Oral Histories

Interview of Richard A. Martinez

Chicano activist. Vice president of the Congress of Mexican-American Unity from 1969 to 1971. Raul Ruiz's campaign manager in La Raza Unida party's campaign in 1972.
Subtitle:
Richard A. Martinez
Series:
California State Archives State Government Oral History Program
Topic:
Politics and Government
Biographical Note:
Chicano activist. Vice president of the Congress of Mexican-American Unity from 1969 to 1971. Raul Ruiz's campaign manager in La Raza Unida party's campaign in 1972.
Interviewer:
Vasquez, Carlos
Interviewee:
Martinez, Richard A.
Persons Present:
Martinez and Vasquez.
Place Conducted:
Martinez's office in Montebello, California.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Interviewer Background and Preparation:
The interview was conducted by Carlos Vasquez, Director, UCLA State Government Interview Series, UCLA Oral History Program; B.A., Political Science, UCLA; M.A., Political Science, Stanford University; Ph.D. candidate, History, UCLA.There exist no private papers which the interviewer was able to consult for this interview.
Processing of Interview:
Vasquez checked the verbatim manuscript of the interview against the original tape recordings and with editor David Gist edited for punctuation, paragraphing, and spellings, and verified proper names. Insertions by the editor are bracketed The interviewer wrote the biographical summary and the editor prepared the other introductory materials.Martinez did not return his review copy of the transcript.
Language:
English
Copyright:
CSA
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series were undertaken by the UCLA Oral History Program under the auspices of the California State Archives and in conjunction with the California State University, Fullerton, Oral History Program; California State University, Sacramento, Center for California Studies Oral History Program; Claremont Graduate School Oral History Program; and the University of California, Berkeley, Regional Oral History Office. Funds were allocated to the state archives after Governor George Deukmejian signed into law Assembly Bill 2104 (Chapter 965 of the Statutes of 1985), establishing a state government oral history program "to provide through the use of oral history a continuing documentation of state policy development as reflected in California's legislative and executive history." All interviews in the series are available at the California State Archives in Sacramento.
Abstract:
Catholic education; growing up with children of prominent families; grandmother's progressive influence; service with National Guard; 1965 Watts riots; becoming a Chicano activist; challenges to Catholic institutions; encounters with the Los Angeles Police Department; staging a rally in East Los Angeles; arrest; lessons of prison; Mexican Americans and the Vietnam War; Congress of Mexican-American Unity; the East Los Angeles Community Union; Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund; National Chicano Moratorium; Southwest Voter Registration Education Project; La Raza Unida Party; Forty-eighth California Assembly District campaign; Richard A. Santillán; Raúl Ruíz; Estebán Torres; Art Torres; Gloria Molina; Willie L. Brown Jr.; Anglo control versus Chicano self-determination; Chicanos for Fair Representation and 1980s reapportionment; 1990s reapportionment; confrontation with Mayor Thomas Bradley; negotiating with the Committee of 25; registering voters.