Hayakawa, S. I. (Samuel Ichiyé), 1906-1992

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Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa (July 18, 1906 – February 27, 1992) was a Canadian-born American academic and politician. A linguist, psychologist, semanticist, teacher, professor, and author by trade, he served as president of San Francisco State University from 1968 to 1973 and then as U.S. Senator from California from 1977 to 1983.

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Hayakawa was educated in the public schools of Calgary, Alberta, and Winnipeg, Manitoba before earning a B.A. from the University of Manitoba, M.A. from McGill University, and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He served as an instructor at the University of Wisconsin from 1936 to 1939, an instructor at the Armour Institute of Technology (Illinois Institute of Technology from 1940 on) from 1939 to 1948, a lecturer at the University of Chicago from 1950 to 1955, and a professor at San Francisco State College from 1955 to 1968. After witnessing the ruthless efficiency of the Nazi propaganda machine that aided Adolf Hitler’s rise to power, Hayakawa was inspired to write Language in Action (1941), a book that cemented his reputation as a semanticist. Selected by the Book of the Month Club, it was eventually revised as Language in Thought and Action (1949) and remained a popular text for many decades.

Three years after retiring, Hayakawa decided to try to unseat California’s junior Senator, Democrat John V. Tunney, and announced his candidacy for the GOP nomination on January 20, 1976. An underdog against better known Republican candidates and against Tunney, Hayakawa ultimately prevailed with a three point margin of victory. As a Senator, Hayakawa's views were in line with mainstream conservative thought. In 1977 he opposed raising the national minimum wage, arguing that it would have an adverse impact on teenage boys because, when facing elevated wages, employers would cut their workforces. By the early 1980s, Hayakawa advocated reducing the entry-level minimum wage for teenagers, a time at which it was $3.35 per hour. Given his experience as a school administrator, Hayakawa was an unsurprisingly assertive opponent of federal mandates at all levels of the U.S. education system. He opposed school busing as a means to desegregate schools and wanted to prohibit federal payments to colleges with affirmative action policies, a position which he voiced consistently throughout his Senate career. In 1979 he opposed the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), which called for the U.S. government to redress civil rights violations committed against Japanese Americans relocated from the West Coast during World War II. Hayakawa repeatedly derided bilingualism efforts in schools and, in April 1981, proposed a constitutional amendment to make English the official language of the United States.

In early 1982, Hayakawa announced that he would not seek re-election to a second term. After Congress, Hayakawa founded the group U.S. English, a political lobbying organization devoted to “preserving the unifying role of English” in the United States. Hayakawa resided in Mill Valley, California, and passed away February 27, 1992, in nearby Greenbrae.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Collier, John, 1884-1968. John Collier papers, 1910-1987 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Intergroup Activities Photographs, [ca. 1937-1968]. Ocean County College Library, OCC Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 4/14/78 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Papers of the University of Southern California School of Public Administration, 1929-1985 University of Southern California. Library. University Archives
referencedIn Bell, Alphonzo, 1914-2004. Alphonzo Bell papers, 1933-1987. University of Southern California, USC Libraries
referencedIn Oral history collection, 1972-1979. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn S.I. Hayakawa memorial [videorecording]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Perrie Jones and family papers., 1885-1980. Minnesota Historical Society
referencedIn Leslie A. White Papers, 1921-1974 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Daniel Yankelovich Papers., 1937-1994 Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
contributorOf 6/5/81, Confirmation Hearing for Dr. Ernest LeFever (T-29092) Jimmy Carter Library
creatorOf Hayakawa, S. I. (Samuel Ichiyʹe). Letter, n.d., to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn [Collection of correspondence with and about Norman Mann, and with Sivia Mann], 1963-1999. San Diego State University Library, SDSU Library and Information Access
creatorOf Bain, Read, 1892-. Read Bain papers, 1893-1972. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Glenn S. Dumke Papers, 1935-1989 California State University Historical Archives California State University, Dominguez Hills
referencedIn Trigant Burrow papers, 1875-1984 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Jones, Perrie, 1886-1968. Perrie Jones and family papers, 1885-1980. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Samuel I. Hayakawa Papers, 1959-1982, 1970-1982 Special Collections & University Archives: Finding Aid Database
creatorOf Hayakawa, S. I. (Samuel Ichiyé), 1906-1992. [Letter] 1980 April 7, Washington, D.C. [to] Lucky Phelps, San Bernadino, Calif. / Sam Hayakawa. Presbyterian Historical Society, PHS
creatorOf Korzybski, Alfred, 1879-1950. Letter to Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa. [s.l.]. 1946 June 13. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Papers of Ethel Sturges Dummer, 1689-1962 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin), 1894-1962. Papers, 1870-1969 Houghton Library
referencedIn John Collier papers Yale University Library
creatorOf Korzybski, Alfred, 1879-1950. Letter to Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa. [s.l.]. 1946 June 8. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Harry Y. Ueno Papers, 1937-1986, bulk 1937-1950 University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
referencedIn Jerome New Frank papers, 1918-1972 (bulk 1929-1957) Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Burrow, Trigant, 1875-1950. Trigant Burrow papers, 1875-1984 (inclusive), 1903-1950 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 5/23/78 [1] Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Records of the National Organization for Women, 1959-2002 (inclusive), 1966-1998 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Catalogue II of the Regional Oral History Office, 1980-1997 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Skinner, Henry T. (Henry Thomas), 1907-1984. Papers of Henry T. Skinner [manuscript], 1932-1984. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 4/17/78 Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Alphonzo Bell papers, 1933-1987 USC Libraries Special Collections
referencedIn Goodlett, Carlton Benjamin, 1914-. Papers [microform], 1942-1967. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Read Bain papers, 1893-1972 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Hayakawa, S. I. (Samuel Ichiyé), 1906-1992. S. I. Hayakawa papers, 1926-1994. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
creatorOf Hayakawa, S. I. (Samuel Ichiyé), 1906-. S.I. Hayakawa : commercials, 1976. University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
referencedIn 10/15/81, Senate Foreign Relations Committee--AWACS (T-30901) Jimmy Carter Library
referencedIn Newman, Edwin H. Papers, 1944-1978. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Knight, Granville F. (Granville Frank), 1904-1982. Granville F. Knight papers, 1920-1981. University of Oregon Libraries
creatorOf Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Chicago Division. Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters records, 1925-1969. Chicago History Museum
referencedIn Granville F. Knight papers, 1920-1981 University of Oregon Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Paul Gann Archive, 1978-1986 California state library
referencedIn Ueno, Harry Y. (Harry Yoshio), 1907- . Papers, 1912-1997 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Harris, L. mss., 1931-1977 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn School of Design in Chicago : refugees east and west / Beatrice Takeuchi Archives of American Art
creatorOf Erskine, Albert, 1911-1993. Albert Erskine papers, 1930-1999. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin), 1894-1962. Additional papers, 1870-1969. Houghton Library
referencedIn National Organization for Women. Records: Series I-XVI, 1961-1999 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Korzybska, Mira Edgerly, 1872-1954. Mira Edgerly Korzybska papers, ca.1850-1960. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Knight, Granville F. (Granville Frank), 1904-1982. Papers, 1920-1981; (bulk 1960-1975). University of Oregon Libraries
referencedIn Dummer, Ethel Sturges, 1866-1954. Papers, 1766-1962 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Hayakawa, S. I. (Samuel Ichiy'e), 1906- . Letter, 1938. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf White, Leslie A., 1900-1975. Leslie A. White papers, 1921-1974. Bentley Historical Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bain, Read, 1892- person
associatedWith Bancroft Library. Regional Oral History Office corporateBody
associatedWith Bell, Alphonzo, 1914-2004. person
associatedWith Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Chicago Division. corporateBody
associatedWith Burrow, Trigant, 1875-1950 person
associatedWith Collier, John, 1884-1968 person
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Consumers Union of United States. Archives. corporateBody
correspondedWith Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin), 1894-1962 person
associatedWith Dumke, Glenn S. person
associatedWith Dummer, Ethel Sturges, 1866-1954. person
associatedWith Erskine, Albert, 1911-1993. person
associatedWith ETHEL STURGES DUMMER, 1866-1954 person
associatedWith Faculty and administration of the USC School of Public Administration 1929-1985 corporateBody
associatedWith Frank, Jerome, 1889-1957. person
associatedWith Gann, Paul, 1912-1989 person
associatedWith Goodlett, Carlton Benjamin, 1914- person
associatedWith Harris, Leon A. person
employeeOf Illinois Institute of technology corporateBody
associatedWith Institute for Propaganda Analysis. corporateBody
associatedWith Jewish Theological Seminary of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Jones, Perrie, 1886-1968. person
correspondedWith Knight, Granville F. person
associatedWith Knight, Granville F. (Granville Frank), 1904-1982. person
associatedWith Korzybska, Mira Edgerly, 1872-1954. person
associatedWith Korzybski, Alfred, 1879-1950. person
associatedWith National Organization for Women corporateBody
associatedWith Newman, Edwin H. person
employeeOf Register and Tribune Syndicate. corporateBody
associatedWith Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) corporateBody
employeeOf San Francisco State University corporateBody
associatedWith Skinner, Henry T. (Henry Thomas), 1907-1984. person
associatedWith Takeuchi, Beatrice, 1921- person
associatedWith Ueno, Harry Y. (Harry Yoshio), 1907- person
associatedWith United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Presbytery of Riverside. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate. corporateBody
employeeOf University of Chicago. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of Manitoba. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Oklahoma. Political Commercial Archive. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of Wisconsin--Madison corporateBody
associatedWith White, Leslie A., 1900-1975. person
associatedWith Yankelovich, Daniel. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Mill Valley CA US
Winnipeg 03 CA
Montréal 10 CA
Calgary 01 CA
Chicago IL US
Greenbrae CA US
Vancouver 02 CA
San Francisco CA US
Subject
Advertising, political
Universities and colleges
Japanese Americans
Language and languages
Legislators
Legislators
Radio advertising
Student movements
Television advertising
Occupation
Teachers
Authors
Linguists
Newspaper Columnist
University presidents
Professors (teacher)
Psychologists
Senators, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1906-07-18

Death 1992-02-27

Male

Americans,

Canadians

English

Information

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