The Noguchi reinstatement and what it meant for the community

Vol. 69, No. 6, August 8, 1969. 6 pages. View this issue

Dr. Thomas Noguchi’s reinstatement as Los Angeles County coroner filled this six-page issue. The Civil Service Commission ruled that the county had failed to prove its charges and ordered back pay. Kats Kunitsugu, who covered the hearings, wrote a post-mortem on the pressures behind the case. Harry Honda reported the ruling, and Jeffrey Matsui’s editorial argued that the fight was not over. Commentary from Kushu Maiuchi and a KABC radio piece asked what the community’s response said about its new assertiveness.

Elsewhere, the National Urban League endorsed the JACL-backed campaign to repeal Title II of the Internal Security Act of 1950, and Edward Ennis, a former JACL counsel, became chairman of the ACLU. Mike Masaoka wrote about President Nixon’s Asia policy. Patti Dohzen took on beauty contests, and Dr. Frank Sakamoto wrote about the generation gap in JACL.

What’s in this issue

In-Depth

• A Post-Mortem on Reinstatement of Dr. T. Noguchi, by By KATS KUNITSUGU, page 1. Kats Kunitsugu examines the Civil Service Commission’s decision reinstating Dr. Thomas Noguchi as Los Angeles County coroner and the political pressures behind the case. She questions how much public campaigning influenced the outcome and what the hearings revealed about county government.

National

• Noguchi Reinstated with All Back Pay, by By HARRY HONDA, page 1. The Civil Service Commission unanimously ruled that Los Angeles County failed to prove its charges against Dr. Thomas Noguchi and ordered his reinstatement with back pay. Supervisors largely accepted the outcome, while JACL stated that racial bigotry played a significant role in the charges.
• Urban League Backs Repeal of Detention Law, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The National Urban League unanimously endorsed the JACL-backed campaign to repeal Title II of the Internal Security Act of 1950, the Emergency Detention provision. The resolution was presented by K. Patrick Okura at the League’s Delegate Assembly in Washington.
• First Ombudsman in U.S. on Job, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Herman S. Doi began work as Hawaii’s state ombudsman on July 1, the first such office in the United States. He noted that many complaints will concern matters outside his control.
• Hoover’s Testimony Called Racist, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Alan S. Wong, president of the Chinese American Democratic Club, criticized FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover’s House testimony about Red China and Chinese Americans as racist. Wong argued the remarks unfairly singled out Chinese Americans and recalled the wartime internment of Japanese Americans.

JACL

• Edward Ennis New ACLU Chairman, by P.C. Staff, page 1. Edward J. Ennis, a former JACL counsel who drafted citizenship legislation for Issei, was elected board chairman of the American Civil Liberties Union. In an interview he discussed his wartime opposition to Japanese American internment and his views on civil liberties.

Community

• Seattle Bolsters Human Rights to Department Status, by P.C. Staff, page 1. The Seattle City Council voted to elevate its human rights commission to department status to address growing urban problems. Hayasaka was named a leading candidate for director of the new department.
• Noguchi Addresses Picnickers at Cincip Celebration, by P.C. Staff, page 4. About 700 Asian Americans gathered at Griffith Park for the first Cincip celebration, sponsored by a coalition of Asian American groups. Dr. Thomas Noguchi, the keynote speaker, urged Asian Americans to speak out for justice.
• Youth and Drugs Topic of Address to NC-WNDC, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Dr. Arthur Roth, a nationally recognized youth health authority, will deliver the keynote address on youth and drugs at the NC-WNDC third quarterly session in Oakland. The weekend event includes a golf tournament, luau, and business sessions.
• Kooky Jr. Confab Kindled for EDYC-MDYC, by Diane Nakauchi, page 4. Junior JACL members are preparing for the EDYC-MDYC joint convention in Cincinnati over Labor Day weekend. The schedule includes a queen contest, a Monte Carlo competition, a Soul night, and a youth recognition dinner.

Commentary

• America’s New Asian Policy, by Mike Masaoka, page 2. Mike Masaoka assesses President Nixon’s emerging Asia policy following his Pacific trip, including the ‘no more Vietnams’ principle and expectations that Asian nations provide for their own defense. He also considers the policy’s implications for Japan and Okinawa.
• Beauty Contests, by Patti Dohzen, page 4. Patti Dohzen critiques queen contests as emphasizing physical features and reinforcing narrow notions of female worth. She reflects on the contests at JACL conventions and suggests the idea of an ugly man contest.
• Editorial: Fight Not Over Yet, by Jeffrey Matsui, page 4. Jeffrey Matsui reviews the Noguchi case, noting that the Civil Service Commission’s decision restored Dr. Noguchi but the struggle continues. He urges the community to remain vigilant against county officials.
• New Yellow Power, by Radio KABC Commentary, page 4. A KABC radio commentary contrasts the Japanese American community’s wartime acceptance of evacuation with its assertive response to the Noguchi case. It argues that community political action has become a new source of strength.
• Sounding Board, by Kushu Maiuchi, page 5. A reflective column recalls the history of Japanese immigration and the postwar Nisei tendency to avoid attention, then contrasts this with the Noguchi case. It concludes that the community has finally shown new assertiveness.
• Generation Gap, by Dr. Frank Sakamoto, page 6. A JACL board member reflects on the Title II repeal discussion and the generation gap between young JACLers and older members. He argues both groups should appreciate each other’s contributions to build a better organization.

Military & Veterans

• Naturalized Chinese American Sworn as Deputy Asst. Secretary of Defense, by Norman Ishimoto, page 2. Dr. Yuan-Li Wu, an economics professor at the University of San Francisco, was sworn in as deputy assistant secretary of defense for planning and arms control. In his brief remarks he spoke of gratitude to America as a refugee and naturalized citizen.

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