Oral history interview with Milton Marks ... oral history transcript, 1996

560 Pages·6.2 MB·English

by  Marks, Milton

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STATE GOVERNMENT
ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM
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California State Archives
State Government Oral History Program
Oral History Interview
with
MILTON MARKS
California State Assembly 1958-1966
California State Senate 1967-1996
January 23, 1996, January 24, 1996,
January 25, 1996, February 27, 1996,
February 28, 1996
Sacramento, California
By Donald B. Seney
California State Archives
Volume One

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTERVIEW HISTORY
i
BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY
ii
SESSION 1, January 23, 1996
[Tape 1, Side A] 1
Grandparents and Parents-The political career ofSenator Marks father-
Memories of childhood-Milton Marks, Sr. s career as a legislator and an
attorneyWhy the Marks family was Republican Senator Marks mother Milton
Marks, Sr. s term on the San Francisco Board ofSupervisors Growing up in the
Richmond District Going to School Acquiring political values Attending
Galileo High School-Stanford University.
[Tape 1, Side B] 21
Stanford University The coming ofWWII Military Service The Phillippines
During the War Serving as a legal officer-Japan at the end ofthe War Retiring
to the United States The Great Depression.
SESSION 2, January 24, 1996
[Tape 2, Side A] 43
Returning from World War II~Going back to Law School Practicing law-
Running for the Assembly in 1952 and later Mrs. Caroline Marks The 1958
Campaign for the Assembly-Senator William F. Knowland and the 1958
Election.
[Tape 2, Side B] 65
Winning an Assembly seat in 1958 Senator Thomas H. Kuchel The Republican
Party turns conservative The effect ofthe 1958 election in California on the
Republican Party Entering the Assembly Governor Pat Brown Being a
Republican in San Francisco-The 1959 Legislative session and the Brown Open
Meeting Act Jesse M. Unruh.

[Tape 3, Side A] 87
Jesse M. Unruh--The Growth ofAssembly staff Relations with constituents The
Republican leader in the 1959 Legislative Session Favorite member ofthe
Assembly More about Jesse Unruh Governor Ronald Reagan Jesse Unruh The
1960 Election Phil Burton, George Moscone, George Christopher Re-
Apportionment in the 1961 SessionBob Crown.
[Tape 3, Side B] 108
Bob Crown Re-apportionment after the 1960 Census Becoming chair ofthe
Constitutional Amendment Committee and handling issues before the Committee;
Communism, Re-Apportionment bingo The 1962 Elections The 1963
Legislative Session Others who had represented the 21st District.
SESSION 3, January 24, 1996
[Tape 4, Side A] 130
Cigarette Tax Bill A Constitutional Amendment on open meetings Creation of
the Little Hoover Commission Other legislation proposed and opposed by
Assemblyman Marks Proposition 14, the Rumford Fair Housing Act The 1964
Election The legislature during the 1960 s 1964 Republican Convention in San
Francisco and supporting GovernorNelson Rockefeller The 1964 Campaign
The 1965 Legislative Session and the issue ofRe-apportionment.
[Tape 4, Side B] 155
Reapportionment in 1965-Losing a seat and being appointed municipaljudge-
What it was like to be ajudge -Running for the State Senate in 1967.
[Tape 5, Side A] 177
1967 race for the State Senate Serving in the SenateSenator Hugh Burns-
Differences between the Assembly and the Senate Committee assignments in the
Senate Lt. Governors ofCalifornia Senator Marks Legislation during his first
term in the Senate-1968 Campaign for the Senate-Governor Reagan The 1968
Election Generally The 1972 Election.
[Tape 5, Side B] 200
The 1972 CampaignLegislative priorities in the Senate Relations with
Constituents Mrs. Marks runs for San Francisco Supervisor Governor Reagan
after the 1970 election.