Norman Mineta, a Democrat from California, served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1975 to 1995, as Commerce Secretary for President Clinton, and Transportation Secretary for President George W. Bush. In this interview, Mineta recounts how his family was sent to a Japanese American internment camp during World War II, and explains how that experience led to his long career in public service. This oral history is part of a series with former and current Asian American members of Congress produced by the U.S. Capitol Historical Society and Heritage Series.