Hiram Fong Senator

Hiram Leong Fong (Chinese: 鄺友良; pinyin: Kuàng Yǒuliáng; Cantonese Yale: Kwong3 Yau5 Leung4), born Yau Leong Fong (October 15, 1906 – August 18, 2004), was an American businessman and politician from Hawaii. He is most notable for his service as Republican United States Senator from 1959 to 1977, and for being the first Asian American and Chinese American to be elected as such. In 1964, Fong became the first Asian American to run for his party's nomination for President of the United States. As of 2012, he is the only Republican to ever hold a Senate seat from Hawaii and the only Asian American to actively seek the Presidential nomination of the Republican Party. He would be followed by Patsy Mink, also from Hawaii, who sought the nomination of the Democratic Party in 1972.

Personal facts

Birth date	October 15, 1906
Birth name	Yau Leong Fong
Birth place	Honolulu
Religion	Congregational church
Date of death	August 18, 2004
Place of death	Kahaluu Hawaii
Resting place	Oahu Cemetery
Education	University of Hawaii at Manoa Harvard Law School President William McKinley High School

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Politician

military operations	World War II
military branch	United States Army Air Forces
military rank	Major
military unit	Seventh Air Force
party	Republican Party (United States)
service start	1942
service end	1945