Brown, Edward G.

Brown, Edward G. ( ‘Pat’ Brown) (b. 21 Apr. 1905; d. 16. Feb. 1996) US; Governor of California 1958–66 The young Brown studied law at evening classes. He was a successful lawyer, though always interested in politics. He started as a Republican and tried for election to the state assembly in 1928. By 1939 he had become a Democrat and was elected District Attorney of San Francisco (1943–50). This was a launching pad for his successful bid to become State Attorney-General for California in 1950. He was the only Democrat to win State-wide office that year and remained in the post for eight years. In 1958 he launched a bid for the governorship which was successful. His ‘folksy’ manner made him popular with the voters and he was only the second Democrat to be elected to that post. In his spell as Governor, Democrats controlled both Houses of the legislature, the first time this had happened since 1889. Brown was on the liberal wing of the party and his opposition to the death penalty brought him much trouble. His indecisiveness angered both supporters and opponents of the policy. He made clear his abhorrence of executions yet often authorized them on the grounds that he was upholding the law. In 1962 he was challenged by Richard Nixon, who was trying for a political comeback after his defeat in the 1960 presidential race. Brown won the election by over 300,000 votes. Brown's tenure was marked by impressive economic growth in the state and he could point to expansion of school and higher education, the highway system, and an irrigation scheme which supplied water to the desert areas in Southern California. His second term was marred by race riots in Watts, Los Angeles, in which thirty-four people died and great damage was done to the downtown LA area. There was a backlash against disturbances on California University campuses, rising crime, and protests against the Vietnam War. California opinion was moving to the right and the beneficiary of this was his Republican opponent Ronald Reagan. In 1966 Reagan beat him decisively in the race for Governor.

Brown returned to his law practice but his name lived on in Californian politics as his son, Jerry, served twice as Governor and his daughter Kathleen tried and failed for the office.