John A. Burns
![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2013) |
John Burns | |
---|---|
Elizabeth Farrington | |
Succeeded by | Daniel Inouye (U.S. Representative) |
Personal details | |
Born | Fort Assinniboine, Montana, U.S. | March 30, 1909
Died | April 5, 1975 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. | (aged 66)
Resting place | National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
University of Hawaii, Manoa (BA) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1927–1928 |
John Anthony Burns (March 30, 1909 – April 5, 1975) was an American politician. Burns was born in Montana and became a resident of Hawaii in 1913. He served as the second governor of Hawaii from 1962 to 1974.
Early life
John Burns was born in
Political career
Burns's work as a police officer helped him build close ties with working class people from numerous ethnic groups, notably Japanese and native Hawaiians. While a police officer in Honolulu, his first political efforts arose from his work with the Police Benevolent Society. From 1948 he led the
Governorship
Three years later in 1962, Burns won the election to become governor. Governor Burns played a leading role in stimulating the state economy and attracting foreign tourism and investment. His many achievements include the promotion of Hawaii as a center for oceanography, construction of the new State Capitol building, and expansion of the
Additionally, he supported planning for the future by establishing the Hawaii Commission on the Year 2000, which ultimately led to the development of the Quality Growth Policy for the State of Hawaii. Both the Commission on the Year 2000 and Hawaii's Quality Growth Policy were intended to supplement Hawaii's State Land-Use Plan. Finally, Governor Burns made Hawaii a leader in environmental management, establishing the Office of Environmental Quality Control, within the Governor's Office, to coordinate state environmental policy and to review environmental impact statements on all major state actions.
Burns was re-elected in 1966 and 1970, each time with a different lieutenant governor as his running mate. In 1966, he was elected governor with Lieutenant Governor Thomas Gill. During his term as lieutenant governor, Gill, considered outspoken and acerbic, developed differences with Burns, and was never shy about criticizing the incumbent, despite being part of his administration. In 1970, Gill challenged Burns in the Democratic primary. Gill ran as a reformer, campaigning against what he described as an entrenched, corrupt political machine. He narrowly lost, even though Burns significantly outspent him in a savvy campaign that included sophisticated use of expensive image-building television spots. Most in the state's large Japanese population remained loyal to Burns, who had spearheaded their rise to political power during the 1950s. Before Neil Abercrombie lost in 2014 this race stood as the closest anyone came to a primary defeat of an incumbent governor of Hawaii.[2] Burns's running-mate in 1970, George Ariyoshi, ran to succeed Burns as governor in 1974, defeating Gill in the Democratic primary.
Later life and death
Burns became ill from cancer to the point of incapacity in October 1973. Burns's third elected lieutenant governor, George Ariyoshi, became acting governor through the end of Burns's third term. Ariyoshi was elected in his own right as governor for the term beginning in 1974. Burns died on April 5, 1975, in Honolulu.
Legacy
The
References
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- United States Congress. "John A. Burns (id: B001127)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ Nakamura, Kelli Y. "John Burns". Retrieved 16 October 2014.
- ISBN 0-8248-0270-5.