Matsui, Robert T., 1941-2005

Robert Takeo Matsui (1941-2005) was a Japanese American politician who served 13 terms in the United States House of Representatives as Congressman for California's Sacramento district. Born on September 17, 1941, Matsui was six months old when he and his family were taken from Sacramento and interned by the U.S. government at the Tule Lake War Relocation Center in 1942. The family returned to Sacramento after the end of World War II, where Matsui remained until moving to attend the University of California, Berkeley as a Political Science major in 1959. Upon his graduation from Berkeley in 1963, Matsui opted to continue his education at the nearby University of California, Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, from which he graduated in 1966. Matsui married his wife, Doris Okada, the same year and returned to Sacramento to start his private law practice.

From the description of Robert T. Matsui papers, circa 1940-2006 (bulk 1979-2004). (University of California, Berkeley). WorldCat record id: 647462193

Biographical Information

Robert Takeo Matsui (1941-2005) was a Japanese American politician who served 13 terms in the United States House of Representatives as Congressman for California's Sacramento district. Born on September 17, 1941, Matsui was six months old when he and his family were taken from Sacramento and interned by the U.S. government at the Tule Lake War Relocation Center in 1942. The family returned to Sacramento after the end of World War II, where Matsui remained until moving to attend the University of California, Berkeley as a Political Science major in 1959. Upon his graduation from Berkeley in 1963, Matsui opted to continue his education at the nearby University of California, Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, from which he graduated in 1966. Matsui married his wife, Doris Okada, the same year and returned to Sacramento to start his private law practice.

Matsui's political career began with his election to the Sacramento City Council in 1971; after his re-election in 1975, he was chosen by fellow members of the council to serve as Vice-Mayor of Sacramento in 1977. Upon the retirement of the long-time incumbent, John E. Moss, Matsui ran for the House of Representatives in 1978, and began his first term as a Congressman on January 3, 1979.

The majority of Matsui's time in Congress was spent as a member of the United States House Committee on Ways and Means, where he was able to effect legislation regarding such important issues as health care, international trade, social security, taxes, and welfare reform. Perhaps as a result of his childhood experience, civil rights issues also remained very important to Matsui throughout his life, culminating during his 5th term in Congress when he helped pass the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which served as a public apology from the U.S. for the World War II internment program, and also offered token reparations to its victims. Despite his long tenure in Washington D.C., district issues also remained at the forefront of Matsui's Congressional agenda, particularly flood control and military base closures in the Sacramento region. Matsui also served as regent of the Smithsonian Institution, treasurer and deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee, and chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Only months after winning election to his 14th term in the House of Representatives, Matsui died on January 1, 2005 from the complications of a rare blood disease, Myelodysplastic Syndrome. In a special election held later that year, his wife, Doris Okada Matsui, was elected to fill his vacant Congressional seat.

From the guide to the Robert T. Matsui papers, circa 1940-2006, bulk 1979-2004, (The Bancroft Library)