The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation has published a graphic novel, “From Behind Barbed Wire to Washington: The Remarkable Friendship of Norman Mineta and Alan Simpson.”

The book tells the story of Norman Mineta (1931-2022) and Alan Simpson, who first met as Boy Scouts at Heart Mountain in 1943. They went on to careers in the U.S. House and Senate, respectively, and were able to work together despite political differences. Their examples inspired the Mineta-Simpson Institute at Heart Mountain.

Mineta, a Democrat and a former mayor of San Jose, was a member of Congress from 1975 to 1995 and later served as secretary of commerce for President Bill Clinton (2000-01) and secretary of transportation for President George W. Bush (2001-06).

Simpson, a Republican, was a member of the Senate from 1979 to 1997, serving as majority whip (1985-87) and minority whip (1987-95). Both he and Mineta have participated in the annual Heart Mountain Pilgrimage.

Mineta and Simpson worked on the book with leaders of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation: Shirley Ann Higuchi, chair, and Ray Locker director of communications and strategy. The illustrator was Marie Okuma Johnston of Mercer Island, Wash.

The foundation has also published “Legacy of Heart Mountain,” “Heart Mountain: The History of an American Concentration Camp,” “Setsuko’s Secret,” “Days of Waiting,” and “Blindsided: The Life and Times of Sam Mihara.” For more information and to order, visit: https://shopheartmountain.org/products

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