William M. Malone
Encyclopedia
William M. Malone chaired the California Democratic Party
during and after World War II. He was the most powerful Democratic Party leader of San Francisco (and, arguably, of California) during the later Roosevelt and Truman Administrations.
An attorney with only a small personal injury law practice, Malone was akin to a political "boss" whose influence extended throughout the state. He controlled most of the federal patronage appointments in the state until his friend President Harry Truman left office in 1953.
The son of Irish immigrants, Malone began his political career by allegiance to political "boss" Thomas Finn. A veteran California politician who was Under-Sheriff and then Sheriff of San Francisco from the time of the 1906 Earthquake through the later years of Prohibition, Finn was the Republican political boss
who had supplanted the Buckley and Ruef machines that dominated San Francisco municipal government after the turn of the century. Still in power in 1930, Finn was also the early political mentor of Arthur Samish
, later the notorious liquor lobbyist whose enormous influence in the California Legislature of the 1940s led to a national political scandal.
Malone's rise to power as the Democratic counterpoint to Finn is still undocumented, but by 1940, he had consolidated his hold on the San Francisco Democratic Party organization, in partnership with labor leader John F. Shelley (later Congressman and Mayor of San Francisco
), and was recognized by the Democratic National Committee in New Deal Washington as arbiter of the "Federal Brigade", those California Democratic stalwarts appointed to political patronage positions in a vast number of federal agencies.
Though colleagues believed his personal philosophy to be considerably more conservative than that of most liberal New Dealers, Malone rarely spoke about "issues". His interest was in dispensing patronage and winning elections to gain and maintain power and his campaign expertise was highly regarded by such liberal candidates as Helen Gahagan Douglas, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1950 who was defeated with "red-baiting" tactics by Richard Nixon
.
Malone's influence was already on the wane by 1952, when a new generation of liberals, inspired by the presidential candidacy of Adlai Stevenson, became active in Democratic politics. His reputation had been tarnished the year before by Senator Estes Kefauver
's investigation into organized crime through much-publicized public hearings. Hardly on a par with the Mafia kingpins whom Kefauver's committee subpoenaed elsewhere in the country, a half dozen Malone associates (including James G. Smyth
, the former State Assembly clerk and Democratic campaign manager whom Truman appointed, and then fired, as Collector of Internal Revenue for northern California) were called to account for alleged misdeeds. Malone's brother was implicated in the subsequent scandal, and Malone himself, embittered, soon resigned his formal Party position.
Having been a delegate to almost every Democratic National Convention
since 1940, Malone attended his last in 1960, the Los Angeles Convention that nominated John F. Kennedy
. Malone was himself very enthusiastic about Kennedy's candidacy, though he reluctantly recognized that a Democratic changing of the guard was in progress. In his own San Francisco, this turnover was led by the coterie that surrounded stridently liberal Assemblyman Phillip Burton
, Malone's long-time enemy, who succeeded Malone's friend John Shelley as the city's Democratic Congressman when Shelley became Mayor in 1964.
Malone's influence was still felt in 1968, when he backed Joseph Alioto
's winning bid to succeed the sickly Shelley as Mayor, a blow to the so-called "Burton Machine" which had been grooming a candidate of its own. Later that year, Alioto delivered the nominating speech at the Democratic National Convention for presidential nominee Hubert Humphrey
, who was also strongly supported by Malone at a time of deep division among Democrats over the Vietnam War that led to Humphrey's defeat by Richard Nixon
.
But by the time of Malone's death in 1981, his name was all but forgotten within the California Democratic Party
he had dominated for so many years. Today, ironically, the state Party is chaired by veteran legislator John Burton
, Phillip's brother, who is thus the latest successor to William Malone.
California Democratic Party
The California Democratic Party is the state branch of the Democratic Party in the state of California, headquartered in Sacramento. It is chaired by veteran Democratic politician and former United States Representative John L. Burton, who succeeded Art Torres in April 2009. It is the majority...
during and after World War II. He was the most powerful Democratic Party leader of San Francisco (and, arguably, of California) during the later Roosevelt and Truman Administrations.
An attorney with only a small personal injury law practice, Malone was akin to a political "boss" whose influence extended throughout the state. He controlled most of the federal patronage appointments in the state until his friend President Harry Truman left office in 1953.
The son of Irish immigrants, Malone began his political career by allegiance to political "boss" Thomas Finn. A veteran California politician who was Under-Sheriff and then Sheriff of San Francisco from the time of the 1906 Earthquake through the later years of Prohibition, Finn was the Republican political boss
Political boss
A boss, in politics, is a person who wields the power over a particular political region or constituency. Bosses may dictate voting patterns, control appointments, and wield considerable influence in other political processes. They do not necessarily hold public office themselves...
who had supplanted the Buckley and Ruef machines that dominated San Francisco municipal government after the turn of the century. Still in power in 1930, Finn was also the early political mentor of Arthur Samish
Arthur Samish
Arthur "Artie" H. Samish was the most influential and powerful individual lobbyist in the history of California, representing movie studios, racetracks, lawyers, insurance companies, fishing, cigarette, liquor and brewing interests...
, later the notorious liquor lobbyist whose enormous influence in the California Legislature of the 1940s led to a national political scandal.
Malone's rise to power as the Democratic counterpoint to Finn is still undocumented, but by 1940, he had consolidated his hold on the San Francisco Democratic Party organization, in partnership with labor leader John F. Shelley (later Congressman and Mayor of San Francisco
Mayor of San Francisco
The Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the executive branch of San Francisco's city and county government. The mayor has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the legislative branch....
), and was recognized by the Democratic National Committee in New Deal Washington as arbiter of the "Federal Brigade", those California Democratic stalwarts appointed to political patronage positions in a vast number of federal agencies.
Though colleagues believed his personal philosophy to be considerably more conservative than that of most liberal New Dealers, Malone rarely spoke about "issues". His interest was in dispensing patronage and winning elections to gain and maintain power and his campaign expertise was highly regarded by such liberal candidates as Helen Gahagan Douglas, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1950 who was defeated with "red-baiting" tactics by Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
.
Malone's influence was already on the wane by 1952, when a new generation of liberals, inspired by the presidential candidacy of Adlai Stevenson, became active in Democratic politics. His reputation had been tarnished the year before by Senator Estes Kefauver
Estes Kefauver
Carey Estes Kefauver July 26, 1903 – August 10, 1963) was an American politician from Tennessee. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the U.S...
's investigation into organized crime through much-publicized public hearings. Hardly on a par with the Mafia kingpins whom Kefauver's committee subpoenaed elsewhere in the country, a half dozen Malone associates (including James G. Smyth
James G. Smyth
James George Smyth was a California political figure in the early 20th century. He was active in Democratic politics, served a term in the 1930s as the Chief Clerk of the California Assembly, and later served as an IRS official in the administrations of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. ...
, the former State Assembly clerk and Democratic campaign manager whom Truman appointed, and then fired, as Collector of Internal Revenue for northern California) were called to account for alleged misdeeds. Malone's brother was implicated in the subsequent scandal, and Malone himself, embittered, soon resigned his formal Party position.
Having been a delegate to almost every Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
since 1940, Malone attended his last in 1960, the Los Angeles Convention that nominated John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. Malone was himself very enthusiastic about Kennedy's candidacy, though he reluctantly recognized that a Democratic changing of the guard was in progress. In his own San Francisco, this turnover was led by the coterie that surrounded stridently liberal Assemblyman Phillip Burton
Phillip Burton
Phillip Burton was a United States Representative from California. A Democrat, he was instrumental in creating the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Burton was one of the first members of Congress to acknowledge the need for AIDS research and introduce an AIDS bill. He was the brother of...
, Malone's long-time enemy, who succeeded Malone's friend John Shelley as the city's Democratic Congressman when Shelley became Mayor in 1964.
Malone's influence was still felt in 1968, when he backed Joseph Alioto
Joseph Alioto
Joseph Lawrence Alioto was the 36th mayor of San Francisco, California, from 1968 to 1976.-Biography:...
's winning bid to succeed the sickly Shelley as Mayor, a blow to the so-called "Burton Machine" which had been grooming a candidate of its own. Later that year, Alioto delivered the nominating speech at the Democratic National Convention for presidential nominee Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
, who was also strongly supported by Malone at a time of deep division among Democrats over the Vietnam War that led to Humphrey's defeat by Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
.
But by the time of Malone's death in 1981, his name was all but forgotten within the California Democratic Party
California Democratic Party
The California Democratic Party is the state branch of the Democratic Party in the state of California, headquartered in Sacramento. It is chaired by veteran Democratic politician and former United States Representative John L. Burton, who succeeded Art Torres in April 2009. It is the majority...
he had dominated for so many years. Today, ironically, the state Party is chaired by veteran legislator John Burton
John L. Burton
John Lowell Burton is the current Chairman of the California Democratic Party. He is an American politician who served as a Democratic California State Senator from 1996 until 2004, representing the 3rd district. From 1998 until he was forced out of office by term limits in 2004, he served as the...
, Phillip's brother, who is thus the latest successor to William Malone.