Gavin Newsom’s ascent to the governorship of California marked a significant moment in the state’s political history, not just as the first Democrat in over a century to succeed another Democrat, but also as a generational shift. This transition signified a gradual changing of the guard from a long-standing quartet of San Francisco Bay Area political giants – Jerry Brown, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, and Nancy Pelosi – to a new generation of leaders, with Newsom at the forefront.
However, Newsom’s succession is more than just a generational change; it’s a continuation of a decades-long narrative of four prominent San Francisco families – the Browns, the Newsoms, the Pelosis, and the Gettys – whose histories are intricately interwoven through blood, marriage, finance, culture, and, most notably, politics. This deep-rooted connection forms the bedrock of the Gavin Newsom family legacy in California.
The origins of these familial and political ties can be traced back approximately 80 years, to the time when Jerry Brown’s father, Pat Brown, embarked on his political journey with a run for San Francisco district attorney in 1939. Although his initial attempt was unsuccessful, Pat Brown’s 1943 victory was significantly aided by his close friendship with William Newsom, Gavin Newsom’s grandfather and a prominent businessman. This early alliance laid the foundation for the enduring saga of these interconnected families.
The Brown-Newsom Connection: From Friendship to Political Alliance
The bond between the Brown and Newsom families deepened over the years, manifesting in both personal and professional spheres. Two decades after Pat Brown’s early political campaigns, his administration undertook the development of Squaw Valley for the 1960 Winter Olympics. Following the Games, the operation concession for Squaw Valley was awarded to William Newsom and his business partner, John Pelosi. This marked a significant intersection of the Newsom and Pelosi families within the Brown political sphere.
John Pelosi’s family further intertwined with the Newsoms when one of his sons married Barbara Newsom, William Newsom’s daughter. Another Pelosi son, Paul, married Nancy D’Alesandro, who would later become a towering figure in American politics, eventually reclaiming the speakership of the House of Representatives. These marriages created intricate kinship ties, making Nancy Pelosi, in a way, an aunt by marriage to Gavin Newsom, further cementing the interwoven family web.
Squaw Valley and a Test of Friendship
However, the Squaw Valley concession, while representing an opportunity, also became a point of contention that tested the long-standing friendship between the Browns and Newsoms. William Newsom envisioned substantial improvements to the ski complex, including the addition of a convention center, but the Brown administration’s Department of Parks and Recreation raised objections. This difference in vision led to a series of tense meetings in 1966 between William Newsom, his son William (Gavin Newsom’s father), and state officials.
A memo from that period, penned by the department’s director, Fred Jones, and unearthed in the Pat Brown archives, paints a picture of strained relations. The Newsoms were described as embittered, and the elder Newsom reportedly threatened to politically harm Governor Brown, who was then seeking a third term against Ronald Reagan. Ultimately, Pat Brown’s bid for re-election failed, and the Reagan administration later acquired the Newsom concession.
Generational Continuity and the Getty Link
Despite the Squaw Valley dispute, the Brown-Newsom connection endured. When Jerry Brown returned to the governorship in 1974, he reaffirmed this bond by appointing the younger William Newsom, a personal friend and Gavin Newsom’s father, to a Placer County judgeship in 1975, and subsequently to the state Court of Appeal three years later.
Justice Newsom’s career also included a significant chapter as an attorney for oil magnate J. Paul Getty. Notably, he was involved in the delicate and high-profile task of delivering $3 million to Italian kidnappers for the release of Getty’s grandson in 1973. Later, during his time on the appellate bench in the 1980s, Justice Newsom played a role in assisting Getty’s son, Gordon, in modifying state trust law, enabling him to access his share of a multi-heir trust.
After retiring from the bench in 1995, William Newsom became the administrator of Gordon Getty’s trust. He openly acknowledged his professional relationship with Getty, stating, “I make my living working for Gordon Getty.” This trust provided the initial capital for PlumpJack, the restaurant and wine shop chain co-founded by Gavin Newsom and Gordon Getty’s son, Billy Getty. The first PlumpJack establishment was located in a Squaw Valley hotel, ironically circling back to the earlier point of contention between the families.
Gavin Newsom’s relationship with the Getty family extended beyond business; he was informally adopted by the Gettys following his parents’ divorce, mirroring a similar act of familial support the Newsom family had extended to a young Gordon Getty years prior. His PlumpJack ventures, named after an opera composed by Gordon Getty, served as a springboard for Gavin Newsom’s political career in San Francisco. From mayor to lieutenant governor, and ultimately to governor, succeeding his father’s old friend Jerry Brown, Gavin Newsom’s journey is deeply embedded within this network of intertwined families.
In conclusion, the story of Gavin Newsom family is not just a personal narrative but a reflection of the intricate and enduring nature of political families in California. His rise to power is a culmination of generations of interconnectedness, influence, and shared history within a tightly knit circle of San Francisco’s most prominent families, demonstrating how deeply personal and political legacies can be intertwined.
