Brown, Willie: Moscone equity

Willie Brown: George was a change artist. I said that early on, he was a real change artist. But he didn’t view the challenges that he faced in trying to break new ground as something unique and potentially impossible. I don’t think George ever measured whether or not he would do something based on whether or not it could be done. George was far more interested because it was the right thing to do, and if it was the right thing to do George did it. George undertook to these things because George had a wealth of equity and relationship with members. He not only took up the very tough issues that others brought to him or that his staff people put together, but he would go to the rescue of Republicans on the floor if their issue was being challenged by some Democrats. And that helped build a wealth of trust and a wealth of credibility for George that I don’t think George ever fully recognized and acknowledged, but it was clearly his ace in the hole in everything that he did and every issue that he had to address. Observers recognized that; never discussed it with George, but utilized George’s stewardship and George’s ability, and George’s equity to achieve their goal