1970's

Brown’s enactment of the Dills Act has been widely criticized for giving public employee unions too much power in Sacramento. Today, the state’s public employee retirement systems have more than $60 billion in unfunded liabilities. Other major failures during Brown’s governorship include turning a $6 billion surplus into a $1 billion deficit, supporting $7 billion in new taxes and running for president twice and losing both times to Jimmy Carter.

1980's

By the end of Brown’s governorship, his approval rating had dropped below 30 percent as California’s economy was mired in deep recession. Brown would lose the 1982 United States Senate race to the Mayor of San Diego, Pete Wilson. Afterward, Brown embarked on a search for spiritual fulfillment and largely lived off a $20,000 a year allowance from his parents and other income from corporate and political friends of his family.

1990's

After a disastrous two-year stint as the chairman of the Democratic Party in California, Brown decided to run for the presidency for a third time. He lost to Bill Clinton in the Democratic primaries. Later in the 90's, he would host a talk show on public radio in Berkeley that served as a platform for weird rants against technology, corporate America and law and order.

2000's

By the end of Brown’s two terms as mayor, the murder rate in Oakland had doubled. Oakland was named the 4th most dangerous city in America. Under Brown’s stewardship, the public schools were driven to the edge of bankruptcy and the state was forced to take over their management. The city’s finances were also poorly managed. Spending in Brown’s operating budget increased by 60 percent and taxes were raised on everything from parking to cable television to phone bills and garbage collection.