James Rolph
Encyclopedia
James “Sunny Jim” Rolph, Jr. (August 23, 1869 – June 2, 1934) was an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was elected to a single term as the 27th governor of California
from January 6, 1931 until his death on June 2, 1934 at the height of the Great Depression
. Previously, Rolph had been the 30th mayor of San Francisco
from January 8, 1912 until his resignation to become governor. Rolph remains the longest serving mayor in San Francisco history.
, he went to work as an office boy in a commission house. He entered the shipping business in 1900, by forming a partnership with George Hind. He would over the next decade, serve as president of two banks, one of which he helped establish. Although he was asked to run for mayor in 1909, he chose to wait until 1911 to run for mayor a position that he would hold for nineteen years. As mayor, he was known as "Sunny Jim" and his theme song was "There Are Smiles That Make You Happy". In 1915 he appeared as himself in an early documentary film titled Mabel and Fatty Viewing the World's Fair at San Francisco
, which was directed by and starred Fatty Arbuckle. In 1924, Rolph appeared as himself in a Slim Summerville
comedy short film, Hello, Frisco.
James Rolph knew of the power in San Francisco of the Roman Catholic Church. Italians, Irish, French and Germans made up the majority of the population of the City. Rolph established a deep friendship with Archbishop Edward Joseph Hanna
. In turn, Hanna would support Rolph in his 1930 election as governor of California.
In addition to his mayoral duties and overseeing his shipping interests, he directed the Ship Owners and Merchants Tugboat Company, and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. He also was vice-president of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and president of the Merchants' Exchange. He resigned in 1931 to assume the office of Governor of California.
Rolph received considerable criticism for publicly praising the citizens of San Jose
following the November 1933 lynching
of the confessed murderers of Brooke Hart
, while promising to pardon
anyone involved, thereby earning the nickname, "Governor Lynch".
on June 2, 1934, aged 64, three years into his term. Rolph was the second Governor to die in office, the first being Washington Bartlett
in 1887. He is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Colma, California
.
, husband to Valerie Plame
from the Plame affair
, is related to Governor Rolph. Rolph was Wilson's mother's uncle.
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
from January 6, 1931 until his death on June 2, 1934 at the height of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Previously, Rolph had been the 30th mayor of San Francisco
Mayor of San Francisco
The Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco is the head of the executive branch of San Francisco's city and county government. The mayor has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the legislative branch....
from January 8, 1912 until his resignation to become governor. Rolph remains the longest serving mayor in San Francisco history.
Biography
James Rolph was born in San Francisco on August 23, 1869. He had one younger brother. After attending school in the Mission DistrictMission District, San Francisco, California
The Mission District, also commonly called "The Mission", is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California, USA, originally known as "the Mission lands" meaning the lands belonging to the sixth Alta California mission, Mission San Francisco de Asis...
, he went to work as an office boy in a commission house. He entered the shipping business in 1900, by forming a partnership with George Hind. He would over the next decade, serve as president of two banks, one of which he helped establish. Although he was asked to run for mayor in 1909, he chose to wait until 1911 to run for mayor a position that he would hold for nineteen years. As mayor, he was known as "Sunny Jim" and his theme song was "There Are Smiles That Make You Happy". In 1915 he appeared as himself in an early documentary film titled Mabel and Fatty Viewing the World's Fair at San Francisco
Mabel and Fatty Viewing the World's Fair at San Francisco
Mabel and Fatty Viewing the World's Fair at San Francisco is a 1915 short comedy-documentary film both starring and directed by Roscoe Arbuckle and Mabel Normand.-Production background:...
, which was directed by and starred Fatty Arbuckle. In 1924, Rolph appeared as himself in a Slim Summerville
Slim Summerville
Slim Summerville was an American film actor, best known as a comedy performer.-Life and career:Born George Joseph Summerville in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Summerville began his career as a "Keystone Kop" in 1912...
comedy short film, Hello, Frisco.
James Rolph knew of the power in San Francisco of the Roman Catholic Church. Italians, Irish, French and Germans made up the majority of the population of the City. Rolph established a deep friendship with Archbishop Edward Joseph Hanna
Edward Joseph Hanna
Edward Joseph Hanna was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of San Francisco from 1915 to 1935.-Early life and education:...
. In turn, Hanna would support Rolph in his 1930 election as governor of California.
In addition to his mayoral duties and overseeing his shipping interests, he directed the Ship Owners and Merchants Tugboat Company, and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. He also was vice-president of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and president of the Merchants' Exchange. He resigned in 1931 to assume the office of Governor of California.
Rolph received considerable criticism for publicly praising the citizens of San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
following the November 1933 lynching
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
of the confessed murderers of Brooke Hart
Brooke Hart
Brooke Hart was the oldest son of Alexander Hart, the owner of L. Hart and Son Department Store in San Jose, California. His kidnapping and murder was reported throughout the United States, and the lynching of his alleged murderers, Thomas Harold Thurmond and John M...
, while promising to pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
anyone involved, thereby earning the nickname, "Governor Lynch".
Death
After suffering several heart attacks, he died in Santa Clara CountySanta Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
on June 2, 1934, aged 64, three years into his term. Rolph was the second Governor to die in office, the first being Washington Bartlett
Washington Bartlett
Washington Montgomery Bartlett was the 20th Mayor of San Francisco, California from 1883–1887 and was California's first and to date only Jewish Governor of California.- Life and career :...
in 1887. He is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Colma, California
Colma, California
Colma is a small incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 1,792 at the 2010 census. The town was founded as a necropolis in 1924....
.
Legacy
The official name of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge is the James “Sunny Jim” Rolph Bridge.Miscellaneous
U.S. Ambassador Joseph C. WilsonJoseph C. Wilson
Joseph Charles Wilson IV is a former United States diplomat best known for his 2002 trip to Niger to investigate allegations that Saddam Hussein was attempting to purchase yellowcake uranium; his New York Times op-ed piece, "What I Didn't Find in Africa"; and the subsequent "outing" of his wife...
, husband to Valerie Plame
Valerie Plame
Valerie Elise Plame Wilson , known as Valerie Plame, Valerie E. Wilson, and Valerie Plame Wilson, is a former United States CIA Operations Officer and the author of a memoir detailing her career and the events leading up to her resignation from the CIA.-Early life :Valerie Elise Plame was born on...
from the Plame affair
Plame affair
The Plame Affair involved the identification of Valerie Plame Wilson as a covert Central Intelligence Agency officer. Mrs. Wilson's relationship with the CIA was formerly classified information...
, is related to Governor Rolph. Rolph was Wilson's mother's uncle.