play today and see people back off and but you And I know that people have some legitimate concerns fears and things about things and all that But you knew it was the right thing to do and the truth was It could very well have cost you your your position because of the the way the opposition was coming at you And and but so you've already had it You know, you've already had a Henry being experienced. You know, you just need it I actually found it very liberating So for those of you who don't know during that time There was a very concerted effort to kick me out of office to get me out of office Are going door to door knocking on people's doors like, oh, do you know that Diego wants to Let grown men into little girls bathrooms and they were trying to collect signatures to get me out of office And they were actually they were also protesting in front of my field office Every day including Sundays for six straight weeks And so I faced this idea that I may get I may lose my seat in a very ugly and public way um And then I realized That I remember thinking about the community and the people that we represent and visiting the guys and women who work You know in the in the kitchen in the banquet or work in the the press at the paper If the biggest problem in my life If the biggest problem in my life is losing an election My life is awesome That's like a good life, right? You're healthy You know, you're you're educated. I was at a fiance who's not my wife at the time Everything was good. And so I think that I found that for a lot of elected people the most important thing The most precious thing in their life is their seat And a lot of the decisions they make are made Based on whether or not they get to keep their seat, which means that the needs of people is at best second Right, so the NDO is great for me because now it's like I'm going to do what I think is right And if it gets me out of office Well, then you can send me back to my life with making music and money and babies and that's okay So I you know, I appreciate that very much But look you guys I don't think that you're ever going to get a real sort of snapshot Like we did tonight you're gonna you're hearing things that you probably didn't know and perspectives that you Had heard before and that's incredibly valuable. It made it very very rich. But if you've got questions This is the time to ask And don't be shy. Yes. Yeah This is a question to congressman one cell is, you know Again one night, you know number one I was very very blessed to To have had the opportunity to meet the gentleman, you know, I was just the first grader at navarro And we were outside and then all of a sudden this tall gentleman, you know surfaces And your dad always beautiful suits, you know And it's just like, uh, you know christmas already, you know He was so articulate He was so, you know, he always had a smile on his face, you know And then the key thing that that really impact, you know, that blew me away was that He was out there. How much that's like he's proud to be bilingual And I'm like, you know, hey, that's that's That's a very special gentleman, you know But my question goes to the little that I know about your brother. I mean father rather Is that at one time he was a boxer or he was an amateur boxer and then from there he goes to public servant So my question is this we're talking about a gentleman very articulate has charisma, you know You know, who were those influential individuals? his parents Our grandparents, uh Our others can you help us with that because some you know, whenever you look at a great person Yeah, gentlemen or the young lady is great, but there's others that that that really You know drove him toward that direction toward public service Well, you know, and who are those specials? It's uh and and gene may because Gene wrote that incredible thesis that touches on Influences in my opinion. It really was dad's home life and the history of coming over from Mexico And and his father of course was the editor of la prensa. So he you know, I mean and uh, so it He came from a really wonderfully rich cultural life And and appreciation for reading and education I mean and so I and I think that dad was really influenced by everything that he read And he had romantic notions of things, you know And that's why that thing was thank you what that I was so dang good because he loves that right this of course But I think it was really more than anything else is the lessons that he learned by Just his appetite for learning and reading And of course injustice. I mean it's so easy to know something so unfair, you know, and and if you were Mexican-american at that time I mean it was real clear what was happening in the city and to some degree lesser, but still is happening today uh, so I think that's what it was and uh He just had real supportive He had an incredibly supportive brother and sister too I mean, you know that would have given up their careers for that And that's pretty incredible What were um The offices your father ran for you know, we always think of him as the congressman and representative, but All the sudden mentioned oh my gosh, you can't imagine he failed at something So what was the totality of offices he ran for? Well, again, jean can tell you know people forget that dad lost his first race Because he ran for state rep and he lost But he had the run This first race in 1950 At that time he was run townwide. There were no single member districts And he had urged several people to run because it felt time Because a couple of years before that in 48, there was a coalition of blacks and latinos in barrett county that elected guscacia to the School board the senator school board and dj Sutton to the almo college now. It's almo college district They they ran together and they won and it was a coalition of Hispanics latinos mexicanos blacks and working whites working people from south side and all over And they were able to win it surprised everybody that they were able to win So he was he felt that there was a chance to run and win in the state house And he urged several people to run and they laughed at him a mexican can't win they told him And one of them told him one of you if you think a mexican have been win, why don't you run? And of course, that's all he could that's all you need to do where henry is challenge here He said okay, I will and he did Uh he had learned early on in his career When he was particularly when he was the juvenile probation officer the chief probation officer He had he learned how to talk to the media In in in sound bites and colorful phrases And for example when he was when he was uh the juvenile probation officer He said we're going to change the way this office operates Right now the office requires a parents and the and the child to come to the office. We're going to go to the homes All right, so the time he was there for about four years. He visited himself 10,000 homes 10,000 home that he visited When the county judge who was his boss said you cannot have that black woman office in the courthouse He said nobody's going to tell me how I can Office my staff he officer there He clashed with the judge and he resigned as a result But it was public knowledge throughout the whole city and gained a lot of support he was also Very articulate as as we've said both in english and spanish And he was uh well known as an mc, right at various dances and weddings and social clubs Everybody wanted Henry v. He was not elected official to be the mc Because he knew how to introduce people and how to acknowledge people and so forth So he you know, he had a he had a following He he was also very active As the education director for the ladies garment workers union All right, so he had labor support He taught mathematics at Lanier for veterans So he was he was fairly well known So when he ran and he ran he paired up with Maury Maverick Maury Maverick jr And they both they ran not as not as on the same ticket but as a team So they helped each other they both got in a runoff against at that time the state legislature was controlled as Senate as those of you from senator 20, you know by a small group out of the north side mostly mostly all members of the san jones country club, but They ran together and they both got in the runoff And and Maury won in the runoff and Henry be lost by just a little bit But Maury when he won the first thing he said he would not have won without Henry's support So he he lost that race But he got well known and he learned how to run He remember he had to run countywide so he had a he knew he had to have a coalition So then in 53 when There was a lot of turmoil in city council In a group wanted to organize A ticket they asked him to run and he agreed and he ended up winning In fact, I think he won by the most votes And he was elected mayor pro temp by his colleagues at the very beginning But the races that he ran in laws They breathed in 58 he decided he would run for governor right and of course price Daniel was One of the most popular Of course that had its differences with him and uh and dad I mean loss who was statewide race and of course he was going to lose But he was making a statement and I didn't think deep down he thought he was really going to win And then with Lyndon Johnson, but for the governor's race Of course, he had he had been in the filibuster and got stayed attention, right? So he was also speaking all over the state So he ran And they asked him, how are you running? Well price Daniel was running. He was a sitting governor But the former governor happy leo dango po dango po dango Decided to run and happy leo dango was uh had a swing band You know then used to in these flatbed trucks he go and he was sponsored by a biscuit company So they call it happy past the biscuits of Daniel, right? It's true So the reporter asked Henry, why are you running? You can't win He says well, I wanted to give the people a choice right now All the their choices between tweedledy and old tweedledy He had classic lines and uh when he ran for Well burlap's 58. He loses the governor. He runs in 61 looks Lyndon Johnson Is now vice president And dad actually did Yeah, it would have been 61 61 and then he runs for congress because Congressman killday was appointed to the military court of appeals or something and it opened up Otherwise, you know, who knows what would have happened, but they're all the stories of dad's one-liners are great And I remember in your paper jeanette So dad is debating I guess it was for congress and I think john good may have said something called him A creeping communist or something and that what did dad say the only thing creeping the only thing creeping about me are my shorts This was like live TV in those days He also called him a left winger. He said well, I'm a pitcher and I pitch right I pitch right out there. I mean, but I mean it's classic stuff. I mean you couldn't make it up, right? Let's take the next question By the way, he did them in second in the governor's voice. He beat Peppy Lee. Yeah, he did in the door boys. Yeah Um, yes, ma'am. We're living in an era where There aren't too many politicians out there that we have respect for In our district. We really respect our man For now because he's done such a beautiful job in austin Going to all the different schools in our district is just wonderful Well, if we still had Henry B around, what would he tell us? During this time Well, you know in the sad thing is I don't think that could have survived in the political environment in modern campaigns um I mean with Of course, I also think though Twitter dad would say wait a minute. I can get all of how many people But he wanted to see everything he wanted to touch her and he wanted to sign everything He wanted to communicate with you. He wanted to put a ps. How's your ad isabel doing? I mean, that's his way was but I guess electronically, but it would be campaign finance for instance The redistricting wars and things like that. I'm just not sure that would have been an environment and then congress Because of gerrymandering and things. I I don't know. I mean He would be saying things that definitely would be headlines because he'd have such a Uh clever way. I mean, can you imagine this the material dad would have on you know with donald trump? I mean He could go on a speaking tour So but I think he would have had some really wonderful observations And and how he would have functioned. I'm not real sure that the modern congress Has room for people like that anymore and that's that Other questions. Yes I uh I admired that Was parked uh, he uh, I maybe even voted for him time or two all those years ago He uh, he did stand up for it every, uh single little guy down trodden Minority that there was except one The unborn child Sadly, I think he voted pro-abortion whenever that legislation is across his desk I was sorry to see and hear that later on Is there a question jack? Yeah, I'm just to comment dad's position was a difficult one because if he knew his mother And the devout catholic says she was And if he knew his relationship with the San Fernando, I mean and it was tough But dad always understood that there had to be a separation And uh And it the the things trouble you but the for dad it really was Uh respecting the views of everyone and if the courts Because in the final analysis, you know the court determines certain things the Constitutionality of the laws that my father would be passing and such and they had been ruling for some time on this And so I mean, I think that was just a real believer in the separation of Church and state great believer in checks and balances and every I mean everything that the constitution He believed and it would be very unpopular on some things, but You didn't like the law you try to change it But the courts eventually and the story you told earlier about the way that you would come down On the side of principle as opposed to friendship I think it's a good example of that where it's about the principle It's about it's about what's right and wrong and your sort of personal feelings can't make their way Into those into those conversations other questions. Sure. Let's go back here and then you go ahead Me not being here from not being from san Antonio. I never had I guess I could take it upon myself, but I I haven't had the pleasure to learn You know about the history of Henry Bigans on this or all the great things he's done for our city Right now that I work for an elected official. I know a lot of the things that we do Are some of the things we do are modeled after the way he did things And I wanted to ask what are some of the things that he did Specific to him as far as constituent services stuff like personally signing the letters or other things like that I think it's just first of all, you know You're elected official that you know, you work for that individual you are the face of that individual and And dad always impress on everybody is that when people hear you speak They're hearing me speak. So the first he started off with having the incredibly loyal dedicated and smart staff That understood how important but he also Made sure that they felt that they were rewarded maybe not financially because you know, that's not the kind of budget Those offices have as you already know Diego knows So I think it started there, but it was the That you just the door was and he used to have a sign He was the the first one that had that sign on the door. This office belongs to the people of the 20th district It just wasn't a sign and he really met it and anybody could come in there and They could even hate him call him an SOV or whatever it is But that he that office belonged to the person that thought my dad was an SOV I mean, that's just the way it was and so I think that was Just this whole dedication that Everyone should have a voice If I disagree doesn't mean I have to vote a certain way in the legislature or in in congress Just because someone is screaming and yelling and disagreeing with me I'm going to do what I think is for the collective good of my district and the people But I really think it was instilling in his own staff the importance of respect for an individual and I still remember I mean Because I and you know this, Diego and because you always have to tell staff is that There's a certain amount of abuse that you're just going to tell me You know, I mean in that and you can't get discouraged. You can't get angry and you still have to help that person As much as you're helping that wonderful person that's bringing you fresh baked goodies Because in dad's eyes They're all citizens. They're all your constituents and they're looking to you And to this day, I have a lot of people who come up, you know From the real established more wealthy families they go Never agreed with your dad, you know But I respected him because he was honest. He was hardworking I've gotta leave you one last story because this was like It's an eye-opener when you finally leave office Uh, first of all, you don't get invited to a lot of stuff anymore So I leave congress and I I need a key mate And so there's this little place off bands Jackson and they make keys and so I go in there and I go You know I need free copies And so the man makes free copies I said, how much is that he says It's on me and I go Wow First of all, I'm not in congress anymore. So probably can accept that This guy He must think I just did a great job. That was a good congressman But you say thank you and I said but sir Uh, let me introduce myself. I don't know who you are. No, I really know this guy So I said, let me pay No On me. I said sir, please let me pay. He says no I never voted for you. I feel guilty And now he approaches me He's really sick Whenever you start getting that head and you think you're really, you know, cool and people love you Don't bring you back down to earth I want to get the one someone else had a question. We'll close with this question Oh, that was such a good closing close story. I was just thinking about as a child And after you mentioned Diego Diego said he had people marching around his office and When your dad or like um I'm thinking he probably had enemies were there times as a child when you were scared Literally like when they integrated the swimming pools or something was that yeah, because it got, you know, the environment people and of course, you know What year was that chivalry had Chivalry and he had it painted a couple of times. So he was red or white at some point and there was a boy Because you know people shot at the house and part and stuff. So I mean it was serious. I mean we used to have police come Yeah They'd be out there guarding the house or whatever it is and dad was very proud You know, he would say my name my address and my phone number in the phone book You remember phone books And I we as kids we'd go You're never home We're the ones catching up And so my poor mother would always have to answer the phone and it would be you tell that so be husband of yours Yes, yes, okay. Thank you Had to be answering the phone and getting all the abuse and the people carrying the stuff in front of the house It's uh but he did have actually some really powerful enemies and uh You know, I mean they and then but those aren't the ones that were yelling at you and and the problem with dad though is that He he could get you know, I mean if you challenged him He wasn't scared to mix it and uh, and that was I think that scared us the most that yeah, I mean Don't do that because I mean if you threaten him and you come at him that he would in that I think we always felt his kids that that probably was the greatest danger Was that dad was not going to as they say take any lift from somebody and all that but I'm telling you I remember we were coming back from austin one day. We were on broadway in the old days you you would Get hill right take a left on broadway and get on austin highway. Remember that? Okay So we're coming back near your credit word And a card stops next to us and dad and you can tell that this guy's look given that the bad eye or something And dad rolls the window down And so the guy motions his wife who's in the passenger seats to roll the window down And so my dad it's like I felt like saying dad You're acting like me, you know, you're acting like a 14 year old here. Hey, would you look at that? Excuse me you have something so they started arguing right there. It was horrible It was horrible and I thought god. This is worse than hanging around with my buddies We're gonna get beat up or something But no, I mean that was the thing his dad was like you're in his face. You know, he just was like that people admired it And uh, I mean and you can understand some of that, but I I think that was our greatest fear. Yeah and people Yeah, they were a lot of threats a lot of them That though is a great story And in a great in a great moment and guys Thanks so much for for being here and witnessing this and it was an honor for me and I feel like we all learned a lot Um, so thank you guys so much