A classic John Burtonism from John Burton.

John Burton represented San Francisco in the Assembly, state Senate and the House of Representatives during his long career.

Before there was Speaker Nancy Pelosi, before there was Vice President Kamala Harris, before there was potential presidential candidate Gov. Gavin Newsom, there were the Burtons. The aforementioned political careers would not have happened without the San Francisco political machine that the Burtons created.

From the 1950s through well into the 21st century, John Burton, the former San Francisco congressman, Assembly member, California Senate president pro tem and state Democratic party chairman, along with his late brother, Rep. Phil Burton, and Phil’s wife, the late Rep. Sala Burton, ran San Francisco Democratic politics alongside former mayor and California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown.

The Burtons tapped Pelosi to succeed Rep. Sala Burton in Congress, and Pelosi became the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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John Burton, famously profane, barely swore during an interview last week. He hasn’t mellowed, exactly, but on Dec. 15, his 91st birthday, he was definitely tart.

When asked........

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