Historical Editing-History of the Day I Was Born
Vanessa Macias
Forty-five minutes one way, forty-five minutes back. For Rick Macias, maneuvering the hectic
Los Angeles freeways on November 14, 1978 was especially nerve-wracking. As he weaved through
heavy mid-afternoon traffic, Rick kept recalculating how long it would take him to reach his six-year old
daughter, Nancy, at school against how long the doctors assured him his wife, Gloria, would still be in
labor. For nine months, he worried about this particular drive that would take his wife to St. Mary’s
Medical Center forty-five minutes away from their home in Redondo Beach. Now that Gloria made it to
the hospital, the next priority was picking Nancy up from school, dropping her off with the babysitter, and
making it back to the hospital in time to help his wife through labor. Forty-five minutes one way, fortyfive minutes back.
Joining the Coast Guard in 1972 meant adjusting to periodic transfers to new cities, but Los
Angeles proved especially challenging for the small family. Since the Coast Guard did not provide
housing for their servicemen, Rick and Gloria had to search for affordable housing in the sprawling Los
Angeles area. They eventually settled on a cozy duplex in Redondo Beach, even though it was a solid
half-hour away from the air station at the Los Angeles International Airport. Rick recalls the city as
feeling very divided:
That was the other thing, we really didn’t drive around in Los Angeles because it’s always so
racial there. You go into one neighborhood and they’re all black. That’s not a good place to be.
So you go into another neighborhood and they’re all Chicanos. And that’s not a good place to
be… It seems like Los Angeles is got a lot of places like that. So when you’re going, you have to
be kind of careful of where you’re at. ‘Cause sometimes these people or these neighborhoods
don’t want you in their neighborhood. So you always had to be careful where you go.1
Racial problems were indeed pervasive. In November, Angelenos debated a new report that
urged a more aggressive approach for desegregating public schools in the metropolitan area. Under the
existing Los Angeles Board of Education desegregation plan, 19 out of 49 senior high schools were 90%
1
Rick and Gloria Macias, interview by author, September 3, 2008.
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or more minority. Imposing stricter standards and deadlines offered “the only hope of providing equal
educational opportunity for the large numbers of minority youngsters who now attend segregated Los
Angeles school.”2 Related racial issues did not go unnoticed across the country. At a Washington, D.C.
conference, the National Council of La Raza, National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People, National Urban League, and twenty-five other organizations committed themselves to identifying
and working together to meet common needs and interests.3
National headlines reflected tensions as well. Reports highlighted the large amount of negative
press coverage for President Jimmy Carter’s administration.4 Aside from this intense criticism, Carter was
preoccupied with ongoing political instability in Iran. Despite the end of a two week strike by oil workers,
violence in the countryside continued, fueled by a movement against Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s
military government.5 As further protest against the presence of Western companies in Iran, Iranian
telecommunications workers demanded the expulsion of American workers at American Bell
International. To Iranian demonstrators, Western companies worked hand-in-hand with Western
governments in supporting the Shah’s suppression of protests against his rule.6
On that particular cool, overcast November day, striking Iranian oil workers were far from Rick’s
mind as he raced back to St. Mary’s. Even though he went as fast as he could in covering the distance
between Redondo and Long Beach, much to his surprise, he could not find Gloria. The nurse directed him
to a room where he found Gloria calmly filing her nails. Rick recollects:
William Trombley and Myrna Oliver, “’Metropolitan’ Plan for Integration Urged: Egly Experts Want
Nearby Anglo Areas to Join in Meaningful Desegregation,” Los Angeles Times, November 14, 1978.
2
3
Warren Brown, “Black, Hispanic Groups to Cooperate on Goals,” Washington Post, November 14, 1978.
“Carter’s ‘Lowest Moment’: Summer’s Barage of Press Criticism the Worst, He Says,” Los Angeles
Times, November 14, 1978.
4
Nicholas Gage, “Most Oil Workers Back at Job in Iran From 2-Week Strike: Normal Flow Seen in 5
Days: Military Carries Out Vow to Arrest the Leaders—Rural Violence Belies a Growing Calm,” New York Times,
November 11, 1978.
5
6
William Branigin, “Iranian Protests Outs U.S. Workers,” Washington Post, November 14, 1978.
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I asked her, ‘What are you doing in here? I thought you was gonna have a baby. What happened?’
She says, ‘I already had it.’ ‘What do you mean you already had it? Yeah [he chuckles] I thought
you said it was four hours, I haven’t been gone that long.’ Well, things happen.7
Through Vanessa’s childhood, the Coast Guard moved the family again, first to North Carolina,
then Alaska. In Kodiak, Vanessa’s birthdays were indoor celebrations since November 14 fell squarely in
the winter season. Typical celebrations included pizza parties and sleepovers. For her tenth birthday in
1988, Vanessa chose a cupcake decorating theme, which was quite popular at the time among her school
friends. Gloria furnished plain cupcakes, icing in several bright colors, and all sorts of candies and
sprinkles for added decoration. Decorating, and then eating, the cupcakes kept the girls quite busy. In
Kodiak, living so far from family made close family friends very important in marking special days.8
By November 14, 1988, President-elect George H.W. Bush and Americans began to look beyond
electoral celebrations to consider where the nation was headed. Editorials debated Bush’s ability to
handle a budget deficit, Democratic controlled Congress, and remain in high standing among his
conservative supporters. On top of these challenges, Bush felt pressure to pursue policies initiated during
President Ronald Reagan’s very popular presidency.9 Americans were troubled by trends that appeared
during the presidential campaign, most significantly how the candidates were portrayed in the media.
Looking back on the election coverage, journalists expressed dismay at how frequently negative “sound
bites” captured the candidate’s words on nightly news programs. They placed the blame squarely on the
campaigns that set the news agenda; meanwhile, politicians and campaign officials felt it was the media’s
responsibility to report the campaign as a serious dialogue.10
7
Macias, interview.
8
Macias, interview.
Lou Cannon, “Obstacles Left and Right,” Washington Post, November 14, 1988. David Hoffman, “Bush
Team Acts to Calm Markets: Early Talks on Deficit Planned; Brady to Stay at Treasury,” Washington Post,
November 14, 1988. Editorial, Washington Post, November 14, 1988.
9
10
Michael Oreskes, “TV and the Election: Debating an Ugly War,” The New York Times, November 14,
1988.
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As media outlets grew, elected officials bore the burden of intensified scrutiny on public and
personal issues. After mid-term elections in November 1998, independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr
began a close investigation of President Bill Clinton. This wide-ranging investigation questioned the
president’s (and his wife, Hillary) relationship with former business associates as well as brought
attention to the President’s alleged extramarital relationships.11 On November 14, President Clinton’s
lawyers announced a settlement with Paula Jones, a woman who claimed she was sexually harassed by
the president. The Jones case prompted other women to come forward as having encounters, both
welcome and otherwise with the president.12 Even with these scandals, Starr’s investigations, and an
attempt at impeachment, President Clinton presided over a strong economy and enjoyed high popularity
rates.13
Bill Clinton’s troubles receded into the background as Vanessa finished high school and started
college. Her family was permanently settled in their hometown of El Paso by her twentieth birthday.
Now, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins helped celebrate special days. And, luckily, nobody has to
drive too far to make the party.
11
Susan Schmidt, “Starr Brings 3rd Indictment of Hubbell,” Washington Post, November 14, 1998.
Peter Baker, “Clinton, Jones Reach Settlement: President to Pay $850,000 to End Harassment Suit,
Without Admission or Apology,” Washington Post, November 14, 1998.
12
Tim Smart, “Economy Displays Surprising Strengths: Sales Rise Shows Consumers Not Pulling Back,”
Washington Post, November 14, 1998.
13
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