Gov. Ronald Reagan Writes His Predecessor, Democrat Pat Brown, Making Short Work of a Suggestion Brown Had Made

Edmund G. (Pat) Brown was Governor of California from 1959 to 1967. He lost the contentious 1966 governor’s race to political upstart Ronald Reagan. The two men had little in common, and though Reagan was polite to Brown, had little use for his ideas.

Typed letter signed, on State of California, Governor’s Office letterhead, Sacramento, July 15, 1968, to Cannon, to Brown, saying he approves of Brown’s idea but in a very altered form. “I am very pleased to receive your letter of June 18 suggesting that consideration be given to naming a park or beach or some facility to the memory of AL Stern, who served so ably as Chairman of the former State Parks Commission. It is my understanding that Harry E. Sokolov, Chairman of the State Park and Recreation Commission, at the latest Commission meeting appointed a committee, chaired by Commissioner Harold L. Zellerbach, to not only develop your suggestion relative to a memorial in the name of Mr. Stern, to not only develop a program that would recognize the efforts of past chairman of the former State Parks Commission and Recreation Commission as well as the individual members. They should be recognized in their deeds and efforts not forgotten. I am pleased that the present State Parks Commission and Recreation Commission is going to do something about this matter. Thank you very much for your suggestion. I am sure when the committee finishes its deliberations, you will be pleased with the recommendation.”