Date: 1981-05-28
Speaker: JOHN L. BURTON (democrat)
Chamber: H

I thank my distinguished colleague and friend. CARLOS MOORHEAD. for having this special order for Frank Lanterman. He was a sweet old guy. When I was first elected to the State legislature. I thought of him as nothing more than an archconservative curmudgeon who cared nothing about people. I think it is fair to say that if it was not for Uncle Frank during an 8year period we had out in California. when he was the one person between the mentally ill and mentally retarded and the forces of oppression. the programs that he had worked and fought so long for would not have survived. I think these years actually did take a toll on him. if anything could. He was a very indestructible person. I had the honor of serving under him when he was chairman of ways and. means. when we used to have shouting matches about certain pieces of legislation. I served under him when he was chairman of the health and welfare committee. and he taught me more about the problems and the programs on mental health than I ever thought was possible to learn. It was through his efforts that we were able to get a program passed in our State for autistic children. I will never forget that. as long as I live. I had gone down to a mental health meeting in Marin County. when I first heard that it might be a new congressional district. A parent of an autistic child talked to me there for about 45 minutes. telling me the problems and how the head doctors would say it is a physiological problem. the medical doctors would say it is a psychological problem. and nobody wanted to deal with the childrens problem. I remember driving up to Sacramento. walking into Frank Fats. and Uncle Frank would be sitting there in what was his new corner. after they shut down the bar at the Senator Hotel. and I said. "Uncle Frank. what are we going to do about autistic children?" And he looked up to me and he said. "Burton. you give them a brush and some paint. and they just go on their way." I said. "Frank. this is serious." He said. "Now. John. just sit down. have yourself a little drink. and we will discuss this." Within about 15 minutes we came up with a solution. We came up with a bill that passed both Houses and was on the desk of Governor Reaganwho is now Presidentand because It was my bill. he was not quite sure whether it was a Communist plot or not. It took Uncle Frank and Lloyd Nolan. who was a movie star with Governor Reagan. who had an autistic child himself. to convince the Governor that this was a good piece of legislation. And he signed it. We went on to work with Frank very closely on a piece of legislation that. actually. he supported in his heart but he said that he could not support it on the floor of the assembly. That was legislation to keep the mental institutions open until they implemented the LPS bill. so that there were programs available in the local community. The Governor vetoed this bill. We had to override the veto. and Frank. of course. gave a strong speech against the override and sat down and smiled as the votes ran up on the tally board because. as he said. in good conscience he could not support the bill. but we knew where he was in his heart. It is safe to say that the people of California. especially those who had no champions but for two very stern. hardrock conservatives. such as our late colleague. Bill Ketchum. and Frank Lanterman. would have gone down the tube. but for two people who prided themselves in being conservative. who had compassion. And Uncle Frank had a heart as big as the organ that he took from the Fox Theater in San Francisco. I loved him dearly. I will miss him. The last time I saw himand I think you were there. CARLoswas at the farewell dinner they had for him In Sacramento. I know he will be missed in Sacramento. and the people in this body just have no idea what a wonderful thing they have missed in their lives when they did not have the pleasure of knowing Uncle Frank Lanterman.