This folder provides readers with the background and historical information of the Foundation for National Political Leadership (FNPL.) The year of 1992 was a political campaign year for Dr. Lee. She ran for congress and lost in the primary with a narrow margin. Then she was involved in President Bush's reelection as a full-time campaign staff. Again, that was not a victory. Upon her return from Washington, DC to Houston, she strongly felt that she had learned a lot, especially as a culturally different grassroots political activist. She wanted to share her political experiences with future leaders. With that conviction, she founded FNPL.
It was a well-formed and active organization that started with one chapter in Houston. A lack of funding from a broader population has rapidly diminished the operation of this organization. Now, with the internet, it is hoped that FNPL could reach out a larger audience than it did 20 years ago.
Dr. Lee's enthusiasm and commitment to inspire young people has not changed even though she has retired from her profession. She is available to speak to young people who are interested in pursuing leadership role in the political arena. She can be reached at estherlee@fnplweb.org.
It was a well-formed and active organization that started with one chapter in Houston. A lack of funding from a broader population has rapidly diminished the operation of this organization. Now, with the internet, it is hoped that FNPL could reach out a larger audience than it did 20 years ago.
Dr. Lee's enthusiasm and commitment to inspire young people has not changed even though she has retired from her profession. She is available to speak to young people who are interested in pursuing leadership role in the political arena. She can be reached at estherlee@fnplweb.org.
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Bio and Vita
This folder contains all 李恕信Dr. Esther S. Lee’s (formerly known as Dr. Esther Lee Yao) printed and published/released biographical sketches and curricula vitae. They reflect different stage of career development of Dr. Lee. This folder has four categories: Bio, Academic Vita, Academic Resume and Political Resume.
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Esther Lee's Family Life
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Dr. Lee has two daughters and two grandson. Her 29 year of marriage to Dr. Stanton S. Yao ended in 1998. She married to retired Col. Billy C. Bearden in 2004 and retired from the deanship of the Graduate School of Troy University/Montgomery in January 2006. Currently, she resides on the Lake of Logan Martin, 40 miles east of Birmingham, Alabama. This personal folder consists of personal photos, articles about Dr. Esther Lee's early family life, since many people were concerned with李恕信Esther Lee Yao’s whereabouts after she hosted the last reception for Mayor-elect of Houston Lee Brown in Clear Lake City, January, 1998. God has blessed her and broadened her horizon with better.
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Google Search
ere are some search results via Google found by Dr. Lee herself. Users/Readers are encouraged to search for any information regarding Dr. Lee with these aliases: Esther Shu-shin Lee Yao, Esther S. Yao, Esther Lee Yao, Esther S. Lee and Esther Lee Bearden. Her Chinese names are 李恕信 or 姚李恕信。
America China Chamber of Commerce (ACCC)
With Dr. Lee's （李恕信博士）teaching experience in Multicultural Education and her bicultural/ bilingual background she was a business consultant on cross-cultural training for both public and private sectors, i.e., FBI, GM, Exxon and Houston Police Academy. Her consultation was well sought after, especially shortly after the opening of the China market in mid-1980s. In viewing the frustration American companies had experienced in the China market, Dr. Lee also published articles in Business Magazine.
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Birth of Texas Asian Republic Caucus (TARC)
The birth of the Texas Asian Republic Caucus (TARC) stemmed from Dr. Lee's first involvement in the National Republican Heritage Group Council (NRHGC) back to early 1980s. The leadership of NRHGC first requested her about forming a state chapter in Houston, spring 1979. Eventually, she founded the Texas Chapter of Asian American National Republican Federation (TAANRF) under the Asian American National Republican Federation (AANRF) in 1982. Please Visit: Birth of TAR
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Bush/Quayle 1992 Campaign
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Politics is reality. Dr. Lee （李恕信） was not discouraged even though she did not win the congressional race with a small margin in the Republican Primary in Houston, Texas. After the campaign, she expressed her desire to support President Bush's reelection to Mr. Ron Kauffman, the Political Director of the White House during President George H. Bush's administration. Mr. Kauffman complimented her close race and granted her request to work for the Bush/Quayle (BQ) campaign HQ as a salaried staff – national coordinator for Asian and Pacific American Coalition (APAC) for Bush/Quayle '92. She was the first full-time salaried Asian-American campaign staff ever at a presidential campaign headquarters. She believed it was a good opportunity to galvanize Asian Americans for the President's reelection. Previously, GOP presidential campaigns never had a paid staff in charge of Asian American voters; Dr. Lee was the first one. In 1988, Cindy Daub, the Korean wife of a congressman, was in charge of the Asian American voters as a volunteer.
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Congressional Commission
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The congressional Commission for the Study of International Migration and Cooperative Economic Development was established in May, 1987 as a result of the immigration reform bill passed by the Congress in 1986. This bi-partisan commission consisted of 10 members appointed by the US Congressional leaders. Six were appointed by the majority and minority leaders of the senate and four were appointed by the House leaders. Dr. Esther Lee (formerly known as Dr. Esther Lee Yao) was appointed by Senator Bob Dole. She was the only Asian American on the Commission and one of the two female commissioners. The mission and accomplishments of the Commission could be found in the scanned executive summary.
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Esther Lee's Writings
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Dr. Esther Lee is a bilingual writer in both English and Chinese. She has published eight books, several newspaper/magazine columns, and nearly 100 professional journal articles. She occasionally wrote opinion pieces for newspapers on special issues. In this folder, only some of her writings are included.
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Speaking EngagementsDr. Lee has been frequently invited to speak to the general public in addition to her academic presentations at professional conferences. The subjects of her speeches rang from child rearing, family life to cross-cultural differences. The newspaper clippings regarding her political speeches could also be found in GOP folders.
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Texas Board of Pardons and ParolesDr. Esther Lee was not a typical academic "confined" in an ivory tower. She always integrated her academic expertise with her services in the community at all levels. Additionally, her experiences of serving the public have also inspired and enhanced her research activities.
Dr. Esther Lee was appointed to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles by Governor William Clements in December 1989. Her tenure with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles was shortened due to her appointment with the US Department of Education. She had an "ambitious" plan to make an impact on the Criminal Justice System in Texas with the support of the Governor's office. Meanwhile, she was also engaging a research project on inmates whom she interviewed for parole decisions. Unfortunately, she could not finish up both endeavors and left the Board only after six months of service. Yet, her contribution to the Board during this short service was recognized and commended by the Governor as the files show |
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Dr. Esther Lee taught at UHCL for 17 years. Her area of discipline is Teacher Education, not Political Science as many people thought. She began as a part-timer in Spring 1975 and became full-time assistant professor in Fall 1975. Four years later she was promoted to associate professorship with tenure. Because of her community involvement, she was awarded the President's Distinguished Service Award (1987-88). Her curricula vitae and biographical sketches at various stages of her professional development could be found in the folder of Bio and Vita.
She took two years of leave from UHCL to serve the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and US Department, as well as to run in her congressional race. She decided not to return to UHCL when she was on the campaign staff of Bush/Quayle'92 in Washington, D.C. Six years later, she resumed her career in Higher Education with a faculty appointment by Southern Arkansas University (SAU) as a full-professor in Early Childhood Education (1999-2002). Later, she chaired the Education Department at DePauw University (1999-2002) and became Dean of the Graduate School, Troy University/Montgomery, AL (2002-2006).
She took two years of leave from UHCL to serve the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and US Department, as well as to run in her congressional race. She decided not to return to UHCL when she was on the campaign staff of Bush/Quayle'92 in Washington, D.C. Six years later, she resumed her career in Higher Education with a faculty appointment by Southern Arkansas University (SAU) as a full-professor in Early Childhood Education (1999-2002). Later, she chaired the Education Department at DePauw University (1999-2002) and became Dean of the Graduate School, Troy University/Montgomery, AL (2002-2006).
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GOP Involvement 1980Esther Lee Yao was first contacted and recruited by Esther Kee of the National Democrat Committee in Feb. 1980 to support President Carter’s re-election because she recognized Dr.Yao’s leadership via OCA and OCAW involvement. In the beginning Dr. Yao was excited by the possibility to become an appointed delegate to the Democrat National Convention. However, her research of the platforms of both parties led her to the Republican Party instead.
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The Yaos began entertaining politicians and political candidates at their residence either for Chinese dinners or receptions for them to meet with local Chinese and non-Chinese voters in 1981.
Esther was active at the Bay Area Republican Women’s Club and became involved in the district and state conventions committees. She hosted several luncheons for the women’s club for fundraising purposes including the one on May 13, 1981. She also spoke at the Club's luncheon about Chinese immigrants. The GOP women admired and supported her only until she ran for Congress against another white woman, Dolly Madison MacKanna. At that time, most of the women were for MacKanna.
She was initially inspired to seek a federal political appointment by some Chinese American leaders of OCA and OCAW while she was first involved in these organizations at the national level. Soon after President Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980 she contacted Sheila Wilkes, the director of Presidential Personnel Office of TX to express her interest to serve the administration on a volunteer basis. She rallied her GOP friends’ support and recommendations during the summer of 1981.
Esther was active at the Bay Area Republican Women’s Club and became involved in the district and state conventions committees. She hosted several luncheons for the women’s club for fundraising purposes including the one on May 13, 1981. She also spoke at the Club's luncheon about Chinese immigrants. The GOP women admired and supported her only until she ran for Congress against another white woman, Dolly Madison MacKanna. At that time, most of the women were for MacKanna.
She was initially inspired to seek a federal political appointment by some Chinese American leaders of OCA and OCAW while she was first involved in these organizations at the national level. Soon after President Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980 she contacted Sheila Wilkes, the director of Presidential Personnel Office of TX to express her interest to serve the administration on a volunteer basis. She rallied her GOP friends’ support and recommendations during the summer of 1981.
This year Esther was active at both state and federal campaigns. She was involved in State Representative Rand Pennington’s re-election. He and his wife Paula attended the same church, Sagemont Baptist Church, with Esther. Esther did not stay in that church long due to her commitment to the newly formed Chinese church. However, the Yaos and the conservative Penningtons became friends; The Yaos invited them over for Chinese dinners in both February 81 and 82.
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GOP Involvement 1983This was not a major election year; the only campaign was the local mayoral race. Thus, Esther devoted her time and energy to build up the Asian Republican group and continue promoting interaction between elected office holders and Asian Americans, including Congressman Ron Paul.
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GOP Involvement 1984The opportunity of being able to attend the GOP '84 National Convention should be credited to Ms. Molly Pryor's advice. Esther became to know Molly, Senator John Tower’s state director, for a petition on behalf of Dr. and Mrs. Chao who were in the process of adopting a boy from Taiwan. Eventually, this boy was successfully adopted by the couple. To thank Esther they sent her a dozen of roses. In return for Molly’s assistance, the Yao invited Molly and her husband for a Chinese dinner with other GOP leaders and activists at their residence.
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GOP Involvement 1985In addition to organizing the newly formed Texas Asian Republican Caucus (TARC) with the support of the state GOP Chair, George Strake Jr., Esther was involved in two major campaigns. State Senator Buster Brown was running for state Attorney General while Texas Railroad Commissioner Kent Hance was running for governor.
Vice President George Bush was organizing his presidential campaign this year by forming the Fund for America's Future. Esther was one of the few Texans serving on this exploratory committee for Bush's presidential bid. |
This was a very active and productive year in all domains of 李恕信Esther S. Lee’s (Yao) life. She published several academic articles in education, and became visible in the political arena at city, state and national levels. The folder of her curricula vitae and biographical sketches at various stage of her life reflects her professional growth and political development. A newspaper clipping in this folder reports her attendance to a conference in Taiwan as invited by the Republic of China (ROC) government.
In 1987, Esther's top priorities were to develop the newly founded TARC as rapidly as possible and encourage TARC members to become involved not only at local and state levels but also at national level. She was helping the National Republican Asian Assembly’s (NRAA) inaugural conference held in Arlington, VA from June 14 and 15, 1987. (file:ProgramNRAAcover87) She was a member of the Banquet Committee (file:ProgramNRAA87) and tried to invite Asian American Texans to attend and even arranged meetings with GOP presidential candidates and Republican National Committee (RNC) staff for them. (file:xtoRNCforfellowTXAsianGOP270487 and xtoAATx300487) She looked for opportunities for Asian American Texans for political appointments at both state and national levels. Since she believed in local/grassroots politics her priority was to build a strong TARC in Texas.
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GOP Involvement 1988This was the presidential election year following President Reagan’s presidency. As stated in a different section, Esther supported Senator Bob Dole for the GOP primary for several reasons. Since it was predicable that Bush would win the primary in Texas as a native son, she encouraged Asian Americans to support Bush. Being a loyal Republican, she continued support the GOP primary winner George H. Bush after Senator Dole lost the Texas Primary in March, 1988. As expected, all GOP volunteers worked for Bush/Quayle after the March Primary, including the Asian Americans. Esther’s photo with vice president candidate Dan Quayle was shown in the October 3rd issue of the Houston Chronicle.
In this same year, Esther also campaigned for Senator Phil Gramm for his reelection and Congressman Kent Hance for Texas Railroad Commissioner as the files show. |
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GOP1993 & OthersThis folder contains some newspaper clippings about the Asian Americans' interaction with congressional delegates from Texas. Dr. Esther Lee always tried to introduce political leaders to the Asian American community, including both Democrat and Republican congressmen. She organized Lunar New Year Celebration to introduce Governor Mark White, and hosted events for Houston Mayors Kathy Whitmire and Lee Brown (in 1998).
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