Jerry Brown Quotes
Really—no mental reservations
The state was in terrible financial shape at the time with a $28 billion deficit, there largest any state had ever faced. Everyone at the ceremony realized the crisis. The official oath required him to say “with no mental reservations”. As he repeated that phrase there were a few chuckles from some of the crowd. The Governor heard them, raised his head from looking at the Bible his hand was on, and told the audience and the TV cameras
Edmund G. Brown Jr., (Jerry), Governor & Attorney General of California, Son of Edmund G. Brown (Pat), Statement in the midst of his oath of office as Governor, January 3, 2011
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
This view almost got him killed. It was customary to swear loyalty to the government and those that would not were perceived to be traitors. The logic was that Christians feared for their souls more so than their lives so would not swear falsely. If there was no swearing, how was loyalty to be determined?
Often invoked by religious persons in courts as a justification for not swearing on a Bible and in opposition to loyalty or other oath requirements.
Edmund Gerald Brown Jr. is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 34th and 39th governor of California from 1975 to 1983 and 2011 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected Secretary of State of California in the early 1970s; Brown later served as Mayor of Oakland from 1999 to 2007 and Attorney General of California from 2007 to 2011. He was both the oldest and sixth-youngest governor of California due to the 28-year gap between his second and third terms. Upon completing his fourth term in office, Brown became the third longest-serving governor in U.S. history, serving 16 years and 5 days in office.
