Romana Acosta Bañuelos, first Hispanic to be Treasurer of the United States

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Romana Acosta Bañuelos, born in Arizona, March 20th 1925. At the suggestion of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, President Richard Nixon nominated her for high office:

"It is with special pleasure that I have today nominated Romana A. Banuelos to be Treasurer of the United States.

"Since the tragic and untimely death of Dorothy Andrews Kabis on July 3, we have searched the country for a person of truly outstanding credentials and ability to succeed her as Treasurer. I was delighted to find such a person in Mrs. Banuelos. In her extraordinarily successful career as a self-made businesswoman, Mrs. Banuelos has displayed exceptional initiative, perseverance, and skill.

"In addition, as chairman of the board of directors of Pan American National Bank of East Los Angeles, which serves the Mexican-American community of that area, she has not only proven herself a highly able bank executive but has also contributed substantially to the development of that community.

"The post of Treasurer of the United States is one of high honor and high responsibility. Mrs. Banuelos will bring to it a high measure of distinction."

Her life personified the American Dream. Born to Mexican immigrants, Bañuelos was deported at age eight by the Franklin Roosevelt administration even though she was a U.S. citizen. She returned at age eighteen, with two children and speaking no English and with just seven dollars. Settling in Los Angeles, she worked sixteen hours a day. After managing to save $400, this entrepreneur bought a maize grinder and tortilla-making machine and went into business for herself. And what a success Ramona's Mexican Food Products became!

In 1963, Bañuelos started the Pan-American National Bank, to help Hispanics open their own businesses, and set up a scholarship fund. Over the years, she received many honors, including Outstanding Business Woman of the Year and Latino Business Lifetime Achievement Award.

Her signature appeared on U.S. currency printed during three years in office. Her daughter remembered: "My mother's legacy is that she ran the place as a business, not just as another wing of the government." Bañuelos herself said: "It was a beautiful experience. I will always be grateful to President Nixon."

Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the future of theirs. For more information, see www.grandoldpartisan.com. 

Here is a YouTube Video about this article.

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Here is an Instagram Video about this article.

Here is my Substack about this article.

Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement.


Each day, his YouTube videos and TikTok videos and Rumble videos and Grand Old Partisan blog celebrate more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states.

Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision.

"This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!"

"Your book is a national treasure. I'm always recommending it."

"Michael Zak wrote the definitive history of the GOP."

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan."

"Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before."

and

"one of the best books I ever read"

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