Norman Mineta was born in San José in 1931. In 1941, the United States went to war against Japan and other countries. Norm and his family were forced to live in guarded camps. He and his family were sent to a camp in Wyoming. While Norm was there, a boy named Alan Simpson visited the camp. They became friends. Later Alan and Norm got jobs in politics. Norm became the first Asian American city council member of San JosÈ. Later he became mayor, and then he was elected to Congress. In Congress, he got to work with his old friend Alan Simpson. In 2001, Norm became the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.