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George Deukme gian

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George Deukme gian
Deukme gian in 2010
35thGovernor of California
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1991
LieutenantLeo T. McCarthy
Preceded byJerry Brown
Succeeded byPete Wilson
27thAttorney General of California
In office
January 8, 1979 – January 3, 1983
GovernorJerry Brown
Preceded byEvelle J. Younger
Succeeded byJohn Van de Kamp
Member of theCalifornia State Senate
In office
January 2, 1967 – January 8, 1979
Preceded byGordon Cologne
Succeeded byOllie Speraw
Constituency31st district(1977–1979)
37th district(1967–1977)
Member of theCalifornia State Assembly
from the39thdistrict
In office
January 7, 1963 – January 2, 1967
Preceded byJohn C. Williamson
Succeeded byJames A. Hayes
Personal details
Born
Courken George Deukme gian Jr.

(1928-06-06)June 6, 1928
Menands, New York,U.S.
DiedMay 8, 2018(2018-05-08)(aged 89)
Long Beach, California,U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
​
(m.1957)​
Children3
EducationSiena College(BA)
St. John's University, New York(JD)
Signature
Nickname"The Iron Duke"[1][2][3]
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1953–1955
RankCaptain
UnitArmy JAG Corps

Courken George Deukme gian Jr.(/djuːkˈmeɪdʒən/[4] dyook-MAY-jən;June 6, 1928 – May 8, 2018) was an American politician who served as the35th governor of Californiafrom 1983 to 1991. A member of theRepublican Party,he was the state's first governor ofArmenian descent.

Born inNew York,Deukme gian moved to California in 1955. He was elected to theState Assemblyin 1962 to representLong Beach.Four years later he was elected into theState Senateand later served as the Senate's minority leader. In1970,Deukme gian unsuccessfully ran forAttorney General of California,finishing fourth in the Republican primary. In1978he secured the nomination and defeatedYvonne Brathwaite Burketo become the state's 27th attorney general. As attorney general, he led a veto override against GovernorJerry Brown,who had vetoed legislation to authorize thedeath penaltyinthe state.

After Governor Brown did not seek reelection in1982,Deukme gian won the Republican nomination for governor and facedLos Angeles mayorTom Bradleyin the general election. Although opinion polls showed that Bradley had a favorable lead in the race, Deukme gian narrowly won the election outright. In1986,Deukme gian defeated Bradley again for a much larger victory. As governor, Deukme gian made a name for being tough on crime, presenting himself to be in favor of "law and order".Under his administration, the California prison population nearly tripled, and he increased spending for the building of new prisons.

Deukme gian retired from front-line politics in 1991 and was succeeded as governor by fellow RepublicanPete Wilson.

Early life and education

[edit]

Deukme gian was born Courken George Deukme gian Jr. inMenands, New York.[5]His parents wereArmeniansborn in theArmenian highlands,who emigrated from theOttoman Empire(present-dayTurkey) to the United States in the early 1900s. His father, Courken George Deukme gian, whose sister was killed during theArmenian Genocide,[6][7]was a rug merchant born inAintab.[8]Deukme gian 's mother, Alice Gairden,[9]was born inKarin;in the United States she worked forMontgomery Wardand later for New York State.[10]

Deukme gian attended local schools. For college, he graduated in 1949 with aB.A.inSociologyfromSiena College.[9][1]He earned aJuris Doctor(J.D.) fromSt. John's Universityin New York City in 1952.[11]From 1953 to 1955, he served in theU.S. Army,assigned to theJudge Advocate General's Corps(JAG).[12][13]

Deukme gian moved to California in 1955 where his sister, Anna Ash gian, was living and there was a large Armenian community. She introduced him to his future wifeGloria Saat gian,a bank teller whose parents were also immigrants fromArmenia.[10]They married on February 16, 1957.[14]He and his wife had three children: two daughters, born in 1964 and 1969; and one son, born in 1966.[1]

Political career

[edit]
Deukme gian withGovernorRonald Reagansigning the 1973 California death penalty bill.

Deukme gian entered politics in California after a short period of private legal practice inLong BeachalongsideMalcolm M. Lucas.[15]In 1962, Deukme gian was elected to represent Long Beach in theState Assembly.[16]

In 1966, he was elected as astate senator,serving from 1967 to 1979.[16]He was a high-profile advocate forcapital punishment.[17]By 1969, he was theMajority Leaderof the California State Senate.[16]

He first ran forAttorney General of Californiain 1970, finishing fourth in the Republican primary.[18]He won the election for Attorney General in1978and served from 1979 to 1983.[18]During this time, he led a high-profile campaign againstcannabisin northern California, which later became theCampaign Against Marijuana Planting.[19]Additionally, he led a veto override against GovernorJerry Brown,who had vetoed legislation to authorize thedeath penalty.[3]

Governorship

[edit]

Deukme gian was elected in1982to his first term asGovernor of California.He first defeatedLieutenant GovernorMike Curb,arecording companyowner, in the Republican primary.[20][21]One of his early primary backers was former gubernatorial candidate Joe Shell ofBakersfield,a conservative who had opposedRichard M. Nixonin the 1962 California primary.[22]Upon his victory,The New York Timesreported,

The image that comes across of Mr. Deukme gian  — a devoted family man, an Episcopal churchman, an ice cream lover — led one reporter to write, "California may have accidentally elected Iowa's Governor".[23]

In the general election, Deukme gian ran as a conservative supporter of public safety and balanced budgets.[24]In addition, he was strongly critical of outgoing Governor Jerry Brown and promised to run a very different administration.[20]He strongly criticized theSupreme Court of California,which was dominated by Brown appointees, notably controversial Chief JusticeRose Bird.[25]

Deukme gian (left) with LAPD ChiefDaryl Gatesand County SheriffSherman Block,1986.

Deukme gian narrowly defeatedLos AngelesMayorTom Bradleyin the general election.[3]Deukme gian won the election by about 100,000 votes, about 1.2 percent of the 7.5 million votes cast.[26]The victory came despiteopinion pollsleading up to the election that consistently showed Bradley with a lead, and despiteexit pollingconducted after voting closed that led some news organizations on the night of the election to make early projections of a Bradley victory.[27][28]The discrepancy between the polling numbers and the election's ultimate results would come to be termed the "Bradley effect",which refers to a hypothesized tendency of white voters to tell interviewers or pollsters that they are undecided or likely to vote for a black candidate, but they actually vote for his opponent.[28]

Deukme gian 's governorship was certainly a departure from that of his predecessor,Jerry Brown.[29]He vowed not to raise taxes,[30][31]later saying that he was "business friendly".[32]In addition, he presented himself as a "law and order" candidate, proposing new efforts to fight crime.[16]He faced a Democrat-dominatedCalifornia State Legislatureduring his two terms as governor.[20]He was the sole Republican statewide officeholder untilThomas W. Hayeswas appointedCalifornia State Treasurer,following the death of TreasurerJesse Unruh.[24]

In 1983, Deukme gian abolished theCaltransOffice of Bicycle Facilitiesand reduced state spending for bicycle projects from $5 million to the statutory minimum of $360,000 per year.[33]In 1984, he vetoed A.B. 1, the first bill to ban discrimination against gays and lesbians, which passed the Legislature.[34]

Deukme gian with PresidentRonald Reaganin theOval Office,1983

In1986,Bradley sought a rematch, and Deukme gian defeated him by a 60% to 37% percent margin.[26]He was generally regarded as a moderate-to-conservativeRepublican.[16]

The Deukme gian administration began during a national economicrecession.[35]He halted the hiring of new state employees and banned out-of-state travel for those in government.[36]He rejected the legislature's demands for tax hikes, and pared $1.1 billion from its budget by selectively vetoing spending items.[37]One year later, further cuts, along with a nationwide economic rebound that benefited the state, created a billion dollarsurplusfor 1985.[38]His 1985 budget slightly increased spending in highway construction, but cut deeply into the education, health, welfare and environmental budgets.[39]For this he was roundly criticized, and the cuts probably led to his low polling numbers at the end of his tenure as governor.[40][41]

Three years later, Deukme gian faced his own billion dollar deficit.[42]He supported a raise in the state minimum wage in 1989.[43]

Deukme gian largely made his career by being tough on crime.[16]When he was in the legislature, he wrote California'scapital punishmentlaw.[16]As a candidate for re-election, in 1986 he opposed the retention election of three Brown-appointed justices of theSupreme Court of Californiadue to their consistent opposition to the death penalty in any and all circumstances.[44][26]The best known of these wasRose Bird,the first female Chief Justice of the Court (and the first one to be voted off).[26]Deukme gian elevated his friend and law partner,Malcolm Lucas,fromAssociate JusticetoChief Justice,and appointed three new associate justices.[7]Under Deukme gian, the California prison population nearly tripled — as of December 31, 1982, the total prison population stood at 34,640 inmates.[35]He increased spending for the building of new prisons.[35]

In 1988, then-Vice PresidentGeorge H. W. Bushconsidered Deukme gian as a possible running matefor thepresidential electionthat year.[45]During a trade mission toSouth Koreain August, Deukme gian sent a letter saying he could not be considered for nomination, refusing to leave the governorship to Democratic Lieutenant GovernorLeo T. McCarthy.[45]

Deukme gian did not seek re-election to a third term as governor in the1990 gubernatorial elections.[24]The Republicans instead nominated sitting United States SenatorPete Wilson,who defeatedDianne Feinsteinin the general election.[24]He was the last governor not affected by the two-term limit that was passed by voters in 1990.[16]

On October 1, 1989, Deukme gian signed legislation authorizing the purchasing of health insurance by uninsured Californians suffering from catastrophic serious illnesses, such asAIDS,cancer,diabetes,andheart disease,to be funded throughtobacco taxrevenues.[46]

In 1991, in his last days in office, he vetoed the property tax exemption bill that applied to companies building solar in California.[47]This exemption was focused toward theSolar Energy Generating Systems(SEGS) plants then being built byLuz International Limited (Luz).[47]The veto led to the bankruptcy of Luz.[47]

Post-governorship

[edit]
Jerry Brown(left),Gray Davis(center) and Deukme gian (right) in September 2010

Deukme gian was a partner in the law firm ofSidley & Austinfrom 1991 until 2000 when he retired.[16][24]He reentered public life by serving on special committees, including one to reform the California penal system, and a charter-reform committee in his hometown of Long Beach.[48]He oversaw a revamping of theUCLAWilled Body Program after a scandal involving the sale of human body partsdonated for science.[49]In 2013, a courthouse in Long Beach was named in his honor.[2][50]Deukme gian received an honorary doctor of laws degree fromCalifornia State University, Long Beach,in 2008, because of his support for education, state law, and Long Beach.[51]In 2015, he was given theKey to the Cityof Long Beach.[52]

Death

[edit]

Deukme gian died of natural causes at his home on May 8, 2018, at the age of 89.[7]California GovernorJerry Brownsaid onTwitter:"George Deukme gian was a popular governor and made friends across the political aisle. Anne and I join all Californians in expressing our deepest condolences to his family and friends".[53]He resided in theBelmont Parkneighborhood of Long Beach for over 51 years.[54]Throughout his adult life, he was a member ofAll Saints Episcopal Churchin Long Beach.[55]

References

[edit]
  1. ^abc"George Deukme gian, ex-governor of California, dies".San Francisco Gate.May 8, 2018. Archived fromthe originalon May 9, 2018.RetrievedMay 8,2018.
  2. ^abLuther, Claudia; Paddock, Richard C. (May 8, 2018)."George Deukme gian dead at 89, public safety and law-and-order dominated two-term governor's agenda".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMay 9,2018.
  3. ^abcRonayne, Kathleen; Oberthur, Anna; Bollag, Sophia; Thompson, Dan (May 8, 2018)."George Deukme gian, ex-governor of California, dies".Fox News.Associated Press.RetrievedMay 9,2018.
  4. ^"Deukme gian".The CMU Pronouncing Dictionary.Archived fromthe originalon February 18, 2012.RetrievedDecember 21,2011.
  5. ^"Former California Gov. George Deukme gian, 89".Court House News. May 10, 2018.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  6. ^"Leading the way to justice in South Africa".Los Angeles Times.December 11, 2013.RetrievedDecember 11,2013.
  7. ^abcLuther, Claudia; Paddock, Richard (May 8, 2018)."George Deukme gian dead at 89, public safety and law-and-order dominated two-term governor's agenda".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMay 8,2018.The son of Armenian immigrants, Deukme gian had years of public office on his resumé before winning election as governor and emerging as the most prominent Armenian American politician in the United States.
  8. ^"HONESTY AS THE BEST POLICY".Aurora Prize.RetrievedMay 9,2018.
  9. ^abLibrary, California State."Governors of California – George Deukme gian".governors.library.ca.gov.RetrievedMarch 1,2018.
  10. ^ab"Former governor continues a quest".USC News. May 10, 2018.
  11. ^"Deukme gian, George".Our Campaigns. May 10, 2018.
  12. ^"Former California Governor Deukme gian Dies at 89".Long Beach Post. May 10, 2018.
  13. ^Koseff, Alexei."Former California Gov. George Deukme gian Dies".Archived fromthe originalon July 1, 2018.RetrievedJune 19,2020.
  14. ^"Gloria Deukme gian"First Ladies of Californiaretrieved May 8, 2018
  15. ^Dolan, Maura (September 29, 2016)."Former Chief Justice Malcolm Lucas, who steered state's top court to the right, dies at 89".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedOctober 1,2016.
  16. ^abcdefghi"George Deukme gian, two-term Calif. governor who espoused law and order, dies at 89".The Washington Post.May 9, 2018.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  17. ^BALZAR, JOHN (August 20, 1985)."Governor a Long-Term Participant in Politics of Capital Punishment".RetrievedMarch 1,2018– via LA Times.
  18. ^ab"George Deukme gian dead at 89, public safety and law-and-order dominated two-term governor's agenda".The Los Angeles Times.May 10, 2018.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  19. ^"What California drivers should remember on 4/20, now that cannabis is legalized".Sacramento Bee.May 10, 2018.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  20. ^abc"Former Gov. George Deukme gian dies at 89".The Sacramento Bee.May 8, 2018.RetrievedMay 8,2018.
  21. ^"Former California Governor George Deukme gian Dies at 89".ABC News.May 10, 2018.
  22. ^"Dan Walters: For Joe Shell, character counted".Press-Telegram.April 8, 2008.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  23. ^Turner, Wallace (January 5, 1983)."Man in the News; A New Chief in California: George Deukme gian Jr".The New York Times.RetrievedAugust 18,2018.
  24. ^abcde"George Deukme gian, 2-Term California Governor in the '80s, Dies at 89".The New York Times.May 8, 2018.RetrievedMay 8,2018.
  25. ^"California Elections: Deukme gian, Bird Sharpen Attacks as Vote Nears".Los Angeles Times.October 18, 1986.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  26. ^abcdLindsey, Robert (November 6, 1986)."The Elections : The Story in Some Key States; Deukme gian and Cranston Win as 3 Judges are Ousted".The New York Times.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  27. ^Perez, Simon (October 9, 2008),Could Bradley Effect Change November Election?,KPIX-TV,archived fromthe originalon December 5, 2008,Political Consultant Don Solem explains: 'It's not so much they're afraid to say it as they think it might be taken the wrong way.' Solem said the Bradley Effect is also known as social desirability bias.
  28. ^abRojas, Aurelio (October 9, 2008)."California poll on Prop. 8 could show 'Bradley effect'".Sacramento Bee.Archived fromthe originalon October 21, 2008.'Anyone who studies survey research will tell you one of the biggest problems we encounter is this notion of social desirability bias,' [Patrick Egan, a professor of politics at New York University] said.
  29. ^"George Deukme gian, Ex-Governor of California, Dies".US News.May 8, 2018.RetrievedMay 8,2018.
  30. ^"George Deukme gian, former California Gov., Dies at 89".Idaho Statesman.May 9, 2018.RetrievedMay 9,2018.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^Ellis, Virginia (May 10, 1990)."No Tax Hikes While He's in Office, Governor Vows".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  32. ^"Long Beach's George Deukme gian: At 83, a quiet retirement".Press-Telegram.July 4, 2011.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  33. ^Alan Wachtel (1990)."A History of CABO"(PDF).Bicycle USA.RetrievedApril 17,2009.
  34. ^"California rider-ed threatened by veto".American Motorcyclist.Pickerington, Ohio:American Motorcyclist Association.July 1985. p. 55.RetrievedMay 8,2018.
  35. ^abc"George Deukme gian, ex-governor of California, dies at 89".Los Angeles Daily News.May 8, 2018.RetrievedMay 8,2018.
  36. ^"2011: Milestones and Accomplishments"(PDF).Governor of California. May 10, 2018. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on July 28, 2018.
  37. ^"News Analysis : A Split Decision on Deukme gian 's Legacy : Governor: Increasing prison space and imprint on judiciary are among his accomplishments. Critics say he lacked vision and was stubborn".Los Angeles Times.December 30, 1990.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  38. ^"California Taxpayers To Get $1 Billion In Rebates".The New York Times.July 8, 1987.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  39. ^"The Power of American Governors"(PDF).May 29, 2012.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  40. ^Magnuson, Ed (January 17, 1983)."New Governor, New Style".Time.Archived fromthe originalon December 22, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 21,2011.
  41. ^Stanley, Alessandra (January 23, 1984)."California's Down-to-Earth Duke".Time.Archived fromthe originalon January 22, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 21,2011.
  42. ^"Homeless Activists Boo Wilson : Deficit: Governor defends his program in the face of anger directed at his plan to cut benefits for the poor to avert a budget shortage".Los Angeles Times.May 13, 1990.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  43. ^"Deukme gian Appeals for Support of Worker Compensation Reform".Los Angeles Times.May 12, 1989.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  44. ^"Judges and the Politics of Death"(PDF).Corwin. July 21, 2011.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  45. ^ab"Californian Removes Himself From Running for No. 2 Spot".The New York Times.The Associated Press. August 5, 1988.RetrievedJanuary 21,2011.
  46. ^"Governor OKs Insurance Aid to Catastrophic Illness Victims".Los Angeles Times.October 2, 1989.
  47. ^abcMadrigal, Alexis (2011). Book Factory (ed.).Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology.Da Capo Press (Perseus Book Group). pp.132.ISBN978-0-306-81885-1.
  48. ^"ANCA-WR Mourns Gov. George Deukme gian 's Passing".Asbarez.May 10, 2018.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  49. ^"UCLA Suspends Body-Donor Program After Alleged Abuses".The Los Angeles Times.March 10, 2004.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  50. ^Puente, Kelly (August 27, 2013)."City's new courthouse shines".Orange County Register.RetrievedMay 9,2018.
  51. ^"George Deukme gian".California State University.RetrievedMay 10,2018.
  52. ^Grobaty, Tim (December 1, 2015)."Mayor Robert Garcia bestowing keys to the city; we're locked out".Press Telegram.
  53. ^"Jerry Brown on Twitter".Twitter. May 8, 2018.RetrievedMay 8,2018.
  54. ^"Long Beach's George Deukme gian: At 83, a quiet retirement".Press Telegram.July 4, 2011.
  55. ^Gladstone, Mark (January 4, 1990)."Deukme gian Often Finds Appointees Close to Home".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 19,2022.
[edit]
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California Assembly
Preceded by Member of theCalifornia Assembly
from the39thdistrict
1963–1967 		Succeeded by
California Senate
Preceded by Member of theCalifornia Senate
from the31stdistrict
1967–1977 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of theCalifornia Senate
from the37thdistrict
1977–1979 		Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of California
1979–1983 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republicannominee forGovernor of California
1982,1986 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of California
1983–1991 		Succeeded by
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