Edmund G. ‘Jerry’ Brown Jr. for President 1976 Campaign Brochure

‘A new spirit for America’

California's Governor Brown on the Presidency:

"The way you restore confidence in government is by having it be honest with itself, not over-selling and over promising; and that begins with the Presidency.  The president is a human being like everybody else, no genius, no magic - he must be honest and have some vision of where we're going as a people.  He must set a tone, chart the destiny, describe the future. 

"He must recognize that while the resources of our people, our country and our planet are limited, there is much to be done.  We must keep working away our problems while honestly telling the people what we can and can't do.  It's going to be difficult, but I think we can do a lot better."

Edmund G. Brown, Jr. is the most popular chief executive in California's history. He recently achieved a popularity rating of 84% with the people of our state.

Some highlights, as governor:

Since his election in 1974 Governor Brown has held the line on taxes for two straight budgets, presenting tighter spending programs than his predecessor, Ronald Reagan.  Brown slowed down the growth of state government, instituting a 7% reduction in the salaries of governor's office employees and a program to reduce frills in education, and abolished unproductive state agencies.  Yet he has greatly expanded California's criminal justice, environmental, consumer protection, and employment programs. 

In the criminal justice field, Brown signed laws imposing mandatory prison sentences on heroin pushers and criminals convicted of using a gun during a major crime. 

Brown appointed more women and minorities to top state offices than ever before, including the first two women ever to serve the Governor's Cabinet. 

Under his direction, California adopted the toughest automobile anti-smog standards in the nation.  He led a successful fight to eliminate the oil depletion allowance and the closing of tax loop-holes which had benefited large corporations, banks, insurance companies and the extremely wealthy. 

He set up an authority to provide loans for moderate and low income housing construction and a boost employment in the construction field.  He accelerated the state's Clean Water Construction, programmed to provide thousands of jobs and at the same time improve sewerage and water facilities. 

Some background:

Governor Brown studied for the priesthood at Sacred Heart Novitiate for four years.  He then entered the University of California to receive his undergraduate degree and the Yale Law School for his law degree. 

In 1970 he was elected Secretary of State of California.  He immediately set about forming the political process, forcing the disclosure of millions of dollars of previously secret political contributions and giving California that toughest contribution reporting requirements in the Nation. 

In 1967 he began his public career by helping form the California Peace Slate to oppose the Vietnam War.