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The Del Valle Family

". . . no decent man has ever been born of a Mexican nized that he had no talent for diplomacy. His ap-
woman. " 35 Evidently when it came to meaningful pointment in 1913 as Woodrow Wilson's personal
political power, even the most Spanish California representative to Mexico proved that he was right.
would have to be happy with being a figurehead. Being a bilingual California and a personal friend of
After his defeat Reginaldo served as a delegate to William Jennings Bryan were the only two quali-
numerous State Democratic Conventions and was an fications he possessed for the job. His mission to
elector in virtually every presidential election. Intro- Mexico was a total disaster from the beginning to
duced to President Grover Cleveland as "a native end mainly because of his diplomatic inexperience. 37
son and Spanish scholar," Reginaldo was offered and In 1914, Reginaldo returned to Los Angeles and re-
refused three diplomatic posts. 36 Perhaps he recog- sumed his long tenure as president of the Public