In the News

Governor Michael Dukakis, the Democratic Party’s 1988 presidential nominee, spoke to a packed room full of college students and young professionals on March 28 in Los Angeles, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement. Since his early steps in public service during the 1960s Dukakis has been committed to government reform, cleansing the political system of corruption, and encouraging young professionals to serve. Dukakis said, “I am very proud of the fact that two of my UCLA students are now in the Congress of the United States both Latinos: one, a young woman, the other a young man – Nanette Barragán and Jimmy Gomez. And Jimmy’s story is particularly important. His parents came here in the 1970s, illegally, and got Amnesty under the Reagan Amnesty Bill in the 80s. Jimmy went through the school system, graduated high school, went to a community college. I think his mother was still cleaning houses when he transferred to UCLA. I got him in a class I teach on California Policy issues. And there was something about this kid that impressed me.” Dukakis said he called him in and asked him: “Are you involved politically?” The answer was “no.” He then told him, “If you are interested, do everything you can to take advantage of this experience.” He did, graduating with honors, and then attending the Kennedy School at Harvard. “Kitty and I had him across the river for two years; he got his Masters in Public Policy, and came back out here. He got elected and reelected three times at the Assembly. And he just got elected by 20 percentage points at the special election to fill Javier Becerra’s vacated seat. That’s the American Story. The American Dream. Isn’t it? At its best.”

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