The Wizard of Sacramento: Governor Jerry Brown

By William Smithers

As the year 2018 became history, it is possible – though never certain – that the remarkable political career of Edmund Gerald “Jerry” Brown, Jr., Governor of California for the second of two two-term periods, has come to an end.

It is therefore appropriate - in fact this author believes it is necessary - to review and examine the fundamental character and significant practice of this long-lived political figure.

This is an independent assessment of the nature, priorities, politics and governmental methods of Jerry Brown as California governor, especially as they are to be found in this decade.

The focus is California.

To date the author has found no publication, especially among mainstream media, that compiles all recent relevant Brownian history and draws from it what he sees inevitable conclusions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: William Smithers
• Release date: Jun 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463596494

William Smithers

William Smithers had a 40-year career as actor/director in theater, film, television and radio.He received a Theater World Award for his Broadway debut as Tybalt in “Romeo and Juliet,” starring Olivia deHavilland and an Obie Award for his performance as Treplev in Checkov's “The Sea Gull.”He has appeared in six feature films, including “Attack!” and “Papillon,” and has appeared or guest-starred in nearly 400 television programs, including “Peyton Place,” “Executive Suite,” and as Jeremy Wendell in the original series “Dallas.”He now lives in Santa Barbara, CA with wife Lorrie Hull Smithers, author of “Strasberg's Method: As Taught by Lorrie Hull.”He produced and directed "The Santa Barbara Theatre of the Air," radio presentations of works of some of the world's most gifted playwrights (George Bernard Shaw, Arthur Miller, Anton Chekhov and many others) available for enjoyment at www,sb-radiodrama.com.In 2015 he was appointed by Santa Barbara's city council to its Arts Advisory Committee."The Wizard of Sacramento: Governor Jerry Brown" is his first published effort.

Book preview

THE WIZARD OF SACRAMENTO

Governor Jerry Brown

BY

WILLIAM SMITHERS

Copyright © 2020 Wiliam Smithers

All rights reserved.

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"The people of this state do not yield

their sovereignty to the agencies

which serve them."

R. Rex Parris

CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

Chapter One: The Setup

Chapter Two: The Accumulation

Chapter Three: The Struggle

Chapter Four: Cosa Nostra California

Chapter Five: Mapping for Profit

Chapter Six: Grease

Chapter Seven: All in the Family

Chapter Eight: Get the Lead Out

Chapter Nine: The Caped Crusader

Chapter Ten: Conclusion

Epilogue

References

PREFACE

As the year 2018 became history, it is possible – though never certain – that the remarkable political career of Edmund Gerald Jerry Brown, Jr., Governor of California for the second of two two-term periods, has come to an end.

It is therefore appropriate – in fact this author believes it is necessary – to review and examine the fundamental character and significant practice of this long-lived political figure.

This is not a biography.

It is an independent assessment of the nature, priorities, politics and governmental methods of Jerry Brown as California governor, especially as they are to be found in this decade.

The focus is California.

Many environmental, consumer-oriented and fair-governmental-practices organizations have issued studies of far greater dimension and illustrative depth regarding individual issues considered here than I have presented.

But to date I have found no publication, especially among mainstream media, that compiles all recent relevant Brownian history and draws from it what I see as inevitable conclusions.

INTRODUCTION

Throughout much of Jerry Brown’s political lifetime, many observers, including journalists, have labeled him Governor Moonbeam, - a nickname given him by former girlfriend rock-star Linda Ronstadt. The moniker intends to describe a kooky, somewhat wayward politico employing zen and Jesuit intellectualism in pursuit of his executive methods. But these observers often go AWOL when faced with the un-zen-like grittiness of Brown’s actual political performances.

Brown has compiled a remarkable political career, from appointment to the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees, to California Secretary of State, CA Attorney General, chair of the Democratic Party, two terms as governor, Mayor of Oakland, one failed senate and three failed presidential bids and finally (perhaps) the second of his California gubernatorial residencies ending in 2018.

Throughout this political life – but most especially in recent years - Brown has worn a public mantle that belies his behavior.

Those who notice seem few.

Edmund Gerald Brown, Junior, Jerry, was born April 7, 1938 to mother Bernice Layne Brown and father Pat Brown, an up-and-coming attorney who himself became two-term California governor. Whether son Jerry absorbed as a youngster the life-long duality we review here as he watched father Pat’s meetings