Celebrity Governor: star power helped Arnold Schwarzenegger become Governor of California. But is that enough to lead the nation's most populous state?

For several days last month, people everywhere waited to hear from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California. Stanley Tookie Williams was then a prisoner on California's death row and scheduled for execution. The former gang leader, who had been convicted of four murders, said that he had reformed and was helping young people turn away from violence. Would Schwarzenegger grant Williams's request for clemency? The answer, which came on December 12, was no. Within hours, Williams was executed.

Rarely does a Governor's decision mean life or death. But the office is one of the most powerful in the United States. How did a movie star gain such awesome responsibility?

Total Recall

Many people enter politics after a career in public service or the law. Others achieve glory as war heroes or astronauts. Schwarzenegger first won fame as a bodybuilder. Between 1967 and 1980, he earned six Mr. Universe and six Mr. Olympia titles. Those feats led to success in the movies.

Like many celebrities, Schwarzenegger has qualities that are also helpful in winning elected office, including name recognition, charisma (personal appeal), and great wealth. He had yet another advantage in his leap from Hollywood to high office--voters looking for a change.

In 1998, Democrat Gray Davis won California's race for Governor by a landslide. But problems with power companies led to blackouts in various parts of the state in 2000 and 2001. Energy bills for many Californians skyrocketed. As the economy faltered, the state's budget deficit rose.

Although Davis was re-elected in 2002, people's anger kept growing. A wealthy opponent of Davis funded a recall petition. Hundreds of thousands of Californians signed it. That set the stage for a special election in October 2003.

Schwarzenegger was a hit on the campaign trail. "People are sick and tired of politicians," he said. He promised--often in a humorous way--to bring in new businesses, improve education, and reduce the deficit. An education plan he opposed, he said, had "more special effects than Terminator 3." Californians should put Davis out of office, he joked, by "a Total Recall."

In the October 7 election, voters rejected Davis. Schwarzenegger got 48.6 percent of the vote, defeating 134 other candidates. A few weeks later, he was sworn in as Governor.

Going "Hollywood"?

Schwarzenegger, a Republican, promised to build a bipartisan (supported by two parties) government. Two years later, though, both Republicans and Democrats are displeased and say that Schwarzenegger has not fulfilled big campaign promises. Recently, he failed to persuade voters in a special election to give him more control over the state budget.

Although Schwarzenegger has had mixed results as Governor, that hasn't stopped voters from putting their faith in celebrities. Some California Republicans want Mel Gibson, another movie star, to run against Schwarzenegger next fall. Some Democrats would like actor-director Warren Beatty to be their candidate.

Schwarzenegger, for his part, says that he may run for President some day. But, because he was born in Austria, it would take a constitutional amendment to allow that to happen. Do you think he should be able to run? Why or why not?

Words to Know

clemency: a lessening of the punishment for a crime.

deficit: the shortage that results when money spent is greater than money earned.

recall (REE-kall): in the California State Constitution, "the power of the electors [voters] to remove an elective officer,"

2003

Arnold Schwarzenegger gives the thumbs-up sign after being sworn in as California's 38th Governor.

1976

The champion bodybuilder flexes his muscles for actress Sally Field in Stay Hungry.

1991

Terminator 2: Judgment Day The star returns to the big screen with another hit.

Your Turn

WORD MATCH

1. bipartisan   A. shortfall
2. charisma     B. remove an
                   elected official
3. clemency     C. supported by
                   two parties
4. deficit      D. appeal
5. recall       E. lessening of
                   punishment

Answers:

1.C

2. D

3. E

4. A

5. B

NEWS SPECIAL Celebrity Governor, pp. 6-7

* OBJECTIVE

Students should understand

* some of the reasons for a film star's rise to political power in California.

* BACKGROUND

Arnold Schwarzenegger's improbable journey to the California statehouse is made more fascinating by his mixed political legacy. He is a Republican married to Maria Shriver, niece of John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy--America's most eminent Democratic family dynasty.

In August 2003, Schwarzenegger declared his candidacy for the governorship in true Hollywood style: He made the announcement during a guest appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. "I know how to sell something," he said. "I had to sell bodybuilding when nobody knew what bodybuilding was in this country.... I had to sell myself as an action hero, which wasn't easy.... And the same is [true] here. It's up to me now to sell to the people, to convince the people that I can do the job."

* CRITICAL THINKING

ASSESSING A STATEMENT/FORMING OPINION: Read students the comment that Schwarzenegger made on The Tonight Show. (See the background at left,) Ask students to think about it, then discuss the concept of "selling" a candidate for public office. What are the advantages and disadvantages of approaching a run for public office as a sales job? Students should give reasons to support their answers. (Answers will vary.)

* ACTIVITY

WHAT'S YOUR PLATFORM?: Have students imagine that they are candidates for high public office and write a platform (statement of principles). What would they promise voters? Why? Would they make any promises they couldn't keep?

STANDARDS

SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8

* Culture: How a pop-culture hero becomes a powerful political figure.

* Civic ideals and practices: How the realities of actually filling a public office are much more complex than most people realize.

RESOURCES

PRINT

* Brandon, Karen, Arnold Schwarzenegger (Lucent Books, 2004). Grades 6-12.

* Brexel, Bernadette, Your Governor: State Government in Action (PowerKids Press, 2004). Grades 6-12.

WEB SITES

* National Governors Association www.nga.org

* Official Schwarzenegger site schwarzenegger.com