Bush Lauds Latino Values at Festive Southland Event

President Bush told a gathering of 400 Southern California Latino community leaders Tuesday evening that “as the country’s fastest-growing minority, you’ll help tell the American story in the 21st Century.”

The President lauded Latino values in his brief remarks to the festive crowd at UCLA’s James West Alumni Center, which was decorated with brightly colored banners and pinatas for the occasion.

“When I look to the values that are the underpinnings of our society, I come back to the Hispanic community,” Bush said.

The chief executive said he and his wife, Barbara, have “seen close up, first hand the strength of the Hispanic community. Hispanic values touched us--discipline, patriotism, sense of family, love of life.”

Noting that Texas, his adopted home state, has one of the country’s largest Latino populations, and that he has a daughter-in-law of Mexican descent, the President said: “The Hispanic culture is our culture too.”

Two mariachi bands and Mexican folk dancers entertained before and after the President’s talk at the reception, whose menu featured tostadas, enchiladas and other traditional Mexican dishes.

Bush noted that he was on the UCLA campus in last year’s presidential campaign for a debate with his Democratic opponent, Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis.

Asked About His Heroes

When he was asked then who his heroes were, the President reminded the audience, he answered that among them was Garfield High School calculus teacher Jaime Escalante, who was present at Tuesday’s reception.

The President pledged to “throw wide open” the door of opportunity for the disadvantaged “and keep it open.” He noted that he has appointed two Latinos to his cabinet--Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan and Secretary of Education Lauro Cavazos.

The crowd, which included some of the most influential members of Southern California’s Latino community, warmly received the President. But some expressed reservations about the absence of specifics in Tuesday’s talk.

“I had hoped to get a better idea of his agenda for the Hispanic community,” said Henry Torres of the Mexican-American Bar Assn. “I was disappointed that his remarks were not more specific.”

Several community leaders said that, even at a private session with a smaller group before his speech, Bush did not address specific issues.

‘Step in Right Direction’

Dionicio Morales, president of the Mexican-American Opportunity Foundation, was one of those at the pre-speech session who was disappointed that more substantive issues were not discussed. But he added that Bush’s appearance “is a step in the right direction. At this early date (in his Administration), he has at least come to meet with us.”

While acknowledging that there are two Latinos in Bush’s Cabinet, insurance broker Richard Hugues of the Latin Business Assn. asked, “but what other types of plans does he have for the Hispanic community?

“My hope is that we get his ear and he gives Hispanics opportunities to take part in his Administration” at many different levels, he said.

However, Los Angeles accountant Robert Miranda, chairman of the National Concilio, one of the groups that helped organize Tuesday’s reception, said the evening “wasn’t intended as a sit-down policy session, but as a celebration and a chance to meet.

“We do expect that we will have an opportunity to sit down and discuss policies and issues in the future.”

RELATED STORY: Part I, Page 1