The Honorable Ronald V. Dellums

U.S. Representative from California (January 3, 1971-February 6, 1998)

First elected to Congress in 1970, Ronald V. Dellums embodied the activist spirit of his northern California district during his 14 terms in the House. In his first interview, Dellums explains why an antiwar Representative would seek a spot on the Armed Services Committee and how he and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) devised a successful plan to overcome the objections of the influential Chairman F. Edward Hébert. As the first African American to serve on Armed Services, Dellums talks about the historic milestone and how he worked to earn the respect and support of his colleagues. He continued to break barriers in the House serving as the first African-American chairman of Armed Services during the 103rd Congress (1993–1995). Dellums speaks about his rise to committee chair, his leadership style, and the portrait commissioned commemorating his historic chairmanship. Dellums also provides details on how he selected an artist, the reactions to the portrait, and the personal significance of having his likeness painted and hung in the halls of the House.

Throughout his career Dellums played a leading role in the anti-apartheid movement in Congress. In his second interview he describes his early involvement in the push for U.S. economic sanctions against South Africa, including getting arrested during a peaceful protest at the South African Embassy in Washington, DC. Dellums worked closely with the CBC to apply legislative pressure on the South African government to end apartheid. He offers a unique, behind-the-scenes look at how he skillfully shepherded a sanctions bill through the House that few thought had a chance to pass. The California Congressman also recalls the first time he met Nelson Mandela and how he had the privilege of escorting the anti-apartheid activist and first president of the new democratic government of South Africa onto the House Floor for a Joint Session of Congress.

This interviewee appears in the following projects: The Long Struggle for Representation: Oral Histories of African-Americans in Congress, and Institutional Interviews.