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President Bill Clinton Praises John Garamendi at Basque Cultural Center

California Lt. Gov. John Garamendi received a high-profile boost in his campaign for Congress, appearing with former President Bill Clinton at an upbeat rally Tuesday Oct. 6 at the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco.

Several hundred people were on hand as Clinton endorsed Garamendi’s bid for a Northern California congressional seat. A Democrat, Garamendi is considered the front-runner in a Nov. 3 special election to fill the vacant seat because the district is heavily Democratic, according to political observers.

“The room had a great energy, and the President made a wonderful speech,” Garamendi, 64, said in a message sent out on his Twitter account shortly after the event had ended. A majority of the guests were his supporters, but many local Basques also attended.

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The rally began in the main banquet room with Garamendi’s wife, Patti, talking about the family’s Basque heritage. Garamendi is the grandson of Basque immigrants who operated the Ely Hotel in Nevada and the California Hotel in Stockton. She called herself “an adopted Basque.”

The crowd cheered and clapped as Garamendi and Clinton took the stage.

“America really has to get the health care issue resolved,” Garamendi said. “We’ve got many, many things to do. I’m anxious to be your congressman. I want to be back there.”

Addressing the audience, Clinton recounted a trip he and Hillary took to the Basque Country over 30 years ago. It was a great experience, he said, except for the “fish and cold milk.” His comment drew laughter from the several hundred people at the rally. Then he launched into a 20-minute discussion on healthcare and renewable energy.

The former president called Garamendi a problem-solver who would help the U.S. reform its health insurance system and shift its economy into green jobs. Garamendi was a deputy secretary of the interior during the Clinton Administration.

“Every day that he worked for me, he had that smile on his face. And he was thinking what good can I make happen today,” Clinton recalled. “Those are the kinds of people we need in the Congress.”

Clinton and Garamendi spent about 30 minutes greeting guests, including several members of the Cultural Center, and taking photographs with them in the center’s children’s room.

Bill Clinton and John Garamendi at the Cultural Center. Photo by Xabier Berrueta.
BCC Pres. Phiippe Acheritogaray with Bill Clinton and John Garamendi. Photo by Xabier Berrueta.

Despite the short notice regarding the visit — the center was notified officially about 24 hours before the event — several founders of the center were in attendance, such as Felix Berrueta and Jean Gorostiague.

“”We never imagined that the president of the United States would come to the Basque Cultural Center,” said Gorostiague, who served as the first president and was the main contractor of the center. “It was pretty exciting.”

Gorostiague remembered when they started building the center exactly 30 years ago. “When I went to City Hall to build this place, they didn’t know who the Basques were,” he said, adding that he had to explain to city officials about the Basques. “This was good publicity.”

After the speech-making, Garamendi and his extended family stayed to eat dinner in the Cultural Center’s restaurant. Garamendi’s staff and Secret Service agents commended center manager Francois Camou and his staff for their professionalism.

Garamendi captured 26% of the vote against 13 other contenders in a an election held in early September. Since no candidate won a majority, the November election was scheduled. Garamendi will be running against Republican David Harmer.

The sprawling Congressional district stretches from Sacramento County south to Alameda County in the eastern part of the San Francisco Bay Area. The seat was previously held by Ellen Tauscher, who resigned to go to the State Department.

Over the years, Garamendi has hosted big Basque barbecues on his sprawling ranch in Mokelumne Hill in Northern California. The events, where the U.S. and Basque flags have been prominently displayed, are typically attended by hundreds of people who enjoy chorizos, music and performances by Basque folk dancers.

On his campaign website, Garamendi touts his 32 years of public service. He also talks about his time in the Peace Corps, working as a volunteer in Ethiopia. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley, Garamendi played football for the Golden Bears and was a second-team All American as a guard.

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  • E

    EnekoJul 23, 2012 at 10:00 pm

    Could someone explain to me the joke of the fish and the cold milk ? I´m Basque but can´t understand why he doesn´t like fish and… cold milk??? What kind of recipe is that? I´ve never heard something like that…

    Reply
    • D

      Donatien Martinez-LabegerieApr 21, 2015 at 9:59 am

      I think Bill was talking about mamia or cuajada. He tried probably without honey or sugar and he did not understand the point. He also is a guy from Arkansas, so he is not used to the fish and it was alien for him.

      Reply
  • P

    philippe igoaNov 11, 2009 at 10:48 am

    Kind words from one of the greatest presidents of the last century ! I still wish you were president—no offense to President Obama. So Mr. President you want to become Basque? I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard drawing up the citizenship papers on that one! Definitely easier than passing the Obama-care package! LOL.Its great to hear from a former president—my president, a president for the working people,a president for working stiffs like me and Jean-Pierre Etchechurry! Come on Jean-Pierre, its got to make you proud to see a son of Basque immigrants running for Congress even if he is Democrat!GORA EUSKAL HERRIA!Philippe Igoa-Bakersfield,Ca.

    Reply
  • P

    Philippe IgoaNov 7, 2009 at 12:12 am

    What a great time to be Basque! I mean its always been great to be an Euskalduna (wouldn’t want to be anything else). But we have another Basque-American elected to Congress and from the right party this time. The other was Paul Laxalt, the governor of Nevada and a Republican. There’s the first Basque astronaut, Leopold Eyrhatz (spelling???), and of course, the
    first Basque cardinal Roger Etchegaray, all the way from Espelette, France. Not bad huh ?

    Reply