Sam Yorty
| Sam Yorty | |
|---|---|
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| 37th Mayor of Los Angeles | |
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In office July 1, 1961 – July 1, 1973 |
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| Preceded by | C. Norris Poulson |
| Succeeded by | Tom Bradley |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 26th district |
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In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 |
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| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | James Roosevelt |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 14th district |
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In office January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953 |
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| Preceded by | Helen G. Douglas |
| Succeeded by | Harlan Hagen |
| Member of the California State Assembly |
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In office 1949–1950 |
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In office 1937–1941 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Samuel William Yorty October 1, 1909 Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Died | June 5, 1998 (aged 88) Los Angeles, California |
| Resting place | Ashes scattered at the Pacific Ocean |
| Political party | Democratic (until 1980), Republican (from 1980) |
| Profession | Politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
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| Service/branch | United States Army Air Corps |
| Rank |
 Captain
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| Unit | Intelligence Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War II Pacific Theater |
Samuel William "Sam" Yorty (October 1, 1909 – June 5, 1998) was a politician from Los Angeles, California. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and the California State Assembly, but he is most remembered for his turbulent three terms as the 37th Mayor of Los Angeles from 1961 to 1973. The colorful “Mayor Sam” earned numerous nicknames from both admirers and detractors, such as Travelin’ Sam, Airplane Sam, Shoot-From-the-Lip Sam, the Maverick Mayor, Mad Sam Yorty, Scrappy Sam, Suitcase Sam, Saigon Sam, and the Reform Republican.
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Frank Patrick and Johanna (Egan) Yorty, he began his political education as the son of a Democratic father in a Republican state, with a mother who also showed a strong interest in politics. The family moved to Southern California when Yorty completed high school. He retained his Midwestern inflection and was known for pronouncing the city's name as “Los Ang-gah-leez.”
Yorty enrolled at Southwestern University and later the University of California at Los Angeles, working for a time at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. He was admitted to the bar in 1939.
Elected as a Democrat to the California State Assembly in 1936, Yorty established himself as a politician with integrity, but watched his popularity plummet when he reported a bribery attempt on a pending bill. Yorty advocated state ownership of public utilities and strong labor unions, showing a liberal approach to politics. His support of the Republicans in Spain's civil war against General Francisco Franco, and his fight against using the California Highway Patrol to end labor strikes helped earn him support of the local Communist Party United States of America organization.
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