FNPL HOUSTON CHAPTER:
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    • Dr. Esther Lee's Profile >
      • Dr. Esther Lee's Career Development
      • Why Did Dr. Lee Get Politically Involved?
      • Esther Lee's Family Life
      • Plaques and Certificates
      • Family members’ write-ups about Esther
    • Non-Political Community Services 1972-1984
    • ​Dr. Lee's Tenure at University of Houston/Clear Lake (1975-1992)
    • Role of Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) and OCAW 1978-1984 >
      • OCA NonGOP
    • GOP (Republican) Involvement 1982-1992 >
      • GOP Involvement 1980
      • GOP Involvement 1981
      • GOP Involvement 1982
      • GOP Involvement 1983
      • GOP Involvement 1984
      • GOP Involvement 1985
      • GOP Involvement 1986
      • GOP Involvement 1987
      • GOP Involvement 1988
      • GOP Involvement 1989
      • GOP 1990/1991 ​Full-Time Political Appointments
      • GOP Involvement 1992
      • Beyond 1993
    • Birth of Texas Asian Republican Caucus (TARC) 1985-
    • Congressional Commission on Immigration 1987-1990
    • Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in 1990
    • US Department of Education in 1990-1991
    • Dr. Lee's ​Congressional Campaign Launched in 1991
    • Dr. Lee's Congressional Campaign 1992
    • Role in the Bush/Quayle Campaign 1992
    • America China Chamber of Commerce 1993
    • Portion of Esther Lee's Writings
    • Dr. Lee’s recorded speech engagements since 1995-
  • My Story in America
  • Podcast
  • Activities
    • Supporters writing


Why Did Dr. Lee Get Politically Involved?
​


​Dr. Esther Lee’s political involvements began in 1978 when President Carter “suddenly” recognized the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and resumed the normal diplomatic relationship with them.  Many pro- Republic of China (ROC) Chinese Americans began to protest including a street demonstration in Houston.  Even though Dr. Lee was as disappointed as many other Chinese Americans, she started reflecting and concluded that it was not President Carter’s intention to recognize PRC abruptly without consulting or informing the Chinese community leaders in advance. He just did not see Chinese Americans on his political radar since they were not active in American politics. Her conviction was so strong that she contacted and joined the national Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) quickly with a hope to generate more impact on America’s policy toward China, as it related to the life of Chinese Americans. Soon she formed a Texas Chapter of OCA and became a national board member. Unfortunately, OCA was not permitted to engage in any partisan activities based on its Constitution and By-Laws. In order to be more effective, she joined the Bay Area Republican Women’s Club (in Houston suburb) in 1980. Details can be found in the narrative of the 1980 file. Meanwhile, she became more involved in the Organization of Chinese American Women (OCAW) and formed a Houston Chapter, which can be found in OCAW’s archive. Later she became the national vice president for communication of OCAW. This affiliation and networking benefited her personal growth greatly. There are separate sections/folders on OCA and OCAW.

Under the guidance of Mrs. Vicky Hepke, an active member of the Bay Area Republican Women’s Club, Dr. Lee was able to participate in various campaign activities and was totally immersed in the mainstream politics. Meanwhile, she tried to rally the Asian/Pacific Americans and mentor them to be mainstreamed. She organized several Asian/Pacific American Republican groups and many major Asian/Pacific American political events and hosted numerous meetings, receptions, breakfasts, lunches and dinners for GOP volunteers, activists, candidates and public elected officials at her residence in Clear Lake City (a Houston suburb.) Her family was very supportive and helped her with all these activities. She even remembers hosting a breakfast for former Congressman Jack Fields at 8:00 am on one Saturday, when she prepared a full American Texas style breakfast, including omelets made in advance, for more than 80 people, despite having to catch a flight for Puerto Rico for a congressional commission hearing in the same morning. As a result of her efforts and family’s support, she gradually built up her GOP credentials and status in the Party. (Her political credentials are in the Bio/Vita folder.) 

Although she did not receive a comparable appointment to her qualification in the Bush Administration in 1989 due to her support of Senator Bob Dole during the 1988 Primary, she was appointed as the first Asian American to serve as the Deputy Director of OBEMLA, US Department of Education in 1990. She resigned from OBEMLA and returned to Houston running for Congress in 1991 at the suggestion of Mr. Ron Kaufman, then the White House Political Director.  Even though she lost the primary by a small margin, her campaign generated great encouragement and inspiration among future Asian/Pacific American office seekers.  Later in May 1992, she became the first salaried full-time staff in charge of Asian/Pacific American Coalition for Bush/Quayle ‘92 campaign. Unfortunately, President Bush was not reelected. Dr. Lee’s political involvement gradually diminished nationwide during President Bill Clinton’s era of eight years. It was also difficult for her to maintain close contacts with people in Houston during her stay in Washington, DC from 1990 – 95.
​
Dr. Lee continued her public service upon her return to higher education as a full-professor at Southern Arkansas University in Spring 1998.  She was appointed by Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas to serve on the Commission of Early Childhood Education. After retiring from the deanship of the Graduate School at Troy University Montgomery in January 2006, she was appointed by the Honorable Al Gonzales, the US Attorney General, to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Violence against Women in 2006.
  
Currently, she is enjoying her retirement life with her loving husband on Lake Logan Martin, AL, in addition to travelling around the world and scanning the historical files for this Resource Room. 
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  • Home
    • Welcome
    • Esther S. Lee, Ph.D.
    • About Us
    • Join US
    • Challenges to you
    • contact us
  • News
  • Resource
    • Guided reading
    • Birth of FNPL 1993
    • Dr. Esther Lee's Profile >
      • Dr. Esther Lee's Career Development
      • Why Did Dr. Lee Get Politically Involved?
      • Esther Lee's Family Life
      • Plaques and Certificates
      • Family members’ write-ups about Esther
    • Non-Political Community Services 1972-1984
    • ​Dr. Lee's Tenure at University of Houston/Clear Lake (1975-1992)
    • Role of Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) and OCAW 1978-1984 >
      • OCA NonGOP
    • GOP (Republican) Involvement 1982-1992 >
      • GOP Involvement 1980
      • GOP Involvement 1981
      • GOP Involvement 1982
      • GOP Involvement 1983
      • GOP Involvement 1984
      • GOP Involvement 1985
      • GOP Involvement 1986
      • GOP Involvement 1987
      • GOP Involvement 1988
      • GOP Involvement 1989
      • GOP 1990/1991 ​Full-Time Political Appointments
      • GOP Involvement 1992
      • Beyond 1993
    • Birth of Texas Asian Republican Caucus (TARC) 1985-
    • Congressional Commission on Immigration 1987-1990
    • Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles in 1990
    • US Department of Education in 1990-1991
    • Dr. Lee's ​Congressional Campaign Launched in 1991
    • Dr. Lee's Congressional Campaign 1992
    • Role in the Bush/Quayle Campaign 1992
    • America China Chamber of Commerce 1993
    • Portion of Esther Lee's Writings
    • Dr. Lee’s recorded speech engagements since 1995-
  • My Story in America
  • Podcast
  • Activities
    • Supporters writing