A Conversation with Hong Le Webb

By: Lowell
Published On: 10/6/2006 8:03:17 PM

1) You were born in Vietnam. Can you tell us when and how you came to America, what brought you here, and whether you still have family in Vietnam?
I left Vietnam immediately after the fall of Saigon in April 1975, along with my paternal grandmother, my parents, my only brother and three of my five sisters. We left my home town of Vung Tau in the middle of the night on a fishing boat. My other two sisters, who were married before I was born, left on different boats with their families around the same time. All of my immediate family are in the U.S. (surviving my parents are seven children, 31 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren). I still have distant relatives in Vietnam today, with whom my older siblings keep in touch.

The 1975 departure was the second one for my parents. My parents and both sets of my grandparents were farmers in the north of Vietnam before 1954. My maternal grandparents were assassinated by the communists during the French War, and when the country split, my parents went to Vung Tau with my paternal grandparents and my three oldest siblings. As practicing, devout Catholics, my parents didn't believe that they and their family would have survived in the the north after 1954 nor in the south after 1975.

[For the rest of the interview, please click on "There's More."  Thanks.]
2) What is your educational background, and what do you do now? Can you talk about what it's like to be a working mom in America, compared to what it would be like in Vietnam?

My family parallels Jim's family educationally. My father had a 5th grade education, and my mother never learned how to write and barely knew how to read. Despite not having the same opportunities in education, my parents always stressed the importance of education to all their children. My siblings and I are first-generation immigrants to the U.S., and given our age ranges, have varying degrees of education. I grew up in New Orleans, got my undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and my law degree from Cornell University. I am a corporate securities lawyer in the Washington office of a Michigan-based law firm.

I don't think it would be possible to compare what it would be like as a working mom in the U.S. versus in Vietnam because the opportunities that existed for me in the U.S. would not have existed in Vietnam.

I am not unique in the issues I face as a mom with a career. I've had to balance competing interests relating to childcare, long hours as a lawyer, staying actively involved in my daughter's education and extra-curricular activities, and my own maternal desire to be involved in my daughter's life in every respect. I believe these competing interests are being dealt with by many working mothers today, especially at a time when two working parents are the norm rather than the exception.

However, my five sisters and I have had a great example in our mother and have been blessed with being part of a close-knit, extended family. I come from a family of very strong women. My  mother worked side-by-side with my father in north Vietnam and was the primary breadwinner in south Vietnam. Most of my sisters have been entrepreneurs at one time or another; a couple still run their own businesses. My parents participated in the rearing of many of my nieces and nephews while my sisters were building careers and working outside the home. I have been similarly blessed with my own daughter, Emily.  My former in-laws have been primarily responsible for Emily's childcare since she was born. Despite our divorce, I still am close to my ex-husband and his family: I talk to my ex almost daily; I still call my in-laws "mom and dad"; and we've celebrated holidays together, including with extended members of our respective families. And yes, Jim and to some extent his children (as they are older and have outside interests) have been brought into the fold.

3) How did you meet Jim Webb and what attracted you to each other?
Jim and I met long before we were ever attracted to each other. We met in the mid-1990's as a result of our mutual interest in doing business in Vietnam, and stayed in touch sporadically over the years. It's hard to say what attracted us to each other since we were basically distant, business-oriented friends over a number of years. We started dating while we were separated from our former spouses, and perhaps going through similarly difficult experiences in our lives allowed our friendship to blossom. What is important is that we have a great marriage.

I can tell you what I love, respect and admire about Jim - among them are his deep sense of patriotism and duty to country; his love of family and family history; his uncanny ability to appreciate differences in cultures that have allowed him to travel all over the world and fit in; his belief in the over-arching theme of fairness when it comes to addressing our public policy issues; and his honesty, integrity and forthrightness in fighting for the things he cares about.

4) What was it like, as a Vietnamese woman, to be introduced into Jim's Scots-Irish, southwest Virginia family and culture?
As Jim writes in "Born Fighting," the Scots-Irish are a very inclusive culture. Growing up in the South and having visited Southwest Virginia on a number of occasions, I have found this to be true. I also found that Scots-Irish women are very strong, not dissimilar to the women in my family (and I think a general characteristic of Vietnamese women). I greatly admire the strength and perseverance of Jim's grandmother, who lived with the family when Jim was little, his mother and her sisters, and more recently, his cousin Jewell, who lives in Gate City.

5) How do you feel about Jim running for public office? In particular, what's it like having your husband and family under intense public scrutiny?
I am proud of Jim for his willingness to step forward to serve the country at a watershed time in our country's history. That aside, I don't think either of us were prepared for the intensity of the process, including the public scrutiny. We both value our privacy and family time. For the most part, we've kept our family out of the public scrutiny and prefer it that way.

As for Jim being under public scrutiny, I am hopeful that people who are deciding on their choice for Senator will see behind the negative, personal, smear campaign against Jim as a common political tactic of the other side in the past decade. I invite people to read Jim's writings and do their own research. Jim no doubt has lived through some of the most divisive periods in this country's history, and his positions must be taken in the context of the histories of those times. However people may feel about Jim's stance on specific issues, I am confident that they will find that Jim is an honest and principled man and leader, and he will never compromise his honesty and principles for political or personal gains.

6) Can you tell us a little about what it's like for the family with Jimmy Webb "in harm's way" over in Iraq? 
It's important, and rightly so, that Jimmy's service not be used for political reasons. Some politicians do this, but Jim has been very insistent that he will not do so with Jimmy. As Jim says, Americans rarely enlist in the military because of one political issue or another. They do so because they love their country, and because of family tradition. Jimmy comes from a long, family tradition of service to country. Despite the fact that Jim believes the war in Iraq was a mistake, we admire and support all the men and women who are serving the country in Iraq and elsewhere. Like all families with loved ones in harm's way, we pray for his safety and his safe return, and for an end to the war in Iraq.

7) Are there any stories you'd like to share about family life with Jim? What are some favorite family activities? 
Despite Jim's often serious demeanor in public, people may not be aware that Jim is a great husband and father, and has an often wicked sense of humor. In the tradition of the Scots-Irish, he loves to pass on family stories to his children and grandchildren. My daughter Emily has been the recipient of many of these stories and never tires of hearing them repeated. And he has no problem getting down to a nine-year old's level of fun, doing the "The Banks of the Hanky-Panky", "Hokey-Pokey", and "Cha Cha Slide" on request! We have always enjoyed long walks in Arlington Cemetery, and when time permits, having family over for cook-outs.

8) How's Jim's Vietnamese? 
Jim's Vietnamese is excellent for someone who has had no formal education in the language. Being able to speak to each other in Vietnamese has been fun when we've travelled to Vietnam and provides some level of privacy especially when our lives have become so public with the campaign.

Lowell Feld is Netroots Coordinator for the Jim Webb for US Senate Campaign.  The ideas expressed here belong to Lowell Feld alone, and do not represent those of Jim Webb, his advisors, staff, or supporters.


Comments



wow! (drmontoya - 10/6/2006 8:41:27 PM)
great interview, thanks lowell!


NICE. (phriendlyjaime - 10/6/2006 8:42:32 PM)
This is awesome, and definitely a diary I have been waiting to see.  Excellent.

I have to say, I especially love the last question and answer, and I think it's great that Hong and Jim have some way to sustain a level of privacy throughout this crazy campaign season.

Oh, and Hong looks beautiful, as always.



Please spread this to everyone you know (Lowell - 10/6/2006 8:51:07 PM)
Thanks!


OK, Lowell, but on one condition! (Kathy Gerber - 10/6/2006 8:58:56 PM)
We get to see to see YOU do the Banks of the Hanky Panky..


Ha, that's Jim's specialty.... (Lowell - 10/6/2006 9:02:54 PM)
not mine! :)


Is it cross-posted on Kos? (mkfox - 10/6/2006 9:28:41 PM)
The Kossacks would love it! Great work!


Allen looking for a vietnamese interpreter? (mosquitopest - 10/7/2006 12:10:09 AM)
I can imagine the ever desperate Allen campaign looking ofr a vietnamese interpreter to try to translate viedeotaped private moments between Jim and Hong.....anything to muddy the real issues....buzz....buzz....mosquito


Thanks, and a suggestion (Leaves on the Current - 10/7/2006 12:13:44 AM)
It's really nice to see this--thanks for posting it!

Is there some way it can be archived permanently, perhaps even on the campaign site, so many more people can enjoy it in the weeks ahead?



Yes, good ideas. (Lowell - 10/7/2006 5:53:54 AM)
Thanks.


Good idea! (Kathy Gerber - 10/7/2006 11:28:26 AM)
I hope Lowell leaves it at the top of the front page for another day or so.. hint hint!  What a contrast to all the nasty negativity.

I met Hong ever so briefly way back in April and liked her instantly. 



Having seen this lovely woman in the background (demnan - 10/7/2006 3:25:03 AM)
I'm glad we finally get a glimpse of what she's like.  She's a very special person, that's obvious.  I hope that the campaign hasn't been too difficult for her.  She has a unique perspective and will do well as an asset to Jim in his public life.


Cha Cha Slide!! (kevinceckowski - 10/7/2006 8:45:29 AM)
Thanks for this great interview Hong Lee.  The pictures of you at the Women for Webb event tells me you had a super time.  You are always full of smiles.  You bring a breath of fresh air to this campaign.

I can't wait to see Jim do the Cha Cha slide at the Victory Ball celebrations in November.  I for one will gladly lead the way, but first I have to learn how to do it.  What song would be appropriate to have played? I will try and find it in my cd collection.

Hugs,
Kevin Ceckowski of Arlington



Hong Lee (seamusotoole - 10/7/2006 10:54:09 AM)

I have so enjoyed seeing Hong Lee at so many events.  She is just radiant and beautiful.  I talked with her after Jim won the Primary and she was just thrilled because as she
put it, "He is such a wonderful and good man."  I, too, am glad they have some private moments and can speak Vietnamese
to each other.  When we win this election and we WILL I want to be right up front to see Webb do the cha cha slide.
We got to get a picture of that.  Keep featuring Hong she is a total class act.


Cám ón - Thank-you (hereinva - 10/7/2006 12:27:58 PM)
Enjoyed the interview.


The Vietnamese Vote (Catzmaw - 10/7/2006 6:12:27 PM)
It's nice to get to know the woman behind the man a little bit.  I have had many Vietnamese clients over the years.  They're hard-working and industrious people who took the lemons life handed them and made lemonade.  They are loyal American citizens who know what war's about and can contribute their unique perspective to this campaign.  I hope they turn out in droves to vote for Jim Webb.


Very Nice Lowell... (beachydem - 10/7/2006 6:54:05 PM)
I enjoyed meeting Mrs. Webb very much !


Elegance (relawson - 10/8/2006 3:05:40 PM)
Mrs. Webb seems very elegant.  She will make a great Senator's wife.  Not sure, but is a Senator's wife also called a first lady or is there a title?

My wife is Japanese - Asia is such an intriguing part of the world.  Everyone should explore it once.

Regarding Vietnam, a former classmate of mine also fled during the war.  His family took a riverboat - and along the way fought off pirates.  Many of the people evacuating were robbed, beaten, murdered, or raped.  You could fill a library with books on the stories of those who sought freedom in the US and elsewhere.

I think when Americans left the Vietnamese behind, it shocked the concience.  Watching the footage of the last Americans leaving the embassy is quite emotional.  I can't imagine being in the middle of it, like Jim Webb and his wife's family.