[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 143 (Monday, September 9, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1109-E1110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      TRIBUTE TO FORMER CALIFORNIAN STATE SENATOR WADIE P. DEDDEH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN A. DAVIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 9, 2019

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, I am sorry to learn of the 
passing of former California State Senator Wadie P. Deddeh.

[[Page E1110]]

  Wadie was the first Iraqi-born American ever elected to public office 
in the United States. He served in the state legislature for 27 years--
first in the Assembly, then in the Senate.
  He was known as the ``Father of CalTrans'' because he introduced and 
guided the legislation that created California's Department of 
Transportation.
  During the dedication of a new CalTrans Building in Old Town in San 
Diego--a building that was being named after him--Wadie recalled the 
first time he ran for office in 1966. He was told Wadie Deddeh was a 
funny name and he might want to change it. He acknowledged it was a 
funny name but he would not be changing it. ``People can vote for Wadie 
P. Deddeh or they don't have to vote for me,'' he said.
  He was deeply proud of his Iraqi Chaldean heritage. And he was deeply 
proud to be an American.
  In 1979, during the height of the hostage crisis in Iran when 52 
Americans were held 444 days, the United States sought to re-establish 
diplomatic relations with Iraq. President Jimmy Carter asked Wadie if 
he would go to Iraq and meet with Iraq's Foreign Minister in this 
effort. He said he would of course return to his homeland on behalf of 
America.
  While that initial effort to restore diplomacy was not successful, it 
showed the status he had not only in our state but the nation.
  Born in Baghdad, Wadie emigrated to America in 1947. His story is a 
shining example of the positive impact immigration has--and continues 
to have--on the United States. Wadie epitomized public service--an 
example that lives on in his son Peter, a Superior Court Judge.
  I worked with Wadie on numerous efforts and experienced firsthand the 
highly respected judgment associated with him.
  My deepest condolences go out to his family. They can take pride in 
knowing that an Iraqi immigrant, inspired by the words of the 
Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, left a legacy in 
California that lives on to this day.
  As Wadie was known to say, ``Only in America.''

                          ____________________