Interview Summaries, G

Gann, Paul (OH 89–4)

Oral History Interview with Paul Gann (PDF). (1987). Founder and President, People's Advocate, Inc., 1974–1989.

Paul Gann discusses his leadership in California initiative election campaigns: Proposition 13 (1978) Property Tax Reform; Prop. 4 (1979) Government Spending Reform; Prop. 8 (1982) Victims' Bill of Rights; Prop. 24 (1984) Legislative Reform; Prop. 61 (1986) Public Pay Initiative; Prop. 72 (1988) Emergency Reserve for Highway Improvements. He also comments on the founding and operations of People's Advocate, Inc., his 1980 U.S. Senate campaign, and contracting Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Garcia, Miguel F. II (OH 91–4)

Oral History Interview with Miguel F. Garcia II. (1990). Executive Director, Californios for Fair Representation, 1981–1982.

Garcia discusses his early life in Mexico and Los Angeles, education through law school, legal work defending individuals subjected to police abuse, and details his activities––and those of many others––in Chicanos for Fair Representation leading up to the reapportionment of electoral districts in California based on 1970 and 1980 census counts, respectively. At the time of the interview he was an attorney in private practice.

Garibaldi, James D. (OH 90–11)

Oral History Interview with James D. Garibaldi(PDF). (1989). Assembly Member, 1935–1938; Legislative Representative, 1946– .

Garibaldi discusses campaigning, assembly speakers, the practice of lobbying, the Third House, presidents pro tem of the senate, campaign financing.

Garrigus, Charles B. II (OH 89–21)

Oral History Interview with Charles B. Garrigus (PDF). (1988). Assembly Member, 1959–1966.

Garrigus discusses his family background in Illinois, migration first to Oregon and later to California, campaigning for a state assembly seat; major education, water, agriculture, health, and civil rights issues and legislation; the legislative and executive leadership of Jesse M. Unruh and Edmund G. Brown, Sr.; California politics in the 1950s and 1960s, the Brown–era "responsible liberalism," one man, one vote; and the relationship between poetry and politics.

Gianturco, Adriana (OH 95–1)

Oral History Interview with Adriana Gianturco. (1994). Director, California Department of Transportation, 1976–1983.

Gianturco discusses her family background, education, and jobs prior to taking the position as Director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). She describes the creation of Caltrans from the Division of Highway, that transition, and ongoing department reorganization. She also discusses controversial issues such as diamond lanes, "bankruptcy" of the state highway fund, her relations with the California Transportation Commission, and her relationship with the press. She touches on the goal of creating a balanced transportation system including mass transit such as Amtrak, light rail, and proposed high speed rail.

Gleason, Verne E. (OH 90–5)

Oral History with Verne E. Gleason. (1981). Special Advisor on Welfare & Human Relations to California Senate, 1970–1974; Assistant Director, California Dept. of Social Welfare, 1950–1961, 1967–1970.

Gleason discusses Dept. of Social Welfare directors and organization from 1937 to 1970: administrative style and legislative programs of governors of the period; state Health and Welfare Agency organization and administrators; and development of principal legislation for public assistance and welfare services programs, including the 1971 Welfare Reform Act.

Grant, Allan (OH 92–4)

Oral History Interview with Allan Grant (PDF). (1991). Regent, University of California, 1967–1974.

Grant discusses his background, entry into farming, involvement in community organizations in Tulare County, California, leadership positions in county, state, and national Farm Bureau Federations, and comments extensively on his eight–year term as a member of the University of California Board of Regents.

Greenaway, Roy (OH 92–14)

Oral History Interview with Roy Greenaway (PDF). (1990, 1991). California Political Activist, 1952–1968.

Greenaway discusses Democratic politics from 1950 to 1968, including the Stevenson–Kefauver and Kennedy–Johnson presidential races, the senate campaigns of Clair Engle, Pierre Salinger, and Alan Cranston. He focuses on California: the evolution of the California Democratic Council (CDC); California elected officials – Pat Brown, Jesse Unruh, and William F. Knowland; the United Farm Workers and Cesar Chavez.

Greene, Leroy F. (OH 2000–1)

Oral History Interview with Leroy F. Greene (PDF). (1999). Assembly Member, 1962–1982; Senator, 1982–1998.

Greene discusses his family and early life, career, and move to California. He talks about establishing a consulting engineers firm, then closing it and running for the Assembly. He outlines his committee assignments and describes how the legislative process really works. Greene describes the changes in the legislature's political style and campaigning as the years progress. He also discusses his relationships with other legislators, Speakers, and governors.

Gregorio, Arlen F. (OH 90–24)

Oral History Interview with Hon. Arlen F. Gregorio. (1989). Senator, 1971–1978.

Gregorio discusses his youth, education, family background, and early career before his upset election to the senate in 1970; his interest in the political process in the legislature and his efforts to reform the process with bills on open budget committee meetings, reform of the reapportionment process, limitation of legislator's terms, campaign and election reforms; his work on youth–oriented issues, environmental legislation, the Joint Legislative Committee on the Arts; his efforts to tax liquor to fund alcoholism rehabilitation programs; his work as chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee and the reorganization of Dept. of Health. He offers observations on legislative relations with Governors Ronald Reagan and Edmund G. Brown, Jr., and discusses his narrow election loss in 1978 and his subsequent career as a San Mateo County supervisor and a mediator in private practice.

Gregory, Bion Milton (OH 2004–07)

Oral History Interview with Bion Milton Gregory (PDF). (2004). Deputy Legislative Counsel of California, 1968–1970; Chief Counsel, California Senate Committee on Judiciary, 1971–1976; Legislative Counsel of California, 1976–2001.

Bion Gregory discusses his childhood and education, his Navy service, and his internship and later employment with the California Legislative Council's Office. He talks about working with legislators and staff and the issues of reapportionment and lobbying. He discusses becoming Legislative Council and the history and duties of the office. He details the office's technological changes during his tenure and his relationship with colleagues, legislators, and governors. He talks of term limits and redistricting, initiatives, and other legal issues. He also speaks of his work with the Bar Association, his retirement as Legislative Council, and entering private practice.

Gunterman, Emma H. (OH 94-5)

Oral History Interview with Emma H. Gunterman. (1989, 1990). Lobbyist and Advocate for Consumers, Children, and Seniors, 1967-1986.

Mrs. Gunterman discusses the radical movement in the 1930s, farm labor issues, conscientious objector camps during World War II, child care in California, consumer issues, welfare issues, passage of Prop 13 in 1978, and issues concerning seniors. For the years 1967 to 1986 she also discusses procedures of lobbying.