The Armenian-American Governor

Governor George Deukmejian

This interview reveals the heart of a humble man, a true gentle man and about the three women who have influenced his life

“I received your voicemail and I’m returning your call. You know there’s a lot of information about me on the internet and I’m not really looking for any more publicity …but feel free to give me a call…” Well it went something like that and I was absolutely excited to listen to Governor George Deukmejian’s voice on my voicemail. So what did I do, I called him back because what I wanted to know could not be found on the internet.

Six weeks later, I arrived at the restaurant on the second floor of the Long Beach Hilton hotel and there he sat distinguished.

I introduced myself to our former Governor George Deukmejian as he stood up (as a gentleman would) and we shook hands. I placed my briefcase on the chair and took my notepad and tape recorder out. I put batteries inside the recorder and placed it on the table and then he reached over and stopped me.

He said, "so please tell me about your self?" He interviewed me for a few minutes and then I spoke about my intentions of the interview as my opening to begin, so I thought, but then the waitress arrived. We ordered lunch.

I began the interview by first asking permission if I could call him Governor and he said I could call him anything I want. I was consistent and called him Governor throughout the whole interview.

Najibi: Have you always been called George?

Governor Deukmejian: My full name is Courken George. When I was growing up my nickname was Corky, that’s how I remained during my early years through High School. When I got to College the nickname changed to Duke. Through the years I used the first name George as my full name. However, when I signed official documents they were as C. George Deukmejian. Most of my official documents are C. George Deukmejian.

Najibi: Governor what was your defining moment?

Governor Deukmejian: I don’t know that I can pinpoint a particular moment. I always found a desire to be involved in activities. For example, during my high school years I ran for student body president. I was not successful but I was very active in student government affairs. The following year I became the campaign manager for a fellow student and we won that election. It was something natural to be involved and to be willing to take on leadership positions.

Najibi: I consider your accomplishments as amazing. During your eight year term, you appointed 1000 judges, and the majority of them were serving on the bench of the California State Supreme Court Justices. Please describe what was happening to you at that time and what impact did your mother have on you?

Governor Deukmejian: I spent 20 years in various public offices, all of them in state government beginning with my four years serving in the state assembly. I spent 12 years as state senator and then I ran and was elected for attorney general for four years. So I had 20 years of experience in the state government, in the legislature and as attorney general. And at that time, the then governor decided to run for the U.S. Senate so there was an open seat, there was no incumbent in the governor’s office. I felt well prepared to run for governor with all of that experience behind me. And if I was ever going to run - that was the time to do it because I wasn’t going to have to run against an incumbent. Those were the major considerations at the time.

Regarding my mother, well, she wouldn’t say that she raised an amazing man, she was an energetic, enthusiastic woman. She worked very hard during her life. It was necessary for her to work because of the depression. She worked in a factory when I was six years old and my older sister was 10 at that time. My mother was a hard working woman. At home, she was a mother, a wife; she took care of the house, and cooked. At work, she would stand on her feet all day making neck ties. Many years later, she changed jobs and worked for Montgomery Wards; they had a retail shop in the village where we grew up. Then she left Montgomery Wards and went to work for the State of New York, at this time we were living in the outskirts of Albany, NY. If you’re not familiar with Albany, there are a lot of state agencies situated there. Anyways, my mother was dynamic; she was always active, very interested, very encouraging and would continually suggest to me that I may want to try this or that, just always encouraging me.

My sister Anna who was a very accomplished pianist likewise received this type of support and encouragement from my mom. My father did as well but he was more of a gentleman, a passive nature as compared to my mother.

Najibi: Would you give me an example of how your mother and your sister would encourage you? And what were some of the family concerns?

Governor Deukmejian: My mom’s main concern was the families’ survival. My fathers’ Oriental rug concession business had suffered major loss during the depression. Since there was no money to buy rugs my father decided to repair them. Many Armenian women had to work; families were dependent on the second job, and my mother worked.

They were pleased and pretty amazed that I was in College and that I was passing. You see my parents only had high school diplomas and at that time my sister didn’t go to College until after she was married. I should elaborate; my parents weren’t knowledgeable about how you prepare yourself to go to the best schools, or what you should study, like we are prepared today. And furthermore, they didn’t have money.
While in College, I hadn’t really decided what I wanted to do as my professional career. My mother encouraged me to consider law school. So ultimately that’s what I did. Once I got into law school, I really liked it and took to it. After all, with her encouragement, her suggestions, it worked out.

My sister really had a great talent to play the piano. As a result, my parents sent to her to a private high school where she could continue to play the piano and then they sent her to a conservatory. We thought she had a career, but it didn’t work out for her. Anna was dynamic. Both my mom and Anna were very helpful to me and supportive of whatever I undertook. I think they were very amazed as to how far I got. As I made decisions about doing certain things they were always there, encouraging me, they never said, you can’t do that, they always encouraged me and my wife is the same way.

Najibi: Tell me about your wife, Gloria.

Governor Deukmejian: Gloria always supported me. I met her at a wedding and married her seven months later in 1957. Gloria was a native of Long Beach. She attended Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles where she studied Interior Design.
She participates in many activities and organizations. We have three grown children and four grandchildren.

Najibi: I want to go back to the topic of the appointment of judges briefly. What didn’t interest you about the judicial system?

Governor Deukmejian: Well I was concerned about things, for instance, if laws were being adequately enforced. I felt one of the major responsibilities is to provide for the safety and protection of citizens. During my years in state government we were experiencing significant increases in crime throughout not only the state but the country. I wasn’t pleased with the way the great many of the judges were enforcing the laws. I remember a period in time in the 60s when there was a lot of second guessing of law enforcement by the judiciary. They were making it extremely difficult for peace officers to do their jobs, they were changing the ground rules, and it was difficult for the law enforcement officers to make a split second decision knowing if they’re doing the right thing or not. This area concerned me and this was a primary area of interest.

When I began running as a candidate for the state assembly this became a primary interest for me and when I became attorney general the interest continued on through my whole career. I did get a lot of satisfaction (I think) to make a contribution in that area. Then later I realized that an attorney general doesn’t appoint judges, it’s the governor. So that was a very compelling factor as to why I wanted to run for governor. I realized I would have that power, that authority and I would be able to directly bring people in the judiciary, who would share my beliefs, philosophy and who were well qualified.

On January 3, 1983 the Governor delivered his inaugural address which consisted of truth, sincerity; his vision. I held a copy of the The Armenian Observer from 20 years ago, the paper was golden in color due to the age and there on page seven was the governor’s speech. I read to him the last two paragraphs which stated, “So on this day I pledge courage and commitment to the rigors ahead. I am as confident of these new times as those who came before us were of finding a new and better life. I arrived at this day with your help and your prayers. I will need your continued help and prayers each day that lies ahead. I ask you to be a part of still one more journey. Thank you and happy new year.”

The Governor asked to take a look at the newspaper and he looked through each page, reminiscing on each and every of the 38 pictures. I asked him about his speech and his eyes filled with tears and he said the last two paragraphs had everything to do with the beginning and then he couldn’t speak. I told him, I understood.

About Alice Deukmejian, the Governors mother:

She was born in 1898 and was nine years old when she came to America. Her father (the Governor’s grandfather) insisted that they speak Armenian in the home and her parents never learned English according to her own notes which she made prior to her death in 1994. Alice’s real name was Elbis and as she explained one of her teachers in Troy, New York called her by the wrong name, “Alice” and that name stuck with her. At age 24, Alice married Courken George Deukmejian.

About Anna Ashjian, the Governors older sister:

When she was nine years old she was placed first in a piano competition. She married and lived in Los Angeles where she later attended UCLA and majored in music and obtained her bachelors degree. After Anna retired from the Employment Development Department of the State of California she volunteered full time for her brother’s campaign for Governor.

Interview conducted on July 9, 2003

A Lady In Red - About a Baha'i Chinese Lady

A Lady in Red – (interviewed in July 2001)

The last time I conducted an exciting interview was in 1995 when Gayle Gomer and I sat to discuss how she was the first journalist to get an exclusive interview of Judge Lance Ito - the O J Simpson case.

Now, after 6 years and many interviews from celebrities to political figures, none adequately expressed purpose and spirituality like my interview of Lin Cheng. Many of you who attended the ‘Building the Kingdom’ conference in Milwaukee may recall Lin in her beautiful red gown as she played the Erhu – the Chinese violin.

The moment I saw her, I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about her, to find out if she was a Baha’i and if so how she came to learn about the faith. We informally sat at the Day Star Café and Lin graciously accepted the interview and openly shared her life with me.

It all began in China where she was born into a musical family. Lin’s mother was a Chinese Opera Singer and her father was a Chinese Director. Her parents wanted the best education for their two children in spite of the unorganized schools during the Cultural Revolution in the 60s and 70s. It wasn’t until after the 70s, when Universities started getting established, offering hope to her parents.

In lieu of the Universities, the government sent all teenagers for a secondary education, which according to Lin were in the ‘farms’. The Cheng’s did not want their only daughter to be sent to the farms, they wanted a superior education for Lin who at the age of seven, played the Erhu exceptionally well and was locally known for her talent.

At age 12, Lin’s parents sent her to the Navy Arts Academy where she discovered she could sing. The very next year, at age 13, Lin became China’s very first pop singer. In China, Lin is known as Cheng Lin and became an overnight success against old traditions. In Mainland China, there were over a billion people and almost everything was banned, regardless her fame became equivalent to that of recording artists Whitney Houston and Barbara Streisand.

In the 80s, the people of China became more independent and the government forbade Lin to continue singing. The Chinese government told Lin that it wasn’t healthy and that it represented Western Culture. So at age 14 she stopped singing. This was very difficult for her to grasp, as her songs represented innocence and freedom. Lin said, “It was exciting to be covered by the local newspaper, the New York Times, People Daily, CCTV and other TV stations and my music was loved by people aged from six year olds all they way to 60 year olds.”

At age 17, Lin was transferred to another private school to complete her education. In 1989 Lin’s boyfriend was involved with Tiananmen Square and this forced Lin to leave China. Lin ended up in Australia for a short time and later moved to Europe and then onto Paris.

Lin’s parents were devastated that she had to leave, and after several years Lin’s father passed away and Lin wasn’t even allowed to return for his funeral. Lin’s family now consisted of a younger brother who consoled their mom during this grievous time.

After Paris, Lin moved to the United States and attended UCLA where she studied music and at California State University Fullerton she studied english. She met Baha’i musicians through Tim McClain, namely, KC Porter, JB Eckl and Joe Carter. “I have never felt so loved, so special, so beautiful as I did when these Baha’i’s welcomed me with an open heart.” After 2 years Lin became a Baha’i. Lin reapplied for a Visa to China and went back home with her new CD titled, ‘Homecoming’ which was produced by Porter and Eckl.

For the past five years Lin has been living in China. The first two years she admits was difficult and she lost the trust of her government and still was invited to events. Some of the events that booked her so enthusiastically cancelled her last minute and she states that it was the government’s doing and through the years she eventually earned their trust.

Lin felt an urge to teach the faith. However, it was very difficult to teach the faith in China and Lin’s mom and brother were so worried when they found out she became a Baha’i because they thought she joined a cult and were worried about what the government was going to do to her. Lin tried to ease their worries but it wasn’t until her mom had to have a hip surgery that Baha’u’llah(1) worked his miracle. While Lin’s mom was at the hospital several fellow Baha’i’s visited Lin’s mom. The graciousness of these Baha’i’s astounded Lin’s mom who instantly declared in the hospital and said, ‘I am a Baha’i”. Later Lin’s brother asked to try on her Baha’i ring and he said, “Lin it’s stuck, I guess it’s mine now”. He has been wearing the ring for almost 2 years now.

I asked Lin what she would want Baha’i’s to know that will assist them to teach the faith. Lin said, “When you praise a person regardless of where they’re from, it makes them feel like they belong and are worthy. So, I want you to know that your open hearts, your love, your praise, made me feel so loved and accepted.”

Lin has an American boyfriend named Clark Baurer, who is an architect that works out of China and Chicago. It’s interesting to mention that Clark’s friends are Baha’i’s (Karen and Adam Robards) and one day Karen who knew Lin wanted to introduce her to Clark who worked closely with her husband, Adam who is also an architect. They met and according to Lin there was no instant attraction until later.

Clark’s parents are of the Christian faith and came to China to visit him and to meet Lin. Unfortunately, they did not approve of Lin primarily because she was a Baha’i. Lin planned a wonderful dinner and invited her very good friend Amy Ma, 1984 Olympic Gold Medallist on the uneven bars; Joseph Preyer, US Ambassador to China; and two other architects - everyone had a good time except for Clark’s mom.

Lin and Clark planned their return visit to the US so that they would attend a family wedding as well as to attend the conference in Milwaukee. Lin fell in love with Princeville where Clark’s family lives and after the wedding Clark wanted to return to Chicago but Lin wanted to go his parents’ home. They ended up going and Mrs. Baurer wouldn’t even look at her. Lin decided to speak up and she went to her and said, “I want to tell you that this is a wonderful place and you are so loving. Your home is alcohol and smoking free and I have tremendous respect for you. I respect your religion. I believe in Jesus Christ and I don’t think I’m going to hell.” Lin said that Mrs. Baurer turned and looked at her straight in the eyes and said, “I love you Lin”.

1 Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith