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Gov. George Pardee
21st GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA
COPIED TEXT FROM: https://www.nga.org/governor/george-cooper-pardee/
Governor George Pardee was born in San Francisco, California, on July 25, 1857. He graduated from the University of California in 1879, and in 1881 earned a master’s degree also from the same institution. He attended Cooper Medical College for two years, and completed his studies at the University of Leipzig in Germany.
As a physician, Pardee joined his father’s practice, where he specialized in diseases of the eye and ear. Pardee entered politics in 1891, when he was elected to Oakland’s city council. His next election took him into the mayor’s office in Oakland, where he served from 1893 to 1895, and in 1899 he was appointed by Governor Gage to serve as a regent to the University of California.
Pardee won the 1902 Republican gubernatorial nomination and was elected governor of California. He was sworn into office on January 6, 1903. During his tenure, he was a strong supporter of conservation measures, making many advancements in conserving forest and water resources. Education issues were also addressed, with changes made in the state’s funding of public high schools, and the initiation of a new textbook program.
The earthquake that struck San Francisco on April 18, 1906, was the most difficult event he dealt with. Pardee personally attended to San Francisco’s health issues, and he called on the legislature to aid San Francisco, which was the state’s financial district. Pardee, who sought a second term, did not win the party’s nomination, and left office on January 8, 1907.
Returning to his medical practice, he served on many state and national boards, including the National Conservation Commission and the California Board of Forestry. He was a delegate to four national presidential conventions, and after joining the Progressive Party in 1912, he served as a presidential elector. He also served as a Republican elector in 1924.
Dr. George Pardee died on September 1, 1941, and is buried at the Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, California.
Main Office
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
The smooth and efficient operation of the state requires a reliable staff and a team of advisors to help the Governor make important decisions.
This space served as headquarters for key members of the Governor's staff from 1869 to 1951. The room has been restored to appear as it would have in 1906, when A. B. Nye and J. Arthur Elston served under Governor George Pardee and occupied this office. Nye was the Governor's chief aide and political advisor; Elston was his Executive Secretary.
These two staff members played a particularly critical role in maintaining communications with the public during the devastating San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.
Today, the Governor continues to rely on a personal staff to carry out the day-to-day operations of the office. The most important aide among the Governor's staff is the Executive Assistant, who is usually a close political advisor.
In addition to the personal staff, the Governor's Cabinet plays a critical role in meeting the wide-ranging responsibilities and duties of the office. The Cabinet is comprised of a group of experts, appointed by the Governor, who help to establish and implement the Governor's policies. It includes the Director of Finance, the Director of Industrial Relations, and the Director of Information Technology, as well as the Secretaries of ten major state agencies:
Business, Transportation and Housing
Child Development and Education
Environmental Protection
Food and Agriculture
Health and Welfare
Resources
State and Consumer Services
Trade and Commerce
Veterans Affairs
Youth and Adult Correctional Agency
Anteroom
The supreme executive power of the State of California is vested in the Governor, whose duty it is to see that the law is faithfully executed. — California State Constitution: Art. V, Sec. 1
Historically, the anteroom, or reception room, was the first in a suite of three rooms that served as the Governor's offices. It has been restored to how it might have appeared in 1906, when Governor George Pardee was in office. At the time, two of the Governor's staff of four worked in this room. Most notable was messenger Jacob Soares, the first African American to work in the Governor's Office. His career in state government began in 1899 when he worked under Governor Henry Gage. He would go on to spend 31 years working in state government service.
Governor's Responsibilities
As the leader of the executive branch of California's government, the Governor is the Commander in Chief of the state's militia, serves as the liaison between California's state government and the federal government, supervises all executive and ministerial officers, and promotes California trade with foreign nations.
In addition, the Governor has appointment power, which is used to fill vacancies in the judiciary and to appoint officers of various state agencies. The Senate must confirm certain gubernatorial appointments with a majority vote. The Governor also has responsibilities to the Legislature – to approve the passage of bills and to present a yearly State of the State Address to a joint session of the Legislature.
Holding the Office of the Governor
Since 1850, the qualifications for holding the office of Governor, the supreme executive power of the State of California, have evolved. The first California Constitution of 1849 specified that the Governor must be at least 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of California for no less than two years.
At the time, these qualifications differed from the requirements of many other states. Specifically, the residency requirement was lower than the usual five years because many newly arrived Californians would otherwise not have qualified. In addition, while most states specified a minimum length of citizenship, California's Constitution did not. This difference avoided discrimination against the native-born Californios, individuals of Spanish or Mexican descent, who had become American citizens only the year before as a result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. In 1879, a new Constitution modified these requirements to mandate a minimum of five years for both residency and citizenship. The age requirement stayed in effect until 1972, when it was reduced to 18 – the current voting age – to be in compliance with the Twenty-sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution, ratified the year before.
Private Office
"The Governor Will Be Accessible."
- San Francisco Chronicle, 1903
George Pardee's 1903 gubernatorial campaign emphasized an "open door" policy, a reaction to the perception of secrecy that had been associated with previous administrations. Pardee was elected and remained true to his word. The door to Pardee's private office stayed open throughout his term.
The room that once served as Pardee's private office has been restored to appear as it did at one time, during his tenure in the early 1900s. The expansion of California's state government and the need for more space led to the relocation of the offices of the Governor to the Capitol's East Annex in 1951.
Anyone could walk in and speak to the Governor with a minimal amount of protocol. . In fact, a 1903 article in the San Francisco Chronicle described Pardee's office as follows:
"No secrecy is practiced in the Governor's office now and all who go there on public business must be willing to let others hear their conversation with Governor Pardee..."
Pardee's concern for openness encompassed communication not only between the public and the government, but also among governmental agencies themselves. He pressed for better communication among the Legislators in his 1903 inaugural address, saying:
"We have each and all been elected by the people; we are all their servants, and faithful attention to their affairs - not senseless rivalries - is what they expect at our hands. They will not commend us if we engage in personal bickerings or neglect of the public business while trying to thwart one another and gain a supposed political advantage for any party or any person."
Unfortunately for Pardee's political future, his emphasis on communication and cooperation was accompanied by an unwillingness to take sides between opposing factions. These and other concerns eventually undermined his standing among fellow party members, and they did not nominate him to run for a second term.
Governor Washington Bartlett
Governor Bartlett had a reputation for honesty and was Governor from January 8th to September 12th 1887. He was California’s first Governor to die in office and to date, California’s only Jewish Governor. Portrait by Elizabeth A. Rockwell (1889).
Governor George Stoneman
Governor Stoneman was born in New York (1822). As a young man, he attended West Point and served in multiple wars. After arriving in California, he was a rancher and served on several state and federal commissions prior to becoming California’s 15th Governor from 1883-1887.
Governor Robert Waterman
Governor Waterman was born in New York (1826). He came to California during the gold rush as a prospector and later as a shopkeeper. As California’s Lt. Governor, he rose to Governor when Governor Bartlett died and served as California’s Governor from 1887-1891.
Governor John Downey
California’s first foreign-born Governor (Schwarzenegger was the other), born in Ireland in 1827. He was California’s Governor from 1860-1862. Downey rose from Lt. Governor to Governor after Governor Milton Latham was named a U.S. Senator. The city of Downey in Southern California is named for him.
Governor Newton Booth
Governor Booth was born in Indiana (1825). He came to California and became a grocer prior to his life in politics. His political career in California included time as a State Senator, Governor and U.S. Senate. Booth was a bachelor while he was Governor, then marrying at the age of 68 five months before he died.
Modern light
This light is one of three hanging light fixtures that illustrates the modernization of the décor as well as the complete transition to electricity for lighting in the Capitol Building by the 1930s. The primary source of electricity is no longer the chandelier in the center of the room, as it is in the older historic offices, but rather is wired through the walls similar to electricity today.
Icebox and bottles
Placed in the Governor’s Private Office, this icebox provided refreshments for Governor Pardee’s guests and associates. Items were stored in the lower compartment, while the top compartment contained an ice block that cooled the icebox below.
Forester report and books
While studying in Germany, Governor George Pardee was introduced to the new science of forestry. Because of this, the Governor took a keen interest in forest conservation while in office.
Sink and shaving kit
Here in the governor’s private office, a full vanity, including a sink, hair brushes, combs, towels and other necessities were on hand in case he wished to “freshen up” during a busy day.
Paperweight
Used simply to weigh stacks of paper down in their place, this decorative piece was distributed during the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition and commemorates the efforts of firefighters who fought the Cold Storage House fire in 1893. Throughout the 19th century, people appreciated the intricate designs of paperweights, as it was an easy way to add some flair and decoration to a workspace.
Dressing screen
Privacy screen provided modesty for the governor while washing his hands and “freshening up.” In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, proper etiquette dictated that the washing of hands be conducted in a private manner.
Telephone
Noted as the “candlestick” telephone for its distinctive shape, these phones required an electric ringer box to function. The box connected to the telephone through a wire and could create the electricity necessary to function. To engage in a telephone call, one had to turn the crank on the side of the ringer box to generate electricity.
Telegram
Immediately after the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of April 18, 1906, organizations from all over the country offered aid and assistance. President Theodore Roosevelt sent this telegram to Governor George Pardee, seeking further information and promising federal aid.
Cigar Box
Cigars were very popular among men in this time and were often offered to male visitors as part of formal office etiquette. Before the introduction of cheaply mass-produced cigarettes, men often smoked cigars while working.
Standing desk
Many clerks stood at their desks when writing or filling out documents. They would use crow-quill ink pens dipped in inkwells to fill in forms or to hand copy letters.
Phone booth
Telephones, along with the telegraph and the wireless radio, provided instantaneous communication at the time of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. Messages were sent from the scene of the disaster by a combination of these devices. Phone booths offered the quiet necessary for the caller to better hear the weak voice signal. The privacy of the booth also allowed the caller to yell loudly into the phone to be heard on the other end of the line without bothering others in the office.
Glass and metal inkwell
Before the introduction of refillable pens that contained their own ink, clerks needed easy access to ink as they performed their duties. Inkwells and pen stands were often the most elaborate and decorative objects on a clerk’s desktop.
Gas and compressed air contract orders
A substantial part of the 1906-1908 remodeling effort to modernize the Capitol Building involved installing many new, modern conveniences taken for granted today. These documents are the contract orders for the installation of gas to provide warmth in the winter as well as compressed air to serve as an early air conditioning system for the summer months.
San Francisco newspaper
Cheap, mass-printed newspapers were the major media of the time. After the earthquake and fire destroyed their offices, competing San Francisco newspapers pooled their resources and printed joint editions of the paper out of the neighboring city of Oakland. They worked quickly and were able to distribute an edition of the paper the day after the earthquake.
Governor Leland Stanford
For over a century, it has been customary for the state government to privately commission a portrait of each Californian governor. William Cogswell painted this portrait in 1873 featuring former Governor Stanford. Leland Stanford, the state’s eighth governor (1862-63), was also a U.S. Senator and President of the Central Pacific Railroad. He and his wife, Jane, founded Leland Stanford Junior University, in memory of their son. Thirty-eight governors' portraits currently hang in the Capitol.
San Francisco map
Accurate maps were essential to understand the immensity of the damage to San Francisco by the earthquake and fire. A street map on the “partners’ desk” provided the best visual overview of the areas that had been destroyed, as well as providing information for the ongoing firefighting and evacuation efforts.
Blueprint
These 1905 blueprints depict the Capitol building’s layout prior to the 1906-1908 remodel. These blueprints were necessary to modernize the infrastructure of the building as well as the office spaces within. Noticeable features on this blueprint include the original State Library (which was then primarily housed in the since demolished Apse), the Assembly and Senate chambers, and the Sergeants-of-Arms offices.