John Burton, A San Francisco Democrat

Few politicians have the experience of John Lowell Burton – the state Assembly, Congress and state Senate, where he served as president pro tem, and chairman of the California Democratic Party. In this two-part oral history, Burton recalls what it was like to deal face-to-face with California governors and offers a deep inside look at how legislators really work, including tips on how to “low ball” a bill and out-fox Ronald Reagan.

This video oral history, recorded July 19, 2018 in San Francisco, was made possible by a grant from the California State Library. It has been edited for clarity and continuity.

John Burton, Part 1

John Burton, Part 2

Part 1 Transcript

Part 2 Transcript

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