Memoirs of Peter Boudoures Chapter 50 George Christopher Becomes a Republican

Mayor George Christopher

The presidential elections were scheduled for the following year, 1948. Thomas Dewey was the Republican candidate while Harry Truman was running on the Democratic ticket. For some reason the press was supporting Dewey. The consensus was that Truman didn't have a chance. One evening, as several of us were leaving an AHEPA meeting at the Oddfellows Hall, on Seventh and Market Streets, George Christopher said to me, "Peter, I want to talk to you. A number of Republicans have approached me and asked me to support Dewey for president. They promise me that as soon as Richard Welch's term is up, they would support my candidacy for congress." Welch was then Congressman for the 5th District, and a Republican.

I responded to him, "George, this is an important question. We cannot talk about it openly here on the sidewalk in the presence of so many other people. I would like to see you tomorrow, or any other day that is convenient for you. I'll give you my opinion and you can do as you wish."

We then all went to the restaurant where we had coffee and then went home. George never bothered to ask me anything more on the matter. A few days later the news was announced on the radio and in the press that George was supporting Dewey. George was a Democrat and he owed his election to their support. However, the announcement also stated that he changed his registration from Democrat to Republican.

George Riley, who was a staunch Democrat and a member of the Board of Equalization, called me shortly thereafter. He asked me about George Christopher. I told him, "George, I don't know what prompted him to do this. I think he made a terrible mistake."

The presidential elections took place and to the surprise of everyone, Truman defeated Dewey. Christopher was left in the lurch with nothing for his efforts. Subsequently, I had a talk with Christopher and I asked him why he made such a terrible blunder. I explained that even though Welsh was a Republican, he voted with the Democrats on every issue. Eighty percent of the voters in his district were laborers, mostly Democrats. How could the Republicans live up to their promise to get him elected?

Christopher is Re-elected to Board of Supervisors
In 1949 Christopher's first term on the Board of Supervisors was coming to an end. He wanted to run for re-election. This time he invited me to his home, for the first time, together with my good friends Dr. Peter Angel and Jim Kaffen. Both of these men played a big part in George's first campaign.

After we had a drink, Christopher said to me, "Peter, what do you think of my record on the Board?"

I answered by telling him, "I'm sure that you have done very well."

"Do you think that I should run for re-election?"

I replied, "For God's sake, yes. There isn't any question about it."

He then asked, "Do you think that we should start campaigning from now?"

This was in the latter part of May or the beginning of June, so I said, "Yes, you should start campaigning immediately." He then asked if I would head his committee as finance chairman, and stated that he knew of no better person to do the job.

I responded by thanking him for honoring me with the offer. I asked him to listen to me attentively. I said, "George, I am tired. The people are tired of me going to them every few months to ask them for money. We can find someone else to do the job and I will gladly help from the side. I recommend Dr. Angel. He is as well known among the Greeks as I am. He speaks the language maybe better than I do. He is a bosom friend of mine and I know that he will do everything necessary for the campaign to succeed. Furthermore, people are tired of the same old person asking for money all the time. Let's give this honor to the doctor."

Well, to my surprise, Dr. Angel refused to accept the job. I was confronted with a situation where I had to say "yes" or "no", and I couldn't say "no," even though I meant what I had said earlier. So I accepted the task with some conditions.

First, I explained that I was going to the AHEPA Convention on August 15, l949, in Miami, and that from there I was going to Greece for the inauguration of the hospitals that we had funded. I explained to him that, before I left I would do all I could to have the money ready for him. Then I asked him how much he thought he would need for his campaign. He replied, "About $25,000."

I immediately arranged for a dinner to be held at my restaurant with about 75 people invited. We raised about $12,000 to $14,00 that night. The campaign went on wonderfully. By the time I left for Miami we had deposited $23,000 in George Christopher's campaign account at the San Francisco Bank. Plus we had another $5,000 in pledges. More than enough money for his campaign.

With Christopher's re-election well funded, went on to meet with William Helis in New York and we proceeded to Greece. When we arrived in Athens I picked up a local newspaper and read that my nephew, Constantine Boudoures, my brother George's son, was killed in the civil war. He died just a few days before the armistice was signed. This was a terrible loss to me. I asked my friend Helis to excuse me and I left for the village to be with my brother and his family. I found them very depressed. I did what I could to encourage them, and then returned to Athens.

Hellis and I made the tour to all the hospitals for the inaugurations. There were celebrations and speeches at the various sites. When the festivities and celebrations were concluded, around the middle of September, we returned to the United States.

Back in San Francisco I again took an active part in Christopher's campaign. When the results of the election were announced in early November of 1949, George had received the most votes of the six winning Supervisorial Candidates. He went from last in 1945 to first in 1949.

It was a matter of custom, though not always followed, that the candidate winning the most votes in the election would be elected President of the Board. George surveyed the field and became concerned that he might not get elected President. There were some who were antagonistic towards him. Others were jealous of his popularity. He used every means possible to convince those opposing his election to vote for him. He asked me to talk to two Supervisors to try to get their support, which I did. When the election was held he was voted President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He did a very good job as president. His performance resulted in many complimentary articles in the local newspapers.