Jerry Brown

Jerry Brown – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Explore the remarkable life and long political career of Jerry Brown (born April 7, 1938)—former California governor, mayor, attorney general—and his philosophy, legacy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Edmund Gerald “Jerry” Brown Jr. is an American politician, lawyer, and public servant whose career spans more than half a century. Often known for his willingness to reinvent himself, he has held a variety of roles: Governor of California (twice, nonconsecutive), Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Mayor of Oakland. Brown’s political style blends pragmatism, idealism, environmentalism, and a sometimes unconventional personal philosophy. In this article we delve into his early life, his political trajectory, his philosophy and style, key achievements and controversies, a selection of his quotes, and lessons from his life of public service.

Early Life and Education

• Born: April 7, 1938 in San Francisco, California

• He is the only son of Pat Brown (Edmund G. Brown Sr.), who was himself Governor of California from 1959 to 1967, and Bernice Layne Brown.

• His family background exposed him early to politics and public life; his father’s political career gave him access to the inner workings of California politics.

• Education: He first attended Santa Clara University, then entered a Jesuit novitiate (with the intent of pursuing priesthood) from 1956 to 1960.

• After leaving the novitiate, he enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a B.A. in classics in 1961.

• He then completed his legal training at Yale Law School (LLB)

• Early in his career, Brown practiced law and engaged in public service, setting the stage for his entrance into electoral politics.

Brown’s early life reflects both the influence of a political dynasty and a period of spiritual inquiry, which later informed his idiosyncratic approach to governance.

Political Career & Achievements

Jerry Brown’s political trajectory is unusual in its duration, diversity, and multiple returns to power. Below is a summary of his major political roles:

Secretary of State of California (1971–1975)

• Brown was elected California Secretary of State in 1970, and served from 1971 until he became governor in 1975.

• In that capacity, he took on reforms in campaign disclosure and election law.

First Governorship (1975–1983)

• In 1974, Brown ran for governor and won, becoming at the time the youngest California governor in more than a century.

• He was re-elected in 1978, serving two consecutive terms.

• During this era, Brown promoted fiscal restraint, environmental regulation, and institutional reforms. He also cultivated a persona that earned him the nickname “Governor Moonbeam” for some of his forward-looking, nontraditional proposals.

• Among notable acts, he signed into law AB 489 (decriminalizing consensual adult homosexual behavior in California) and made early judicial appointments including openly gay judges—moves seen as progressive for that time.

Time Out & Attempts at National Office

• After 1983, Brown explored various roles: he ran for U.S. Senate (unsuccessfully in 1982), and made presidential runs in 1976, 1980, and 1992.

• In 1982 he declined to run for a third term as governor, opting instead for the Senate bid, which he lost to Pete Wilson.

Mayor of Oakland (1999–2007)

• Returning to public life, Brown ran as an independent (having left the Democratic Party for a time) for mayor of Oakland and won.

• He pushed to transform the mayor's office into a “strong mayor” system (giving the mayor executive authority over city departments) which was approved by referendum.

• During his tenure, he pursued infrastructure redevelopment, city planning, and efforts to attract investment in Oakland.

California Attorney General (2007–2011)

• Brown was elected California’s Attorney General in 2006 and served from 2007 to 2011.

• In that role, he oversaw law enforcement, state-level litigation, and legal oversight of state governments.

Second Governorship (2011–2019)

• Brown won election in 2010 (taking office in January 2011) and then re-election in 2014.

• He thus became both the oldest and, cumulatively, one of the longest-serving governors in U.S. history—serving a total of 16 years and 5 days across nonconsecutive terms.

• Brown’s second tenure focused heavily on budget discipline, climate change leadership, infrastructure investment, education reform, and limiting pension liabilities.

• He also expanded California’s role in international climate agreements and built cooperative ties with other nations and states on environmental policy.

Philosophy, Style & Personality

Jerry Brown is notable not just for his political achievements, but for his evolving philosophy, reinventions, and personal approach:

• Spiritual and intellectual curiosity: His early stint in a Jesuit novitiate, his later interest in Zen and Buddhism, and his lifelong reading habits influenced how he perceives governance beyond partisan lines.

• “Era of limits” & ecological awareness: During his 1980 presidential run, Brown proposed what he called an “era of limits” philosophy: recognition that resources and environmental constraints impose boundaries on growth.

• Pragmatism, not ideology: He has often combined progressive goals with fiscal restraint, emphasizing that good governance requires both ambition and discipline.

• Independent posture and contrarian streak: Brown has at times distanced himself from the national party, run as an independent, and embraced proposals that diverged from conventional Democratic lines—particularly on reform, institutional change, and skepticism of entrenched power.

• Focus on climate & global role for states: In his later years as governor, he saw California as not just a U.S. state, but as a global actor in climate policy and environmental diplomacy.

Brown’s style often blends seriousness with eclecticism: he has been known for driving old Volkswagens, meditative practices, nontraditional proposals, and an aversion to ceremony when possible.

Selected Quotes

Below are several memorable quotes by Jerry Brown that reflect his philosophy, concerns, and rhetorical voice:

1. “The conventional viewpoint says we need a jobs program and we need to cut welfare. Just the opposite! We need more welfare and fewer jobs.”

2. “Pension reform can be hard to talk about. In the long run, reform now means fewer demands for layoffs and less draconian measures in the future. It’s in the best interest of all Californians to fix this system now.”

3. “In some cases, managers and employees have secured pensions beyond their original base salary. It is wrong, the people doing it know it’s wrong, and we have to put an end to it.”

4. “Prisons don’t rehabilitate, they don’t punish, they don’t protect, so what the hell do they do?”

5. “Jobs for every American is doomed to failure because of modern automation and production. We ought to recognize it and create an income-maintenance system so every single American has the dignity and the wherewithal for shelter, basic food, and medical care. I’m talking about welfare for all.”

6. “The government is becoming the family of last resort.”

7. “When the farmer can sell directly to the consumer, it is a more active process. … The consumer can know, who am I buying this from? … Is the food they are selling coming out of Mexico with pesticides?”

8. “There is nothing so desperately monotonous as the sea, and I no longer wonder at the cruelty of pirates.” — This is among a more poetic quote sometimes attributed to him.

These quotes show his willingness to challenge orthodoxies on jobs, welfare, criminal justice, governance, and economics.

Legacy, Challenges & Criticism

Legacy & Influence

• Brown is one of the few politicians to return to high office decades after first serving, demonstrating political resilience and adaptability.

• His environmental and climate leadership in his later terms has positioned California as a model for subnational climate policy, especially when federal cooperation was limited.

• His approach to infrastructure, fiscal discipline, and willingness to engage internationally broadened the view of what a U.S. governor might do beyond state borders.

• Brown’s blending of spirituality, global perspective, and institutional work has inspired politicians and reformers who try to balance ideals and administrative realities.

Criticism & Controversies

• Skeptics have accused him of being inconsistent—prominent in his early years for symbolic or visionary proposals, then more moderate or cautious later.

• Some of his proposals, especially during his first governorship, were labeled impractical or quixotic (hence the nickname “Moonbeam”).

• In his later terms, critics claimed that climate and infrastructure ambitions sometimes outpaced fiscal constraints or led to tensions in California’s budget and pension systems.

• His departure from and reentry into public office gave opponents opportunities to raise questions about motives or political calculation.

Lessons from Jerry Brown’s Life

1. Reinvention is possible
   Brown’s career shows that one need not be defined by early roles—he transitioned from young “progressive governor” to mayor to attorney general to elder statesman.

2. Long-term thinking matters
   His advocacy for climate action, institutional reform, and infrastructure reflects a vision that extends beyond election cycles.

3. Balance idealism and realism
   Brown combined ambitious ideas with attention to budgets, constraints, and durability.

4. Subnational leadership has global impact
   Even as a state leader, Brown saw opportunity to influence international climate policy and cooperation.

5. Philosophy and public service can coexist
   His spiritual explorations and curious mind were not mere affectations but informed how he approached policy and governance.

Conclusion

Jerry Brown occupies a rare place in American politics: someone whose career spans eras, who has served in many capacities, and who remains intellectually engaged throughout. His story is not just one of political longevity, but of evolution: from youthful dreamer to pragmatic elder statesman, from local to global focus, from the “Moonbeam” moniker to climate warrior. His life offers lessons in resilience, vision, and the complexity of governing a diverse, populous, and powerful state.