Ambassador

Dr. Garcia served as a spokesman for Mexican Americans at the national and international level. His reputation and ability to get people to the polls made him a powerful ally for politicians, many of whom sought his endorsement and his advice. He rose to national prominence, but his dedication to his community never wavered. He used his prestige as a platform to help publicize and address the challenges facing Mexican Americans nationwide. 

Leading Political Campaigns

By 1960, Dr. Garcia had proven his ability to get voters to the polls. He began to focus on the other side of the political equation—electing candidates who promoted civil rights. He coordinated Mexican American support for several presidential candidates, including John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. By creating strong coalitions, Dr. Garcia helped to ensure that politicians fulfilled their campaign promises to Latino voters.

'Viva Kennedy' Club is Planned

Dr. Garcia was instrumental in organizing Viva Kennedy clubs that supported the candidacy of John F. Kennedy. He later led Viva Johnson clubs that backed Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

John F. Kennedy with Viva Kennedy Club Leaders

Kennedy poses with Dr. Garcia and other leaders of Viva Kennedy clubs. The clubs helped Kennedy win 85 percent of the national Latino vote in the 1960 presidential election.

Letter from Clifton C. Carter to Dr. Hector P. Garcia

In this letter, a member of Kennedy’s campaign team thanks Dr. Garcia for all of his work on behalf of the 1960 Kennedy-Johnson ticket.

Statement, Viva Johnson Clubs

In this official statement, Dr. Garcia urges Mexican Americans to vote for President Johnson, citing Johnson’s commitment to fighting poverty.

Dr. Hector P. Garcia with Sargent Shriver

In a 1972 meeting at the Corpus Christi airport, Dr. Garcia and vice presidential candidate Sargent Shriver discuss the problems facing Mexican Americans.

Dr. Hector P. Garcia with Bill Clinton

Dr. Garcia’s involvement in presidential campaigns continued into the 1990s. Here, he shakes hands with candidate Bill Clinton.

Advising Presidents

Many U.S. presidents looked to Dr. Garcia as a trusted advisor and welcomed his viewpoints and advice. He developed especially close relationships with John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, with whom he shared his vision of equality for Mexican Americans. This position of trust led to several high-profile appointments that gave Dr. Garcia the opportunity to spread his message even further.

Letter from Dr. Hector P. Garcia to President-Elect John F. Kennedy

In this letter to President Kennedy, Dr. Garcia advises him to appoint more Mexican Americans to government positions, mentioning AGIF leader Vicente Ximenes in particular.

Members of the West Indies Delegation Meet with President John F. Kennedy

In 1961, President Kennedy appointed Dr. Garcia to a delegation that attended a treaty signing with the West Indies. In this photograph Kennedy meets with the delegates in the Oval Office.

Dr. Hector P. Garcia with President Lyndon B. Johnson

Dr. Garcia (left), President Johnson, and AGIF chairmen Augustin Flores and Corky Gonzales pose for a photograph outside the White House.

Dr. Garcia Pleased with LBJ Meeting

This newspaper article recounts a 1966 meeting between President Johnson and top Latino leaders, including Dr. Garcia, who called the meeting “a great success.”

Letter from President Jimmy Carter to Dr. Hector P. Garcia

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Dr. Garcia to a panel charged with selecting a judge for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana.

Dr. Hector P. Garcia with President Ronald Reagan

President Ronald Reagan is pictured here with Dr. Garcia at the 1983 AGIF convention in El Paso.

Building Political Coalitions

The success of Viva Kennedy clubs gave rise to a new organization, the Political Association of Spanish-Speaking Organizations (PASO). Dr. Garcia served as PASO’s first chairman. The organization worked to leverage Latino political power. Its first major success came in 1963, as part of a political coalition that helped Mexican American candidates win all five city council seats in Crystal City, Texas.

Register to Vote Flyer, PASO

PASO sought to build political power by encouraging Latinos to vote.

Mass Meeting Flyer, PASO of Harris County

This flyer advertises a PASO meeting and describes the organization’s objectives, stating that “now is the time to unite and become better informed to vote intelligently.”

Texas' Latins Bid for Better Lot with Ballots

This Fort Worth Star-Telegram article describes PASO’s aim to demand civil rights through political participation.

Representing His Country

In 1967 President Lyndon B. Johnson named Dr. Garcia an alternate delegate to the United Nations. On October 26, 1967, Dr. Garcia delivered a statement in Spanish before the UN General Assembly. The historic address marked the first time an American representative addressed the United Nations in a language other than English, and generated goodwill among delegates from Latin American countries.

Dr. Hector P. Garcia Addressing the UN General Assembly

Dr. Garcia’s address to the UN General Assembly, delivered in Spanish, discussed the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America.

Dr. Hector P. Garcia at the United Nations

Dr. Garcia sits among other delegates at the United Nations. He was the first Mexican American named to the United States UN delegation.

Statement by Ambassador Hector P. Garcia, United States Representative in Committee I, on the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America

This document is a transcription, in English, of Dr. Garcia’s statement to the UN General Assembly.

World Issues Close to Garcia

This article details how Dr. Garcia’s time at the United Nations gave him new insights into global issues like colonialism and the nuclear arms race.

Informing Policy

The United Nations thrust Dr. Garcia into the realm of international relations, but he remained primarily concerned with problems that persisted at home. In 1968 he was appointed to the United States Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR). He also became involved in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and helped AGIF leader Vicente Ximenes become the EEOC’s commissioner.

Igualdad de Oportunidad de Empleo [Equal Employment Opportunity] Flyer, EEOC

This EEOC flyer informs Spanish speakers of their rights under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 11246, which prohibited discriminatory employment practices among government contractors.

Charge of Discrimination, EEOC

The EEOC fielded discrimination complaints like this one, in which Daniel Acuna alleges that his employer paid him a lower hourly rate because of his Latino heritage.

Hector Garcia Gets Position

This newspaper article announces Dr. Garcia’s appointment to the USCCR, noting that he would be the first Mexican American to serve on the commission.

Dr. Hector P. Garcia with the USCCR

Dr. Garcia (far left) meets with fellow members of the USCCR. The watchdog commission investigated allegations of discrimination based on color, race, religion, or national origin.