Profile Text
official photo of Fong
Birth Name: Yau Leong Fong
Date of Birth: October 15, 1906
Place of Birth: Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii
Date of Death: August 18, 2004
Place of Death: Kahaluu, Hawaii, U.S.
Ethnicity: Chinese
Hiram Fong was an American politician and businessperson. A Republican, he served as a U.S. Senator from Hawaii, from August 21, 1959 to January 3, 1977.
He was a candidate for the Republican Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 1964 and 1968 .
Hiram was born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, the son of Lum Shee and Fong Sau Howe. His parents were Chinese. His father was born in Zhong Xian, China.
He was married to Ellyn Lo, with whom he had four children.
Hiram’s paternal grandfather was named Gung Sung Fong.
Hiram was the first Asian-American to mount a notable campaign for a major political party’s nomination for President of the United States. Other Asian-Americans who have mounted plausible or semi-plausible campaigns for a major party’s presidential nomination are: * Patsy Mink (who sought the 1972 Democratic nomination; Mink was of Japanese descent) * Bobby Jindal (who sought the 2016 Republican nomination; Jindal is of Punjabi Indian descent) * Andrew Yang (who sought the 2020 Democratic nomination; Yang’s parents are Taiwanese) * Kamala Harris (who was the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 2024, and also sought the 2020 Democratic nomination; Harris’ mother was a Tamil Indian) * Nikki Haley (2024; Republican; won 2 contests; Haley is of Punjabi Indian descent) * Vivek Ramaswamy (who sought the 2024 Republican nomination; Ramaswamy is of Tamil Indian descent)
Kamala Harris was Vice President of the United States, from January 20, 2021 to January 20, 2025.