Political Association of Spanish-Speaking Organizations facts for kids

The Political Association of Spanish-Speaking Organizations (PASSO) was a group created to help Mexican Americans get more involved in politics. It grew out of the success of the Viva Kennedy Clubs during the 1960 United States presidential election. PASSO brought together several Mexican-American activist groups. They worked to get more Mexican Americans to vote and run for office. They supported candidates who wanted equal education, protection from unfair treatment, and government jobs for Mexican Americans. Later, PASSO also helped with issues faced by farm workers. The group eventually stopped operating.

Challenges for Mexican Americans After World War II

After World War II, many Mexican Americans faced tough times. In the 1950s, they often struggled to find jobs. It was hard for them to move up in their careers. Their schools were often separate and not as good. Many also faced high rates of not being able to read or write. After the war, people felt hopeful and prosperous. Because of this, the problems faced by Mexican Americans were often ignored.

Some big groups had tried to help Mexican Americans. These included the League of United Latin American Citizens and Alianza Hispano-Americana. But in the 1950s, these groups had problems. They lacked good organization and enough money. They also didn't have a clear plan on how to fix the big issues. This led Mexican American activists to become more active in politics. They hoped to bring about real changes in laws and policies.

Mexican Americans Join the Political Scene

By 1950, more Mexican Americans were voting than ever before. In five big states like Texas and California, over 80% of Mexican Americans could vote. By 1960, this voting group grew even larger. In some states, almost 30% of all voters were Mexican American. Smart politicians saw this growing power. Senator Dennis Chávez and Los Angeles City Councilman Ed Roybal saw a chance. They wanted to increase how much Mexican Americans participated in civic life and elections.

Before this, the national Democratic Party didn't pay much attention to Mexican Americans. They thought these voters would always support them. But other parties tried to gain support. In 1948, Mexican Americans formed "Amigos de Wallace" for Henry A. Wallace's presidential campaign. Four years later, "Latin American Veterans and Volunteers for Eisenhower" supported Dwight D. Eisenhower. However, these groups didn't become very successful across the country.

The Rise of the Viva Kennedy Clubs

The 1960 Democratic Party Convention was a big moment for Mexican Americans. It helped bring attention to their issues. Weeks before the convention, Hector Garcia wrote a letter. He was a doctor and a veteran. He founded the American GI Forum. Garcia asked the Democratic Party to include Mexican Americans more. He wanted them involved in the election process. He also hoped they would be part of a future Democratic government.

Garcia wanted to expand political opportunities for Mexican Americans. He called them "the greatest salesman of Democracy." He also said they were "fighters of Communism." He hoped to see judges, ambassadors, and consuls of Latin American origin. Garcia also asked for civil rights for Mexican Americans. This was especially important for the middle class. It fit well with the Democratic Party's goals.

Soon after John F. Kennedy was nominated, leaders met with Robert F. Kennedy. Councilman Roybal, Senator Henry Gonzalez, and Senator Chavez were there. They discussed how Mexican Americans could help in the election. Carlos McCormick, a young law student, was chosen to lead Viva Kennedy. This was the official Latin American part of Kennedy's campaign.

McCormick got support from Albert Peña, Jr. Peña was a key supporter of Lyndon B. Johnson. He later became Chairman of Viva Kennedy Texas. McCormick also met with Hector Garcia. He wanted the support of the G.I. Forum members. In return for their official support, the G.I. Forum asked for public praise from Kennedy. Kennedy later praised the "splendid veterans organization of Spanish-speaking ex-servicemen." At their 1960 convention, G.I. Forum leaders spoke about electing Kennedy. They believed he would help desegregate schools and assist migrant workers. These issues were important to Mexican American voters.

With strong support, Viva Kennedy chapters were organized everywhere. G.I. Forum members helped lead these efforts. Women, business owners, and other groups joined with passion. Small fundraisers helped pay for efforts to get people to vote. Rallies with Kennedy's allies and Spanish language ads helped spread support.

Kennedy won the 1960 election by a small margin. This showed how important the Mexican American vote was. In Texas, Kennedy won 91% of the Mexican American vote. This was about 200,000 votes. It helped him win Texas's 24 electoral votes. He won even though he lost the white vote in the state. In Texas, 16 of 17 counties with a Mexican American majority voted for Kennedy. Across the nation, 85% of Mexican Americans voted for Kennedy.

President Kennedy did not appoint a Mexican American to a cabinet-level job. This disappointed many Viva Kennedy members. They had hoped for a big reward for their support. They thought people like Raymond L. Telles, Jr., or Edward R. Roybal could get such jobs. Telles became the first Mexican American Ambassador to Costa Rica. But this was not a cabinet position. Members were also disappointed when Arturo Morales Carrion got a different high-level job. They felt he wasn't truly representative of Mexican Americans. Later, Hector G. Godinez became postmaster in Santa Ana. He was a World War II veteran and president of LULAC. Both Henry B. Gonzalez and Hector P. Garcia were offered ambassador roles. However, they both turned down the offers. They said they couldn't leave their work in their communities.

One important result of Viva Kennedy was the creation of PASSO. Because of the connections made during Viva Kennedy, leaders from groups like LULAC and the American G.I. Forum decided to form a new organization. They wanted a group that could work nationwide. PASSO became strongest in Texas, even though it was a national organization.

The Formation of PASSO

After the successful election, McCormick, Peña, and Garcia met. They discussed the future of Viva Kennedy. This led to a new group called the Mexican American Political Association. A few weeks later, this group joined with LULAC and Congressman Ed Roybal's Community Service Organization. Together, they formed the Political Association of Spanish Speaking Organizations (PASSO). This new group supported ideas from George I. Sanchez, a former LULAC President. These ideas included more federal money for education in Hispanic communities. They also wanted fair wages for migrant workers. They pushed for stricter control at the Texas-Mexican border. And they wanted more welfare support for Mexican Americans.

In 1962, PASSO worked with the Teamsters Union. They helped workers at Del Monte Foods in Crystal City, Texas form a union. The next year, PASSO helped Mexican Americans win all five seats on the Crystal City Council. In 1965, PASSO started a campaign against La Casita Farms. This was a very large farm business in Texas. PASSO used more direct and strong methods in this campaign. This caused some middle-class members to leave the organization. During the Chicano Movement, the remaining members of PASSO joined the Raza Unida Party. This effectively ended PASSO as a separate group.