California Rising: The Life and Times of Pat Brown

Ethan Rarick talked about his book California Rising: The Life and Times of Pat Brown, published by University of California Press. Ethan Rarick tells the story of Democrat Edmund G. “Pat” Brown who was governor of the state of California from 1959 to 1967. Mr. Rarick uses Pat Brown’s diary as well as love letters written to his wife to chronicle his political career and the history of California. The author discusses Governor Brown’s positive reaction to the Free Speech Movement at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1964, the Watts Riots in 1965, and the fate of Caryl Chessman, a convicted kidnapper who gained international attention by writing best-selling books on death row. Mr. Rarick talked about Pat Brown’s new popularity as an iconic governor. He said that it was during his term that the perception of California changed from being outside the American experience to being the leading edge of the American experience. After his presentation he answered questions from mem close