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Issue Papers - Mansion
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118564828
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Issue Papers - Mansion
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Reagan, Ronald: Gubernatorial Papers,
1966-74: Press Unit
Folder Title: Issue Papers - Mansion
Box: P30
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
8-11-72
A-6
THE SAN DIEGO UNION
1
Reagan Chooses
Mansion Architect
SACRAMENTO (UPI)
-
1967, Reagan moved his family
Gov. Reagan's architect has
out of the official century old
been awarded a state contract
governor's mansion in down
to plan a new governor's man-
town Sacramento Mrs Reagan
sion in Sacramento, it was re-
called the place a noisy fire
ported yesterday.
trap.
The Reagan Administration
Since then the state has been
chose William Stephenson 60, a
paying the Reagans $15,000 per
Los Angeles architect, to sub-
year rent for a $150,000) home
mitswhat it terms a program"
owned by a group of the gover
for the estimated $1 million
nor's close political associates
mansion Stephenson designed
and friends.
Reagan's seaview home in Pa-
Stephenson designed Rea
cific Palisades.
gan's Pacific Palisades home in
State Architect Fred Hummel
1956 when Reagan was a televi-
said there was no public bid
sion star The architect also has
ding on the $5,000 contract
designed homes for singer Tony
signed this week, but that was
Martin orchestra leader Paul
normal for awarding contracts
Weston and actress Laraine
for professional services'
Day
such as/architectural
Hummel said he selected Ste-
Hummel, who hired Stephen-
phenson from a list of seven ar
son after his recommendation
chitects who have done big
by the governor's office, said
residences He said there
the architect has two months to
are not many OF these archi-
submit program of factors
tects
such as-style of the home type
of landseaping, and number of
Stephenson previously drew
rooms to be considered in con-
preliminary architectural plans
struction of the mansion. He
for a proposed mansion when a
said the contract for designing
group of Reagan supporters
the residence will be awarded
conducted an unsuccessful
later
fund raising campaign to col
Hummel said he assumed
lect $550,000 for a new gover
Reagan and his wife were fa-
nor's home in 1968-69 Only
vorable to him (Stephenson)
$130,000 was collected.
because he did a good job. for
If Stephenson's general archi
them
tectural proposal wins the ap
The 1972 legislature appro-
proval of the Reagan Adminis
priated $150,000 for preliminary
tration and key legislators
plans and site preparation for
Hummelesaid. a contract for
the mansion to be built on an
detailed design* will be
11-acre wooded site overlooking
awarded:
the American River east of
Hummel said Stephenson
Sacramento.
may or may not be selected
Shortly after taking office in
to do he-design work
S.F. chron
Governor's viotos Mansion
State Contract for
Reagan's Architect
Sacramento
Paul Weston
The architect of Gover-
Ed Gray, Reagan's press
nor Ronald Reagan's pri-
secretary, said Stephenson's
vate residence in Pacific
60 - day contract is limited
Palisades has been award-
to a maximum of $5000 in
ed a $5000 state contract
fees and expenses for pre-
to start designing a new
liminary program'! work
governor's mansion.
and does not include the ac-
Reagan's office said that
tual drawing of any detailed
architect William Stephen-
or preliminary plans.
son of Los Angeles had been
The 1972-73 state budget
selected to start work on the
provides $150,000 for design
long-delayed new mansion
and site preparation for a
Stephenson, 60, has spe-
new mansion on an 11 - acre
cialized in designing South-
site near Sacramento. Ac-
ern California homes for
tual construction is expected
prominent entertainers and
to total about $1 million and
businessmen.
would not be completeduntil
He designed the Reagans'
the end of Reagan's present
Pacific Palisades h o'm'e,
term in 1974: Associated Press
which was completed in 1956
when the former motion pic-
ture star was a television
entertainer Stephenson has
also designed homes for for-
mer baseball manager Leo
Durocher, singer Tony Mar-
tin and orchestra leader
Governor's Home
Bee 8-10-72
LA Architect Will Draw Preliminary Plans
Architect
William
Ste-
completes
phenson of Los Angeles, who
"writing
a
pro-
specializes in designing
gram" for the project.
$150,000 for design and site
preparation on an 11-acre
The contract was awarded
homes for Hollywood celeb-
Stephenson, 60, designed
site overlooking the Ameri-
to Stephenson without com-
rities, has been awarded a
the governor's Pacific Pali-
sades home at a time when
can River near Carmichael.
petitive bidding. However,
$5,000 contract for prelimi-
Reagan was a motion picture
In describing the nature
the main contract is expect-
nary work on the governor's
of Stephenson's contract,
ed to attract competition
mansion.
and television actor. He also
Gray said:
from major architectural
This was disclosed today
has designed homes for for-
mer baseball manager Leo
"He is going to be putting
firms throughout the state.
by Edwin Gray press secre-
in writing those kinds of
It is reported Stepheson
tary to Gov. Ronald Reagan
Durocher, singer Tony Mar-
tin and orchestra leader
things a governor's mansion
favors a Spanish-style man-
Gray-said the contract for
should include, such as secu-
sion and views the result as
Paul Weston.
a: detailed design will be
The 1972-73 state budget
rity, fencing, driveway, how
"a comfortable home in the
awarded after Stephenson has an appropriation of ment facilities."
many rooms and entertain-
country, large enough for
entertainment. It should not
be an office building."
STATE LETS $5,000 CONTRACT
S.
Jse
Mercuren
Reagan's Man Gets Mansion Job
8-11-72
SACRAMENTO (UPI)
State Architect Fred
rooms to be considered
overlooking the Ameri-
- Gov. Ronald Reagan's
Hummel said there was
in construction of the
can River east of Sacra-
private architect has
no public bidding on the
mansion. He said the
mento.
been awarded a state
$5,000 contract signed
Shortly after taking
contract to plan a new
this week, but, that was
contract for designing
office in 1967, Reagan
governor's mansion in
normal for awarding
the residence will be
moved his family out of
Sacramento, it was re-
contracts for "profes-
awarded later.
the official, century-ole
ported Thursday.
sional services" such as
Hummel said he as-
governor's mansion in
The Reagan adminis-
architectural.
sumed Reagan and his
downtown Sacramento
tration chose William
Hummel, who hired
wife "were favorable to
Mrs Reagan called the
Stephenson, 60, a Los
Stephenson after his rec-
him (Stephenson) be-
place a noisy firetrap.
Angeles architect, to
ommendation by the
cause he did a good job
Since the state has
submit what it termed
governor's office, said
for them."
been paying the Rea-
"a program" for the es-
the architect has two
The 1972 Legislature
gans $15,000 per year for
timated $1 million man-
m onth to submit a
appropriated $150,000 for
rent on a $150,000 home
sion. Stephenson de-
"program of factors,
preliminary plans and
owned by a group of the
signed Reagan's sea-
such as style of the
site preparation for the
governor's close politi-
view home in Pacific
house, type of landscap-
mansion to be built on
cal associates and
Palisades in 1956.
ing, and number of
an 11-acre wooded site
friends.
and
$5,000 TO PLAN NEW GOVERNOR'S MANSION
Times
8-11-72
Reagan Home Designer Gets State Contract
BY WILLIAM ENDICOTT
nessmen.
means he and his wife, Nancy, will
Times Staff Writer
"We, have not hired an architect
never occupy it.
SACRAMENTO house The Los An-
for the governor's mansion," said
The Reagans moved out of the of-
geles architect who designed Gov.
Hummel. "Stephenson will do no de-
ficial century-old governor's man-
Reagan's Pacific Palisades home has
signing, no drawing. This is a very
sion in downtown Sacramento not
been awarded a $5,000 contract by
minor contract."
long after Reagan first took office in
the state to begin preliminary work
Once Stephenson's preliminary
1967.
on a new governor's mansion.
work is completed, probably within
Mrs. Reagan took one look at its
State officials confirmed Thursday
two months, the state "will go
frame structure and its neighbors
that William Stephenson was select-
through a procedure again to deter-
motels and service stations and
ed from a list of seven architects on
mine who will design it. This man
called it a noisy firetrap.
the basis of a recommendation by
should be considered," Hummel
A group of the governor's close
Reagan.
said.
political associates and friends sub-
State law does not require compe-
Hummel said that although the
sequently bought a $150,000 house
titive bidding for professional ser-
governor's office recommended Ste-
in east Sacramento for the Reagan
vices, and American Institute of Ar-
phenson, there was no pressure
family. The house is rented to the
chitects' regulations prohibit ar-
from the governor to hire him. "I
state for $15,000 a year.
itects from bidding on such
haven't even talked to the governor
The old mansion now is open to
projects.
about it," he said.
the public as a historical museum.
State architect Fred Hummel said
The 1972-73 state budget contains
Stephenson designed Reagan's
Stephenson's job will be to write a
$150,000 for design and site prepara-
Pacific Palisades home in 1956 when
plan "describing what a governor's
tion for a $1 million mansion on an
the governor was a television star.
resident should be-how big, how
11-acre wooded site overlooking the
He also drew preliminary architec-
many rooms, preliminary cost esti-
American River east of Sacramento.
tural plans for a proposed mansion
mates, landscaping, security."
There is no firm timetable for ac-
in 1968 when a group of Reagan sup-
Hummel said the 60-year-old Ste-
tual construction, but Reagan has
porters conducted an unsuccessful
phenson was chosen "because of his
said on several occasions that the
fund-raising drive for a new gover-
experience with big residential
mansion will not be completed be-
nor's home.
work." He has specialized in design-
fore his second term expires in 1974.
The goal was $550,000, but the
ing Southern California homes for
Since he also has said he will not
drive collected only $130,000, and
prominent entertainers and busi-
seek reelection to a third term, that
the project was abandoned.
k247
a lbyluivee
48-
S
Governor's mansion NL take 2
SA CRAMENTO Governor's
mansion NL take $ Weston.
The Reagan home in Pacific
Palisades has been described
by West magazine as "a small,
airy, typically Southern Califor-
nia house, built to simple and
personal specifications. News-
week called it " early Howard
Johnson."
Ed Gray, Reagan's press sec-
retary, said it is not customary
to seek public bids on the type
of work Stephenson was hired
to do.
Gray said Stephenson's 60-
day contract is limited to $5,000
in fees and expenses calls for
his é writing the program" for
a new mansion.
6 That is. he's going to be put-
ting in writing those kinds of
things a governor's mansion
should include, such as secur-
ity, fencing, driveways, how
many rooms, entertainment fa-
cilities, " Gray said.
Stephenson was quoted as
saying he hoped the mansion
would be designed in a Spanish
style and that he viewed it as
a comfortable home in the
country, large enough for enter-
taining. It should not be an of-
fice building."
08-10-71 04.43ppd
567C
MANSION 8-10 SX
NIGHT LD
SACRAMENTO (UPI) --GOV. RONALD REAGAN'S PRIVATE ARCHITECT HAS
BEEN AWARDED A STATE CONTRACT TO PLAN A NEW GOVERNOR'S MANSION IN
SACRAMENTO, IT WAS REPORTED THURSDAY.
THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION CHOSE WILLIAM STEPHENSON, 60, A
LOS ANGELES ARCHITECT, TO SUBMIT WHAT IT TERMED "A PROGRAM" FOR THE
ESTIMATED $1 MILLION MANSION. STEPHENSON DESIGNED REAGAN'S SEAVIEW
HOME IN PACIFIC PALISADES.
STATE ARCHITECT FRED HUMMEL SAID THERE WAS NO PUBLIC BIDDING
ON THE $5,000 CONTRACT SIGNED THIS WEEK, BUT THAT WAS NORMAL FOR
AWARDING CONTRACTS FOR "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES" SUCH AS ARCHITECTURAL.
HUMMEL, WHO HIRED STEPHENSON AFTER HIS RECOMMENDATION BY THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, SAID THE ARCHITECT HAS TWO MONTHS TO SUBMIT A
"PROGRAM OF FACTORS" SUCH AS STYLE OF THE HOME, TYPE OF LANDSCAPING,
AND NUMBER OF ROOMS TO BE CONSIDERED IN CONSTRUCTION OF THE MANSION.
HE SAID THE CONTRACT FOR DESIGNING THE RESIDENCE WILL BE AWARDED LATER.
HUMMEL SAID HE ASSUMED REAGAN AND HIS WIFE "WERE FAVORABLE TO
HIM (STEPHENSON) BECAUSE HE DID A GOOD JOB FOR THEM."
THE 1972 LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATED $150,000 FOR PRELIMINARY
PLANS AND SITE PREPARATION FOR THE MANSION TO BE BUILT ON AN 11AACRE
WOODED SITE OVERLOOKING THE AMERICAN RIVER EAST OF SACRAMENTO,
SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFFICE IN 1967, REAGAN MOVED HIS FAMILY
OUT OF THE OFFICIAL CENTURY-OLD GOVERNOR'S MANSION IN DOWNTOWN
SACRAMENTO. MRS. REAGAN CALLED THE PLACE A NOISY FIRETRAP.
SINCE THEN THE STATE HAS BEEN PAYING THE REAGANS" $15,000 PER
YEAR RENT FOR A $150,000 HOME OWNED BY A GROUP OF THE GOVERNOR'S
CLOSE POLITICAL ASSOCIATES AND FRIENDS.
STEPHENSON DESIGNED REAGAN'S PACIFIC PALISADES HOME IN 1956
WHEN REAGAN WAS A TELEVISION STAR. THE ARCHITECT ALSO HAS DESIGNED
HOMES FOR SINGER TONY MARTIN, ORCHESTRA LEADER PAUL WESTON AND ACTRESS
LARRAINE DAY.
HUMMEL SAID HE SELECTED STEPHENSON FROM A LIST OF SEVEN ARCHITECTS
"WHO HAVE DONE BIG RESIDENCES." HE SAID, "THERE ARE NOT MANY OF THESE
ARCHITECTS.'
ALTHOUGH ACKNOWLEDGING STEPHENSON WAS NOT ONE OF HIS RECOMMENDATIONS
OF ARCHITECTS TO BE CONSIDERED, HUMMEL SAID THAT "WITH HIS
EXPERIENCE STEPHENSON WAS THE MOST CAPABLE MAN AVAILABLE TO US."
STEPHENSON PREVIOUSLY DREW PRELIMINARY ARCHITECTURAL PLANS FOR A
PROPOSED MANSION WHEN A GROUP OF REAGAN SUPPORTERS CONDUCTED AN
UNSUCCESSFUL FUND-RAISING CAMPAIGN TO COLLECT $550,000 FOR A NEW
GOVERNOR'S HOME IN 1968-59. ONLY $130,000 WAS COLLECTED.
IF STEPHENSON'S GENERAL ARCHITEC TURAL PROPOSAL WINS THE APPROVAL
OF THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION AND KEY LEGISLATORS, HUMMEL SAID, A
CONTRACT FOR DETAILED DESIGN WILL BE AWARDED.
HUMMEL SAID STEPHENSON "MAY OR MAY NOT" BE SELECTED TO DO THE
DESIGN WORK.
KB232PPT
k185
a zzryyrwyyf
411
Governor's mansion
SA CRAMENTO AP -The
architect of Gov. Reagan's pri-
vate residence in Pacific Pali-
sades has been awarded a $5,-
000 state contract to start de-
signing a new governor's man-
sion.
Reagan's office confirmed a
news story today by Capitol
correspondent Martin Salditch
of the Riverside Press Enter-
prise that architect William
Stephenson of Los Angeles had
been selected to start work on
the long delayed new mansion.
Stephenson, 60, has special-
ized in designing Southern Cali-
fornia homes for prominent en-
tertainers and businessmen.
He designed the Reagans' Pa-
cific Palisades home, which
was completed in 1956 when the
former motion picture star was
a television entertainer. Steph-
enson has also designed homes
for baseball manager Leo
Durocher, singer Tony Martin
and orchestra leader Paul
Weston.
The Press Enterprise report-
ed Stephenson was selected
without public bidding from a
list of seven architects, a prac-
tice state officials said is nor-
mal for such a project.
Ed Gray, Reagan's press sec-
retary, said Sterhenson's 60-
day contract is limited to a
maximum of $5, 000 in fees and
expenses for preliminary ( pro-
gram'' work and does not in-
clude the actual drawing of any
detailed or preliminary plans.
The 1972-73 state budget pro-
vides $150, 000 for design and
site preparation for a new man-
sion on an 11-acre site near
Sacramento. Actual construc-
tion is expected to total about
$1 million and would not be
completed until the end of Rea-
gan's present term in 1974.
08-10-7 11.2 apd
k187
d zzryyree
412
Governor' Mansion take 8
SACRAMENTO Governor's
Mansion take 2: 1974.
Gray said the contract for a
detailed design would be
awarded after Sterhenson com-
pleted his job which Gray de-
scribed as writing the pro-
gram " for the mansion.
6 That is, he's going to be put-
ting in writing those kinds of
things a governor's mansion
should include, such as secur-
ity, fencing, driveways, how
many rooms, entertainment fa-
cilities, " Gray said.
Salditch said Stephenson
would & be in line'' to win the
later contract for actual design
of the mansion. He noted Steph-
enson has won no architectual
awards and was selected for
the preliminary work over sev-
eral award-winning architects.
He quoted the architect as
saying he hored the mansion
would be designed in a Spanish
style and that he viewed it as
"a comfortable home in the
country, large enough for enter-
taining. It should not be an of-
fice building. "
08-10-72 11.32apd
515C
MANSION 8-10 SX
SACRAMENTO (UPI) --GOV. RONALD REAGAN'S PRIVATE ARCHITECT HAS
BEEN AWARDED A STATE CONTRACT TO PLAN A NEW GOVERNOR'S MANSION
IN SACRAMENTO, IT WAS REPORTED TODAY.
WILLIAM STEPEHENSON, 60, A LOS ANGELES ARCHITECT WHO DESIGNED
REAGAN'S SEAVIEW PACIFIC PALISADES HOME, WAS SELECTED BY THE REAGAN
ADMINISTRATION TO SUBMIT WHAT IT TERMED "A PROGRAM* FOR
THE ESTIMATED $1 MILLION MANSION.
REAGAN'S PRESS SECRETARY, EDWIN GRAY, SAID THE $5,000 CONTRACT WAS
SIGNED THIS WEEK. THERE WAS NO PUBLIC BIDDING, BUT GRAY SAID THAT
WAS NORMAL FOR ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS.
THE CONTRACT AWARD WAS FIRST REPORTED BY THE RIVERSIDE PRESS-
ENTERPRISE, WHICH SAID STEPHENSON HAD TWO MONTHS TO COMPLETE THE WORK.
STATE ARCHITECT FRED HUMMEL, WHO HIRED STEPHENSON AFTER HIS
RECOMMENDATION BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, TOLD THE NEWSPAPER HE ASSUMED
REAGAN AND HIS WIFE "WERE FAVORABLE TO HIM BECAUSE HE DID A GOOD
JOB FOR THEM.
THE 1972 LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATED $150,000 FOR PRELIMINARY PLANS
AND SITE PREPARATION FOR A MANSION TO BE BUILT ON AN 11-ACRE WOODED
SITE OVERLOOKING THE AMERICAN RIVER EAST OF SACRAMENTO.
THE REAGANS MOVED OUT OF THE OFFICIAL CENTURY-OLD GOVERNOR'S
MANS ION IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO EARLY IN 1967. MRS. REAGAN CALLED THE
PLACE A NOISY FIRETRAP.
SINCE THEN THE STATE HAS BEEN PAYING THE REAGANS' $15,000 PER YEAR
RENT FOR A $150,000 HOME OWNED BY A GROUP OF THE GOVERNOR'S CLOSE
POLITICAL ASSOCIATES AND FRIENDS.
STEPHENSON DESIGNED REAGAN'S PACIFIC PALISADES HOME IN 1956 WHEN
REAGAN WAS A TELEVISION STAR. THE ARCHITECT ALSO HAS DESIGNED HOMES
FOR SINGER TONY MARTIN, ORCHESTRA LEADER PAUL WESTON AND ACTRESS
LORRAINE DAY.
STEPHENSON WAS SELECTED BY HUMMEL FROM A LIST OF SEVEN
ARCHITECTS.
"I THOUGHT IT WAS A FINE SELECTION," SAID HUMMEL, WHILE
ACKNOWLEDGING STEPHENSON WAS NOT ONE OF HIS REC OMMENDATIONS.
STEPHENSON PREVIOUSLY DREW PRELIMINARY ARCHITECTURAL PLANS FOR
A PROPOSED MANSION WHEN A GROUP OF REAGAN SUPPORTERS CONDUCTED AN
UNSUCCESSFUL FUND-RAISING CAMPAIGN TO COLLECT $550,000 FOR A
NEW GOVERNOR'S HOME IN 1968-69. ONLY $130,000 WAS COLLECTED.
IF STEPHENSON'S GENERAL ARCHITECTURAL PROPOSAL WINS THE APPROVAL
OF THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION AND KEY LEGISLATORS, HUMMEL SAID, HE WILL
BE AWARDED A CONTRACT FOR DETAILED DESIGN.
VF/CP1114APD
k246
d 1byluivyyx
481
Governor's Mansion NL
SACRAMENTO AP -The
architect who designed Gov.
Reagan's Pacific Palisades
residence and the home of
baseball figure Leo Durocher
has been awarded a $5,000 con-
tract to start design work on a
new governor's mansion.
The signing of a state con-
tract earlier this week with ar-
chitect William Stephenson of
Los Angeles was confirmed
Thursday by Reagan's office.
A spokesman for the gover-
nor said the contract with
Stephenson includes no detailed
or preliminary drawings or
plans, only "program" work.
The Riverside Press Enter-
prise reported Thursday that
Stephenson had been awarded
the preliminary contract with-
out public bids and would 'be
in line'' for the final design
contract.
The 1978-73 state budget in-
cludes $150, 000 for design and
preliminary site work for a new
mansion on acreage in a sub-
urb of Sacramento. Final con-
struction costs are expected to
total $1 million or more.
Martin Salditch, Capitol cor-
respondent for the Press Enter-
prise, said several award-win-
ning architects were suggested
for the job but were passed
over for Stephenson, whom Sal-
ditch said had never won an ar-
chitectual award.
State Architect Fred Hum-
mel, who said he hired Steph-
enson on the recommendation
of 1 higher officials. said he
assumed that Gov. and Mrs.
Reagan 6 "were favorable to him
because he did a good job for
them. "
Reagan has stated publicly
that he will not run for a third
term as governor in 1974, which
makes it likely the new man-
sion will not be completed until
after he leaves office.
The Reagan's moved from
the 95-year-old former gover-
nor's mansion in downtown
Sacramento to a private resi-
dence a few months after he
took office in 1967, terming the
old mansion a noisy firetrap.
Stephenson, 60, has special-
ized in designing Southern Cali-
fornia homes for celebrities. In
addition to Reagan's home.
which was completed in 1956
when the governor was a tele-
vision entertainer, Stephenson
has also designed homes for
singer Tony Martin and orches-
tra leader Paul Weston.
08-10-7 04.39ppd
569C
FREEWAY 8-10 SX
NIGHT LD
SACRAMENTO (UPI) --GOV. RONALD REAGAN'S PRESS OFFICE
OVER-ANTICIPATED THE GOVERNOR THURSDAY AND PREMATURELY ANNOUNCED
HE HAD SIGNED LEGISLATION VIRTUALLY ELIMINATING THE PROPOSED PACIFIC
COAST FREEWAY FROM HALF MOON BAY IN THE NORTH TO SAN JUAN
CAPISTRANO IN THE SOUTH.
AFTER LEARNING HE HAD NOT ACTUALLY SINGED THE BILL, THE
GOVERNOR'S RED-FACED PRESS AIDES SAID THERE WAS "ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT"
HE WOULD SIGN IT IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO.
THE PRESS ADIES FAILED TO INFORM NEWSMEN THAT THE MEASURE HAD.
NOT BEEN SINGED. THE OFFICE OF ONE OF THE AUTHORS DISCLOSED
TO NEWSMEN THAT THE LEGISLATION HAD NOT BEEN SIGNED.
"THE GOVERNOR AND HIS CABINET HAD REACHED A DECISION TO
APPROVE THE LEGISLATION AND WE JUST SENT OUT THE PRESS RELEASE
PREMATURELY, SAID A REAGAN PRESS AIDE.
UNDER THE BILL, THE ONLY SEGMENT OF THE PROPOSED ROUTE 1 STILL
IN THE STATE FREEWAY PLAN IS A ONE MILE SECTION CONNECTION ROUTE 105
SERVING THE LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
ACTUALLY FOUR MEASURES ARE INVOLVED. THEY ARE AUTHORED BY
SEN. DENNIS E. CARPENTER, R-NEWPORT BEACH, AND REPUBLICAN
ASSEMBLYMEN FRANK MURPHY OF SANTA CRUZ, JAMES A. HAYES OF LONG BEACH
AND ROBERT E. BADHAM OF NEWPORT BEACH.
THE GOVERNOR, IN A PREPARED STATEMENT RELEASED PREMATURELY,
SAID HE RECOGNIZED THAT DELETIONS OF ROUTE 1 FROM THE FREEWAY SYSTEM
"DOES NOT OFFER A SOLUTION TO THE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS IN THE
AREAS EFFECTED. BUT HE SAID THE LEGISLATION "CONTRIBUTES TO THE
IMPROVING CLIMATE OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS THAT WILL LEAD TO A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION.'
REAGAN SAID THE LEGISLATION PROTECTED "NEARLY 70 MILES OF
COASTLINE AND SEVERAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES FROM THE
PROPOSED ROUTE."
THE CARPENTER BILL REMOVES FROM THE FREEWAY SYSTEM THE
PROPOSED PACIFIC COAST FREEWAY BETWEEN TORRANCE AND SAN JUAN
CAPISTRANO IN ORANGE COUNTY.
THE MURPHY LEGISLATION REMOVED THE PROPOSED ROUTE BETWEEN SANTA
CRUZ NORTH TO THE SANTA CRUZ-SAN MATEO COUNTY LINE NEAR THE ANO
NUEVO STATE RESERVE.
THE HAYES AND BADHAM MEASURE STRUCK THE PROPOSED FREEWAY ROUTES
IN LONG BEACH AND NEWPORT BEACH.
REAGAN SAID HIS SUPPORT OF THE BILLS DEMONSTRATED HIS
ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY THAT LOCAL COMMUNITIES "WILL BE GIVEN A VOICE
IN THE PLANNING OF TRANSPORTATION MODES.
"THE REMOVAL OF PORTIONS OF THIS STATE HIGHWAY FROM THE
FREEWAY SYSTEM PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A COOPERATIVE REVIEW OF
WHETHER A FREEWAY OR SOME OTHER TRANSPORTATION FACILITY WOULD BE
MORE APPROPRIATE," HE SAID.
ROUTE 1, INTERACTING WITH HIGHWAY 101, IS STILL IN EFFECT
FROM HALF MOON BAY IN SAN MATEO COUNTY TO THE CALIFORNIA-
OREGON BORDER.
VF243PPD
RAS
-
R/5
MANSION
CITIZENS FOR A RESIDENCE
634 SOUTH SPRING STREET
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90014
FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNORS
CALIFORNIA
REPUBLIC
PHONE: (213) 620-9300
OFFICERS
*
HOLMES TUTTLE - President
JAQUELIN H. HUME - Vice President
HUGH H. EVANS, SR. - Vice President
WILLIAM FRENCH SMITH - Secretary
August 21, 1969
LELAND M. KAISER - Treasurer
Mr. Caspar W. Weinberger
Director of Finance
State of California
State Capitol, Room 1145
Sacramento, California 95814
Dear Mr. Weinberger:
Enclosed herewith is an executed Grant Deed from
the Citizens For A Residence For California Governors, a
California corporation, conveying to the State of California
the real property owned by it in the County of Sacramento
as described therein. The Citizens For A Residence For
California Governors also hereby transfers to the State of
California all plans and drawings and cash on hand consist-
ing of approximately $
The conveyance of the real property and the
transfer of the plans and drawings and cash is being made
upon the condition (1) that the State erect on such property
with State funds a residence for the Governors of the State
of California, and (2) that the names of eligible contribu-
tors (to be supplied in an appropriate time capsule by this
corporation) be placed in the foundation of the residence.
Very truly yours,
CITIZENS FOR A RESIDENCE FOR
CALIFORNIA GOVERNORS
By
Holmes Tuttle, President
ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO
ON BEHALF OF THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA
Caspar W. Weinberger
Director of Finance
State of California
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
REPUBLICANS
DEMOCRATS
LEONARD K. FIRESTONE
EDWARD MILLS
TAFT SCHREIBER
HUGH H. EVANS, SR.
ROBERT M. HAYNIE
JAQUELIN H. HUME
ARCH MONSON, JR.
WILLIAM FRENCH SMITH
Y. FRANK FREEMAN
JAMES J. RUDDEN
LELAND M. KAISER
A. C. RUBEL
HOLMES TUTTLE
Z. WAYNE GRIFFIN
BENJAMIN 11. SWIG
file
Paul-
OLD EXECUTIVE MANSION
new
Ending
put
Californians can thank "the prettiest palm tree in the state" for
1
their old Executive Mansion, now abandoned by Gov. Ronald Reagan
The rambling Victorian-Gothic hodgepodge might never have become
Royal
a headache for the State of California except for a 60-foot R palm tree
***
which fronted the house. The ornament easily outshown the center-
some
piece for stateliness, and according to at least one source, was the
deciding factor in favor of acquiring the house to be used as Califor-
nia's Executive Residence.
Today, the State is faced with a new question: What to do with
the crumbling old house now that it no longer serves as the Executive
Mansion?
proposal,
The initial impulse, strongly felt and easily accepted, was to
convert it into a historical monument. The impulse was na tural and the
it
project appearted logical and justified on the face of it. But State
officials, kunda burdened with the responsibility of implementing the
notion, ran smack into some hard facts.
The 90-year-old four-story frame house has long been condemned by
The first fuestion was,
officials as a firetrap. How do you make it safe for
crowds
of
people to tour through?
Then there is the question of fundamental structural soundness.
For openers, it has been recommended that all the flooring in the corri-
dors and landings be renailed to make them safe for public use.
Estimated first-year costs to operate the old Executive Mansion
as a historical monument, open to the public, run up into six figures.
high cost
Even under this/estimate, upkeep and personnel would be kept to the
absolute minimum and only a portion of the house would be open to the
public. The house would be closed off from the third floor up in an
effort to keep down costs and meet safety requirements.
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MANSION2222
2
All of which has caused State officials to have the some second
thoughts about the whole idea. Just how "historical" is the old house
anyway? How many people would want to spend their time touring
**
through it now that it is a has-been, no longer the Governor's residence?
become the executive mension
How did the State get "stuck" with it in the first place?
Which brings us back to the "prettiest" palm tree.
Back in 1903, the California Legislature appropriated $50,000 for
construction of an executive residence. This was *** not the first
d
time the need for an official residence has been officially recognized.
An Act of 1870 authorized construction of a mansion, but by 1874, the
resulting building was deemed entirely inappropriate for an executive
residence, so State officials went back to the old drawing board and
redesigned the building for use as the State Printing Office.
Following the 1903 appropriataion, bids were solicited but they
were all rejected because they exceeded the amount appropriated. The
State then went on 8 house-hunting spree. This too turned up many
rejects for such reasons as inadequate stables. Finally attention
focused upon "the Steffens property" at 16th and H. It did not
But
inspire huzzas Even in 1903, the best that could be said for it was
that it was "one of those good, old-fashioned, roomy homes" (Sacramento
Union, July 9, 1903).
But if nothing else, it was roomy, rambling all over the large
-didhave
corner lot. It was convenient to the Capitol, had large stable, and--
most important of all--it was available for the right price.
A sticking point was the architecutre. Even at this relatively
early date, only 25 years after construction of the house, and at a
time when gingerbread and spiked-rail fences and mansard roofs still
abounded, it was generally recognized that the house at 16th and H was
an architectural monstrosity.
OLD MANSION33333
As Laura Steffens, daughter of Joseph Steffens, who sold the house
to the State, delicately put it in a letter dated April 4, 1917: "We
m
never ad ir ed the architecture, but do not consider that any of us are
judges of that."
State officials, saddled with responsibility, considered that they
were judges of architecture, and they didnt admire it either, to put
it mildly. But then, there was that stately Royal Palm in front of
the place.
"It is probable that there is not a prettier specimen in the
state," the Union reported (Aug. 24, 1905), "And the admiration it
aroused in the Governor's mind doubtless had an effect in the formation
of his decision in favor of the property
"
The Union explained: "It is known that the Governor
recognized that the building had not the architectural design of
modern essay construction but he considered that the palm tree and
other sub-tropical growth about the place more than compensated for
any imputed shortcomings in other regark regards."
And the price was right.
The house was built in 1877 by Nathaniel Dudley Goodell for
Albert Gallatin. Goodell arrived in Sacramento in August of 1849 and
camped under a great oak tree. He was a carpenter who had taught him-
self architecture and had built residences and "three large factories"
in Massachusetts, he said, before migrating to California. He tried
prospecting without success, then went back to carpentering and con-
struction, eventually building the Gallatin house. So much for the
background of the "architeet. =
Gallatin was the managing partner of ntington & Hopkins,
described as the largest hardware house on the Pacific Coast at the
time. one source in the archives reveals that "Gallatin had
OLD MANSION44444
apparently made a substantial profit from sale of material for the
State Capitol
and some of this money most likely entered into the
building of his palatial home. "
Another source put it this way: "As supplier of much of the
building material for the State Capitol, he also incorporated many
of these items into his home."
Gallatin sold the house to Joseph Steffens in 1888. A native of
Canada, Steffens had come to California as a clerk, later became a
partner in the firm which employed him, K and eventually he was appointed
a bank director. His son, Lincoln Steffens, was 21 at the time of the
purchase and a student at the University of California, but ** it is
said that he spent much time at the house with his parents. One dan can
only speculate upon the twist the bizarre house may have exerted upon
course
young Steffens who went on to become a radical left-wing writer famed
for his muckraking.
Joseph Steffens was willing to part with his house for $32,500.
Gallatin is reported to have spent $60,000 on its construction, althouugh
Goodell allegedly said he stopped counting when the cost crossed the
$75,000 mark. However, Gallatin is believed to have saved much on
materials due to his position.
By 1906, the State had spent $54,000 on the purchase, improvement
and furnishing of the house; an additional appropriation was passed in
additional
seorge C.
1905 to cover the suxpins expenditure. Gov. Pardee had moved into the
house in November of 1903; presumably he indulged himself in admiring
******* glances at the Royal Palm which caused him to settle on this
house in the first place. There was little else to admire
The Sacramento Union struggled to maintain a constructive attitude
toward the State's new acquision in its August 24, 1905 ) feature story
complete with pictures. The reporter felt duty-bound to confide in
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ODD MANSION5555
his readers: "The Union has had photographs taken. It will be noted
that the picture-maker, with the eye of a true artist, has chosen
views that present the complete structure in the least objectional
aspect."
The word "homelike" was the strongest approving appellation the
Union any could summon up courage to apply to the house.
But State officials today ask themselves: Homelike to whom?
Dracula
?
The old Executive Mansion is eerie and forbidding. It looks like
the setting for the Hitchcock horror epic, "Psycho", or perhaps TV's
"The Munsters."
Muriel Barnett, a feature writer for the old Los Angeles Mirror,
gave readers her reaction when she first saw the house (July, 1951):
"The Governor's Mansion was a shock The house is white frame
Victorian Gothic and looks like the inspiration for a Charles Addams
cartoon."
In point of fact, bats in habited the upper reaches of the Mansion
Earl
(which is as tall as a modern five-story building) and when the Warrens
beginning
moved in, they found the place boarded up from the third floor on up.
third floor was
When they investigated, they found it bat-infested
and cobweb shrouded.
Besides the bats, sewer X gas was found to be invading the Mansion
shortly after Gov. Pardee moved in-which probably set him to thinking
about Steffens' willingness to sell for a low price. Action was taken
to seal
"workers off the sewers. 4 the world," better Known as the
The "Wobblies", a group of lef wing radicals, were accused of
implication in the 1917 dynamiting of the then un occupied Mansion, which,
however unfortunately failed to demolish it.
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ULD MANSION666666
Frank
Gov. Merriam refused to live in the place preferring a suite at
a hotel until her married in 1936 at which time, by some coincidence,
he was persuaded to move into the Mansion.
Many colorful descriptions have been coined to fit the Mansion but
no one is reported to have said that it looks like an Executive Mansion.
One writer observed: "The Governor's Mansion
looks like a six-tiered
wedding cake" (L.A. Times, March 23, 1958).
The low status of the Mansion was underscored by an incident in
1953 when a Portland newspaper inadvertently ran a picture of Califor-
nia's Executive Mansion over a caption describing it as the future home
of Oregon's Governor. The paper, the Governor, legislators and every
other open target was hit with protests from outraged Oregon citizens
who demanded that something be done to keep their Governor from having
cannot
to move into such a place. "Surely the State of Oregon / sanxlindxax
allow its Governor to live in a place like that,"
one
******
letter-
writer complained.
A Sacramento paper (the Bee, March 6, 1953) conceded that the
Mansion was known as a "Victorian architectural monstrosity" but carried
the news that Gov. Warren had loyally defended California's home for
its Governors.
In BM plain words, the Mansion is an eyesore and it has been so
for a long, long time. Miss Barnett summed up critical a ssessment of
the house when she wrote: "The old Stanford House, also Victorian,
nevertheless has a certain simplicity and dignity that the Governor's
Mansion completely lacks."
Besides its ugliness the Mansion has been held to be unsafe for
at least 26 years. The San Francisco Chronicle of June 10, 1941 carried
a story in which das condemnation of the Mansion as a fireirms trap was
advocated.
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MANSION777777
In a letter to Gov. Brown dated Sept. 11, 1959, State Fire Marshall
Joe R. Yockers described the fire hazards:
"The mansion building is of wood frame construction throughout
In many instances, the walls are set out from the main walls a distance
of 18 to 24 inches, providing hidden areas through which fire might
develop and spread without being observed
there are also vertical
shafts extending up through the building that would tend to spread
fire rapidly in smokend enclosed areas where it could not be observed.
"Interior stairways are all of the open unprotected type and are
connected to corridors on all floor levels. This presents a very
(or
dangerous situation since a fire occurring in the basement of lower
floors would quickly involve all corridors and stairways above,
rendering them unusable as means of escape. This situation could
occur in as little as 3 to 6 xxxxx minutes after a fire started and
should the fire be a slow, smoldering fire as is quite often the case
in a building of this type, the corridors and stairways would become
so involved with smoke that they would be untenable as means of escape
from the upper floor There is no question but that this building in
its present condition presents a serious hazard to life in event of
fire
"
Lewis F. Lionvale, Senior Engineer of the Division of Buildings and
Grounds, put it more bluntly in his memo of Aug. 7, 1959: "
the
Governor's Mansion is definitely a fire trap. "
Yockers told reporters he had been trying to get the Governors out
house
of the t place for 15 years. It was at this time that ropes were secured
out
at various windows so that the Governor and his family could escape a
fire by knowk lowering themselves to the ground via the rope.
(in the event of fired
- NSERT-
OLD MANSION--FIRST ADD
- - - insert - - - (bottom page 7)
( XXX event of fire.)
also
house
officially
By this time n the old / Маникая had been / certified as миняйя unfit for
use as a rest home, nursing home or boarding house under California
The states
statutes. It could be used for only one purpose: Housing our chief
executive and his family.
X
(pickup top of Page 8: Plans for a new X X X )
EXECUTIVE MANSION888888
9
Plans for a new Executive Mansion date back to 1929 but due to one
thing and another, ground has yet to be broken for the structure. In
the meantime, pending construction of a new Mansion financed by
the current governor, Ronald
private funds raised through public subscription, Gov. Reagan and his
elsewhere in Q home they rent with their own
family have chosen to live in a house which is actually safe structurally
and in event of fixak fire
money.
In retrospect,
California lucked it out and managed not to burn up a Governor
in
and his family in the old Executive Mansion, but State officials,
scratching their heads and trying to figure out what to do with the
old Mansion, ask themselves: Does Ford point with pride to Edsels?
advertixe
Does General Motors gat Corvair testimonials from court transcripts?
Does West Germany publicize the Hindenberg? Does Alaska distribute
movies of the Juneau earthquakes? Does the Southern California All-
Year Club circulate color brochures of the Watts riots? Do hillside
x
real estate developers commission paintings of mudslides? Does
the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power buy billboard space for
pictures of the cracked Baldwin Hills Reservoir? Does Brinks prepare
brochures documenting the string of ******** armored ENK truck robberies?
Do tobacco companies buy television time to read Cancer Society reports
the hazards of
on cigarette smoking? Does the Southern California Auto Club use
pix helicopter shots of freeway jams as a selling point for more
freeways? Does the New York Stock Exchange hold an annual celebration
of Black Tuesday?
the State st
Then why should, California preserve and even enshrine its ancient
shame, the mouldering old Executive Mansion--and at a six-figure annual
cost?
State officials aware of his "history fanatics" who want to preserve
everything in sight do not pretend to have the answer, but they think
considerations
they have come up with a question which deserves serious thought,
#####
--cb5.31.67
in retrospect california lucked out. despite some false alamrs
the fire that everyone feared never materialzied and california
governors went on