| Governor James Rolph and the Great Depression in California Contributor(s): Worthen, James (Author) |
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ISBN: 0786425741 ISBN-13: 9780786425747 Publisher: McFarland and Company, Inc. OUR PRICE: $39.55 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: July 2006 Annotation: After serving an unprecedented five terms as mayor of San Francisco, James Rolph went on to win California's 1930 gubernatorial election. Rolph, however, had severely underestimated the challenges he would be up against as a Depression-era governor. This biography relies heavily on primary sources such as contemporary newspaper articles and firsthand recollections. Beginning with Rolph's mayoral career, the book enumerates the qualities which led to his phenomenal success as San Francisco's top politician. The work then examines the criticisms levied against Rolph as governor and the ways in which these complaints were, and were not, justified. The unfortunate historical timing of Rolph's governorship is also discussed. In many ways, Rolph's attempt to translate from prosperous ?20s mayor to Depression-era ?30s governor was simply ill-fated from the very beginning. A detailed bibliography and index is also provided. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Reference - Biography & Autobiography - History | United States - 20th Century |
| Dewey: B |
| LCCN: 2006016742 |
| Physical Information: 0.56" H x 6.22" W x 9.08" (0.73 lbs) 235 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - 1930's - Geographic Orientation - California - Cultural Region - Western U.S. - Cultural Region - West Coast - Chronological Period - 20th Century - Locality - San Francisco, California - Cultural Region - Northern California |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: In 1911, when businessman James Rolph first ran for mayor of San Francisco, he promised, I will be mayor of the whole city, and not the mayor for any particular section. This statement seemed to characterize Rolph's political career. After serving an unprecedented five terms as mayor, he went on to win California's 1930 gubernatorial election. Rolph, however, had severely underestimated the challenges he would be up against as a Depression-era governor. A genuine love of people and desire to help had gotten him as far as the governor's office but could do little to help him solve the new problems he found. Lack of a firm agenda coupled with an unrealistic (or perhaps idealistic) governing style left him at odds with the legislature and found his chief lieutenants forming into warring cliques. Ultimately, Rolph--in spite of good intentions and a love of civil service--was unable to translate his mayoral triumph, with all its charm and style, into a gubernatorial success. This biography relies heavily on primary sources such as contemporary newspaper articles and firsthand recollections. Beginning with Rolph's mayoral career, the book enumerates the qualities which led to his phenomenal success as San Francisco's top politician. The work then examines the criticisms levied against Rolph as governor and the ways in which these complaints were, and were not, justified. The unfortunate historical timing of Rolph's governorship is also discussed. In many ways, Rolph's attempt to translate from prosperous '20s mayor to Depression-era '30s governor was simply ill-fated from the very beginning. A detailed bibliography and index is also provided. |