[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 21 (Thursday, March 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO JOHN BURTON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 5, 1998

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, my colleague, Lucille Roybal-
Allard and I would like to bring to your attention today the fine work 
and outstanding public service of our longtime friend and former 
colleague, State Senator John Burton of San Francisco.
  In January, John Burton ascended to the highest elected position in 
the California State Legislature--president pro tem of the State 
Senate. The shock of the change in the ruling majority in Congress in 
1994 was a mere tremor compared to the seismic occurrence that led to 
John's ascension to his current position. To say the least, John did 
not take the most traditional path to reach the second highest position 
in state government. But he would not have had it any other way.
  John's career in public affairs has been unique and diverse. His 
public service has spanned several decades and two coasts. Through it 
all, he has maintained a reputation for his love of competitive sports, 
a remarkable sense of humor, and for telling it like it is.
  John L. Burton was born in Ohio but was raised and educated in his 
beloved San Francisco. A standout in basketball, he attended San 
Francisco State College and graduated from the University of San 
Francisco Law School where he received the American Jurisprudence Award 
for outstanding scholarship. Incidentally, John worked his way through 
college and law school as a city playground director and bartender.
  John got his start in the rough and tumble world of California 
politics as a protege of his big brother, Phil Burton. Phil was elected 
to the State Assembly in 1956 and brought into his political operation 
his brother, John, and two close friends. One was George Moscone with 
whom John had played basketball on the courts of San Francisco. The 
second was a shy and retiring young man from Texas, a fellow student at 
San Francisco State College named Willie Brown.
  John was elected to the California Legislature in 1964. Ten years 
later, he was elected to the House of Representatives. In 1982, he 
retired from public office and successfully completed a chemical 
dependency recovery program. He ran a successful law practice until 
winning a special election to the State Assembly in 1988 where he 
served until his election to the State Senate in 1996.
  John Burton is from the old school of public affairs--where member to 
member contact is the key to building meaningful personal relationships 
and where one is only as good as his or her word. He is also a dyed-in-
the-wool classic liberal--and very proud of it. As he begins his tenure 
as president pro tem, John has not only emerged from his brother's 
shadow, he is casting a pretty sizable shadow of his own.
  Mr. Speaker, a friend of John Burton is a friend for life--even if he 
happens to live and work on the other side of the aisle. Please join us 
today in recognizing our very good friend, John Burton.

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