Descriptive Summary
Administrative Information
Biography
Scope and Content
Accruals
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Guide to the Louis Caldera Papers
Dates: 1993-1997
Collection number: LP451
Creator:
Calder, Louis
Collection Size:
10 cubic feet
Repository:
California State Archives
Abstract: Louis Caldera, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member from 1992 to 1997. His 46th District included central Los Angeles, bordered
in the north by the Hollywood Freeway. The Louis Caldera Papers contain six record series dating over a 5-year time period
(1993-1997) and include 10 cubic feet of textual records. The six record series include: Bill Files, Correspondence, Democratic
Leadership Council (DLC) Files, Gun Violence Files, Press Clippings, and Subject Files.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Administrative Information
Access
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
Publication Rights
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Louis Caldera Papers, LP451:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary
of State, Sacramento, California.
Biography
Louis Caldera, Democrat, was a State Assembly Member from 1992 to 1997. His 46th District included central Los Angeles, bordered
in the north by the Hollywood Freeway.
Caldera was born in 1956, in El Paso, Texas. In 1960, his family moved to the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles County.
He graduated from Monte Vista High School in nearby Whittier in 1974, whereupon he attended West Point. After receiving his
bachelor's degree, he served five years on active military duty, leaving the Army with the rank of Captain. By 1987, he graduated
from Harvard University with both a law degree and a master's degree in business administration. Moving back to Los Angeles,
Caldera practiced public finance law for private firms and was appointed as a Los Angeles County deputy counsel in 1991 where
he represented the interests of the County in both state and federal litigation. His wife is named Eva Orlebeke, a fellow
attorney, with whom he has three daughters. Caldera currently runs his own education consulting firm in Washington, D.C.
In his first bid for elective office, Caldera received 71% of the vote against Republican David Osborne in 1992. He would
successfully hold the 56th District for the next two elections. Due to term limits, Caldera's tenure would have expired in
1998. However, Caldera accepted an appointment by President Clinton to serve as managing director of the Corporation for
National and Community Service, leaving his legislative office in September 1997. Caldera has been a trustee of the Mexican
American Bar Association of Los Angeles County, was a co-founder of the Latino Lawyers Committee, and committee chair of the
Government Affairs Council of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.
During his tenure in the Legislature, Louis Caldera was a member of the following committees.
Leadership
Assembly Democratic Economic Prosperity Team, 1993-1994
Assistant Democratic Floor Leader, 1994
Assembly Standing Committees
Banking and Finance, 1995-1998
*Vice-Chair, 1996
Budget, 1995
Consumer Protection, Governmental Efficiency and Economic Development, 1993-1994
Education, 1997
Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials, 1996
Finance, Insurance and Public Investment, 1993-1994
*Vice-Chair, 1993-1994
Higher Education, 1995-1997
Judiciary, 1993-1994, 1997
Revenue and Taxation, 1993-1997
*Chair, 1997
Assembly Select Committees
Gun Violence, 1994-1997
*Chair, 1994-1997
Statewide Immigration Impact, 1993-1994
Assembly Subcommittees
Budget #3: Resources, Transportation, Agriculture and the Environment, 1995
*Chair, 1995
Budget #4: State Administration, 1995
Scope and Content
The Louis Caldera Papers contain six record series dating over a 5-year time period (1993-1997) and include 10 cubic feet
of textual records. The six record series include: Bill Files, Correspondence, Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) Files,
Gun Violence Files, Press Clippings, and Subject Files.
The Correspondence (1995-1997) and Press Clippings (1993-1997) series provide insight into the daily workings of Caldera's
offices. The Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) Files, 1993-1997, documents Caldera's unflagging efforts to promote progressive
Democratic Party platforms in California.
The Bill Files (1993-1998), Gun Violence Files (1993-1998), and the Subject Files (1992-1996) document his advocacy of gun
control, child safety, reduction of teen pregnancy, and corporate responsibility. Together, with the DLC Files, the records
paint a picture of Caldera's attempts to apply progressive Democratic Party objectives to the issues facing his constituents
during his three terms as a member of the California State Legislature.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Education, Higher - California
California. Legislature. Assembly. Committee on Revenue and Taxation
Consumer protection - California