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| name = Pete Wilson
| image = Pete Wilson meeting with Les Aspin, Feb 3, 1993 - cropped to Wilson.JPEG
| caption =
| order = 36th
| office = Governor of California
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}}
'''Peter Barton Wilson''' (born August 23, 1933) is an American attorney and politician who served as a [[United States senator]] from California from 1983 to 1991 and as the [[List of Governors of California|36th governor of California]] from 1991 to 1999. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], he also served as the 29th [[
Born in [[Lake Forest, Illinois]], Wilson graduated from the [[UC Berkeley School of Law]] after serving in the [[United States Marine Corps]]. He established a legal practice in [[San Diego]] and campaigned for Republicans such as [[Richard Nixon]] and [[Barry Goldwater]]. Wilson won election to the [[California State Assembly]] in 1966 and became the
Wilson resigned from the Senate after winning the [[California gubernatorial election, 1990|1990 California gubernatorial election]]. As governor, Wilson signed a [[three-strikes law]] and supported energy [[deregulation]] and [[Term limits in the United States|term limits]]. He was also an advocate for [[California Proposition 187]], which established a state-run citizenship screening system with the intention of preventing [[Illegal immigration to the United States|illegal immigrants]] from using social services. Wilson won reelection in the [[1994 California gubernatorial election|1994 gubernatorial election]]. He sought the Republican nomination in the [[1996 United States presidential election]] but dropped out of the race before [[1996 Republican Party presidential primaries|the primaries]] began.
Wilson retired from public office after serving two terms as governor. Since leaving office, he has worked for several businesses and has been affiliated with several other organizations. He is a distinguished visiting fellow at the
==Early life==
Peter Barton Wilson was born on August 23, 1933, in Lake Forest, Illinois, a suburb north of Chicago, at the height of the [[Great Depression]]. His parents were James Boone Wilson and Margaret (Callaghan) Wilson.<ref>
After graduating from Yale, Wilson served for three years in the United States Marine Corps as an infantry officer, eventually becoming a platoon commander. Upon completion of his Marine Corps service, Wilson earned a [[Juris Doctor]] degree from the [[UC Berkeley School of Law|University of California, Berkeley School of Law]] in June 1962.
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After passing the bar exam on his fourth attempt,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dolan |first1=Maura |title=A High Bar for Lawyers |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-feb-21-me-bar21-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=February 21, 2006 |access-date=2 August 2022}}</ref> Wilson began his practice as a criminal defense attorney in [[San Diego]], but he found such work to be low-paying and personally repugnant. He later commented to the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', "I realized I couldn't be a criminal defense lawyer – because most of the people who do come to you are guilty." Wilson switched to a more conventional law practice and continued his activity in local politics, working for [[Barry Goldwater]]'s unsuccessful [[1964 United States presidential election|presidential campaign in 1964]]. Wilson's liking for politics and managing the day-to-day details of the political process was growing. He put in long hours for the Goldwater campaign, earning the friendship of local Republican boosters so necessary for a political career, and in 1966, at the age of thirty-three, he ran for, and won a seat in the California State Assembly, succeeding [[Clair Burgener]].
Wilson was re-elected to the Assembly in 1968 and 1970, and in 1971 was elected [[mayor of San Diego]].
==Mayor of San Diego==
[[File:Nixon Golden Gate GOGA.jpg|thumb|Mayor Wilson (second from right) with U.S. President [[Richard Nixon]], First Lady [[Pat Nixon]], and others including Interior Secretary [[Rogers Morton]] and Counselor to the President [[Donald Rumsfeld]] in front of the [[Golden Gate Bridge]], September 1972]]
Wilson served three terms as
The [[1972 Republican National Convention]] had been scheduled to take place in San Diego in August 1972. However, in May 1972 the Republican National Committee voted to move the convention to Miami because of a scandal involving a donation to the event by [[ITT Corporation]], as well as concerns about the proposed venue (the [[San Diego Sports Arena]]) and the adequacy of hotel space. Wilson proclaimed the week of the convention to be America's Finest City Week, which became an annual event and gave rise to San Diego's unofficial nickname.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Ancona|first=Vincent S.|date=Fall 1992|title=When the elephants marched out of San Diego: The 1972 Republican Convention Fiasco|journal=Journal of San Diego History|volume=38|issue=4|url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/92fall/elephants.htm}}</ref>
In 1972, Wilson recruited [[Clarence M. Pendleton Jr.]] to head the [[Model Cities Program]] in San Diego. In 1981,
==United States Senator from California (1983–1991)==
[[File:PeteWilson.jpg|thumb|left|Pete Wilson as U.S. Senator]]
In 1982, Wilson won the Republican [[
[[File:Ronald Reagan signing Japanese reparations bill.jpg|thumb|right|President Reagan signing the Civil Liberties Act with Wilson looking on]]
On October 19, 1983, Wilson voted in favor of a bill establishing [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/20/us/senate-s-roll-call-vote-on-king-holiday.html|title=SENATE'S ROLL-CALL VOTE ON KING HOLIDAY|date=October 20, 1983|work=The New York Times}}</ref> The legislation was signed into law by President Reagan the following month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/archives/speeches/1983/110283a.htm|title=Remarks on Signing the Bill Making the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., a National Holiday|date=November 2, 1983|publisher=Reagan Library|first=Ronald|last=Reagan|author-link=Ronald Reagan|access-date=March 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301224921/https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/sites/default/files/archives/speeches/1983/110283a.htm|archive-date=March 1, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In January 1988, Wilson voted in favor of the [[Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987]] (as well as to override [[Ronald Reagan|President Reagan]]'s veto in March).<ref>{{
In June 1984, Wilson voted in favor of legislation restricting federal highway funds for states that did not raise the minimum age for drinking to 21.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/06/27/The-81-16-vote-by-which-the-Senate-approved-legislation/9253457156800/|title=The 81–16 vote by which the Senate approved legislation ...|date=June 27, 1984|work=United Press International}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/27/us/senate-votes-bill-aimed-at-forcing-drinking-age-of-21.html|title=SENATE VOTES BILL AIMED AT FORCING DRINKING AGE OF 21|first=Martin|last=Tolchin|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 27, 1984}}</ref>
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In May 1985, Wilson underwent surgery for a ruptured appendix at Bethesda Naval Hospital, concurrently as fellow Republican Senator [[Bob Dole]] hoped to gather enough votes for the Reagan administration's 1986 budget. The surgery was expected to keep Wilson hospitalized for days, but Wilson returned to Capitol Hill via an ambulance to cast a vote in favor of the budget on May 10.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/10/us/senator-brings-a-vote-from-his-hospital-bed.html|title=SENATOR BRINGS A VOTE FROM HIS HOSPITAL BED|date=May 10, 1985|work=The New York Times}}</ref> After voting, Wilson stated he made the decision to forgo further bed rest as he believed the vote was possibly the most important of his career.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/05/10/Sen-Pete-Wilson-a-tough-former-Marine-said-he/6363484545600/|title=Sen. Pete Wilson, a tough former Marine, said he ...|work=United Press International|date=May 10, 1985}}</ref>
Convinced by [[Japanese-American]] farmers in the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]] to support redress, Wilson co-sponsored the [[Civil Liberties Act of 1988]]. The bill was signed into law by President Reagan.<ref>{{cite web |title=H.R. 442 (100th): Civil Liberties Act of 1987 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/100/hr442 |website=govtrack.us |publisher=Civic Impulse, LLC. |access-date=26 May 2022}}</ref>
As a member of the [[U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services|Senate Armed Services Committee]], he called for early implementation of President Reagan's [[Strategic Defense Initiative]], a national [[missile defense|ballistic missile defense system]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clifford |first1=Frank |title=McCarthy, Wilson Exchange Shots as Race Heats Up |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-25-mn-297-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 25, 1988 |access-date=26 May 2022}}</ref>
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On January 20, 1989, he presided over the [[inauguration of George H. W. Bush]] as President of the United States. He voted against [[Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990]], Bush's tax increase, thus remaining a fiscal conservative.<ref name="dukeistheremitchell">{{cite journal|last1=Mitchell|first1=Daniel J. B.|title="Duke, Is There Perhaps Something You Forgot to Tell Me?" Pete Wilson's First-Term Struggle with the California Budget|journal=Southern California Quarterly|date=Winter 2008|volume=90|issue=4|pages=379–418|doi=10.2307/41172444|jstor=41172444}}</ref>
In the weeks following incumbent [[
On October 2, 1990, Wilson, away from Washington to campaign for California governor, became the only sitting senator from either party to not vote on the nomination of [[David Souter]] for Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court. He had previously endorsed Souter for confirmation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/03/us/senate-confirms-souter-90-to-9-as-supreme-court-s-105th-justice.html?pagewanted=all|title=Senate Confirms Souter, 90 to 9, As Supreme Court's 105th Justice|first=Richard L.|last=Berke|date=October 3, 1990|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/10/02/Senate-vote-on-Souter/9176654840000/|title=Senate vote on Souter|date=October 2, 1990|work=United Press International}}</ref> Wilson voted in favor of the [[Robert Bork Supreme Court nomination]].
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As governor, Wilson oversaw economic recovery in California, just as the rest of the country was recovering from an economic slump.<ref name="dukeistheremitchell"/> Inheriting the state's worst economy since the [[Great Depression]], Wilson insisted on strict budget discipline and sought to rehabilitate the state's environment for investment and new job creation. During his term, [[market-based]], unsubsidized [[health insurance|health coverage]] was made available for employees of small businesses.
Despite his belief in fiscal conservatism, Wilson raised the sales tax to reduce the state deficit, including imposing a new sales tax on newspapers and a sales tax on "snack" foods.<ref name="dukeistheremitchell"/> He also raised car license fees and college tuition; by 1991, tuition fees at the [[University of California]] rose by 40%, while they rose by 24% at [[California State University]].<ref name="dukeistheremitchell"/> Additionally, he raised the income tax in the top bracket temporarily.<ref name="dukeistheremitchell"/> However, by 1993, the snack tax was repealed by the Democratic state legislature and the sales tax increase expired.<ref name="dukeistheremitchell"/> On April 26, 1991, Wilson proposed an increase in sales tax by 1 1/4 cents and state taxes by $6.7 billion (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|6700000000|1991}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}) as part of plan to reduce the state's budget deficit. The revenue gap had increased by $5 billion (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|5000000000|1991}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}) in the four months of his governorship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://
{{blockquote|He has done what has been asked of him, but thought near-impossible for any Republican centrist: constructing a revenue and spending plan that will hurt almost everyone and help almost no one, but that will also – for the first time in a long time – put the state on a sounder fiscal footing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://
In July, the Senate voted 28 to 9 in favor of a bipartisan tax plan that would have increased taxes on the wealthiest Californians, boosted the corporate tax rate, and imposed a tax increase on telecommunication services by
On July 12, 1991, Wilson signed a bill mandating that parents neglecting paying for child support could warrant stiff fines and potential suspensions of business and professional licenses. The legislation was intended to address a rising cause of poverty among children and women in the state at a time when Californians collectively owed $2 billion (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|2000000000|1991}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}) per year in unpaid child support.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://
Less than a year into his first term as governor, Wilson vetoed AB 101, a bill written to prohibit [[employment discrimination]] based on [[sexual orientation]] in the state. Wilson feared that the bill would increase lawsuits and make California less competitive economically.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://
Wilson also enacted education reforms aimed at creating statewide curriculum standards, reducing class size and replacing [[social promotion]] with early remedial education. Wilson promoted standardized testing of all students, increased teacher training, and a longer school year. However, it was Wilson's uncompromising stance on reducing education spending that led to the budget impasse of 1992,<ref>Lou Cannon, Education Funding at Center of California Budget Showdown. ''The Washington Post'', September 1, 1992</ref> leaving state workers without paychecks from July until September, when the California Supreme Court forced the Governor and the legislature to agree to terms that ended the sixty-three-day stand-off.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/19/us/budget-crisis-forces-california-colleges-to-bar-the-doors.html?pagewanted=all |title=Robert Reinhold, Budget Crisis Forces California Colleges to Bar the Doors. ''New York Times'', July 19, 1992 |date= July 19, 1992|access-date=January 21, 2011 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://
▲Less than a year into his first term as governor, Wilson vetoed AB 101, a bill written to prohibit [[employment discrimination]] based on [[sexual orientation]] in the state. Wilson feared that the bill would increase lawsuits and make California less competitive economically.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1992-02-09/opinion/op-3349_1_job-discrimination |title=Courts Offer Wilson a Healing Opportunity : Equality: Since an appellate decision is tougher than AB 101 would have been, the governor could easily sign a law barring job prejudice against gays |website=Los Angeles Times |date=February 9, 1992 |access-date=January 14, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1991-09-30/news/mn-2220_1_job-discrimination|title=Governor Vetoes Gay Job Bias Bill : Discrimination: Wilson says legislation is bad for business. Its author calls action 'cave-in to the right.'|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 30, 1991}}</ref> The veto was met with [[AB101 Veto Riot|protests]] that included demonstrations during Wilson's subsequent public appearances and speeches.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1991-10-02/news/mn-2872_1_gay-rights|title=Gay Rights Protest Disrupts Wilson Speech|date=October 2, 1991|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1991-10-01/news/mn-3522_1_los-angeles-and-san-francisco|title=Gay Activists Vent Rage Over Wilson's Veto : Protest: Governor's rejection of job discrimination bill sparks violence. Thousands of demonstrators march in Los Angeles and San Francisco.|date=October 1, 1991|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=California Spending Plan 1998–99 |url=https://lao.ca.gov/1998/1098_spending_plan/1098_spending_plan_chapter_3.html |website=lao.ca.gov |publisher=Legislative Analysts Office |access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
Despite this, in a leaked Philip Morris memo, the company's chief executive, Hamish Maxwell, said, "You will be pleased to know that Pete is still 'pro-tobacco.'" His move to revoke Proposition 99, a $114 million dollar voter-approved bill to tax cigarette companies to research and educate on the effects of tobacco, as well as shut down a highly effective anti-tobacco ad with footage of tobacco executives testifying to Congress that nicotine was not addictive (which also a prompted defamation lawsuit against it), was claimed to be illegal and caused multiple lawsuits, and was criticized as being influenced by the tobacco lobby. While he claimed to take no funding personally in response to allegations of being pro-tobacco, he collected over $100,000 from a New York fund-raising dinner organized by Phillip Morris. While Phillip Morris didn't directly fund his campaign, they were major funders of the California Republican Party which he led. The leaked memo was in response to worries over Wilson's rejection of direct campaign donations. Maxwell claimed to have been told by Wilson over a phone call that this was to "protect Hamish and himself," assuring that it was not due to a lack of support.</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-30-mn-8555-story.html |author1=Daniel M. Weintraub | author2=Jerry Gillam | title=Senate, Assembly OK Budget; Wilson Awaits Final Package : Spending: Governor says he will not approve $58-billion plan until all supporting bills are passed. State will continue to issue IOUs for up to a week even after it is signed | newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date= August 30, 1992|access-date=2024-08-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Russell |first1=Sabin |title=Philip Morris Called Wilson 'Pro-Tobacco' / '90 memo calls him a friend, though he returned donations |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Philip-Morris-Called-Wilson-Pro-Tobacco-90-2986139.php |access-date=27 April 2024 }}</ref>▼
In late 1993, Wilson traveled to Asia to endorse Californian goods and investment opportunities abroad.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://
▲Wilson also enacted education reforms aimed at creating statewide curriculum standards, reducing class size and replacing [[social promotion]] with early remedial education. Wilson promoted standardized testing of all students, increased teacher training, and a longer school year. However, it was Wilson's uncompromising stance on reducing education spending that led to the budget impasse of 1992,<ref>Lou Cannon, Education Funding at Center of California Budget Showdown. ''The Washington Post'', September 1, 1992</ref> leaving state workers without paychecks from July until September, when the California Supreme Court forced the Governor and the legislature to agree to terms that ended the sixty-three-day stand-off.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/19/us/budget-crisis-forces-california-colleges-to-bar-the-doors.html?pagewanted=all |title=Robert Reinhold, Budget Crisis Forces California Colleges to Bar the Doors. ''New York Times'', July 19, 1992 |date= July 19, 1992|access-date=January 21, 2011 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1992-08-29/news/mn-5395_1_budget-crisis |title=Patt Morrison, California's Budget Crisis – An IOU on Self-Esteem. California's Plight May be a Harbinger or Just Reason for Others to Gloat. ''Los Angeles Times'', August 29, 1992 |date= August 29, 1992|access-date=January 21, 2011}}</ref>
For most of his time as governor, Wilson reduced per-capita infrastructure spending for California, much as he had done as the
▲Despite this, in a leaked Philip Morris memo, the company's chief executive, Hamish Maxwell, said, "You will be pleased to know that Pete is still 'pro-tobacco.'" His move to revoke Proposition 99, a $114 million dollar voter-approved bill to tax cigarette companies to research and educate on the effects of tobacco, as well as shut down a highly effective anti-tobacco ad with footage of tobacco executives testifying to Congress that nicotine was not addictive (which also a prompted defamation lawsuit against it), was claimed to be illegal and caused multiple lawsuits, and was criticized as being influenced by the tobacco lobby. While he claimed to take no funding personally in response to allegations of being pro-tobacco, he collected over $100,000 from a New York fund-raising dinner organized by Phillip Morris. While Phillip Morris didn't directly fund his campaign, they were major funders of the California Republican Party which he led. The leaked memo was in response to worries over Wilson's rejection of direct campaign donations. Maxwell claimed to have been told by Wilson over a phone call that this was to "protect Hamish and himself," assuring that it was not due to a lack of support.</ref><ref>{{cite
▲In late 1993, Wilson traveled to Asia to endorse Californian goods and investment opportunities abroad.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1993-10-14/news/mn-45512_1_pete-wilson|title=A Traveling Salesman With a New Pitch|first=George|last=Skeleton|date=October 14, 1993|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Wilson's six-day tour was also marked by his insistence on creating export-oriented jobs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/12/01/UPI-Spotlight-California-Governor-Pete-Wilson-leaves-Japan-after-trade-talks/2978754722000/|title=UPI Spotlight California Governor Pete Wilson leaves Japan after trade talks|date=December 1, 1993|work=United Press International}}</ref>
▲For most of his time as governor, Wilson reduced per-capita infrastructure spending for California, much as he had done as the Mayor of San Diego.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csus.edu/calst/Government_Affairs/reports/financing_california.pdf |title=Financing California |publisher=csus.edu |access-date=January 21, 2011 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010139/http://www.csus.edu/calst/Government_Affairs/reports/financing_california.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Many construction projects – most notably highway expansion/improvement projects – were severely hindered or delayed, while other maintenance and construction projects were abandoned completely.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicoer.com/indepth/hwy149/ci_4080721 |title=Project has taken a long time to get to this point – Chico Enterprise Record |access-date=January 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417114900/http://www.chicoer.com/indepth/hwy149/ci_4080721 |archive-date=April 17, 2011 }}</ref>
===Welfare===
On December 14, 1991, in an address to Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Wilson criticized the Democratic leaders of the state legislature for their opposition to his budget-balancing plan and "spent most of his hour at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles railing against the state's entitlement programs – including education and Medi-Cal, but especially Aid to Families with Dependent Children and other welfare programs".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://
By the end of his first term, Wilson allied with members of the state legislature that supported the continuation of recession-inspired cuts to welfare benefits. A bill imposing the continued reduction of benefits was passed by
Wilson's second inaugural address featured a proclamation that the administration would usher in welfare reform:
{{blockquote| We will demand that all citizens meet the test of common decency, respecting the rights of others, and we will demand that those who can, pull their own weight and meet the test of personal responsibility. We will make clear that welfare is to be a safety net, not a hammock — and absolutely not a permanent way of life. We will correct our laws to make clear that bringing a child into the world is an awesome personal responsibility for both the mother and the father. The costs are simply too high for society to continue tolerating the promiscuity and irresponsibility that have produced generations of unwed teen mothers. It is monstrously unfair to the children; to their sad, ill-equipped teen mothers; and certainly to working taxpayers, who must support them at a cost to their own children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://governors.library.ca.gov/addresses/36-Wilson02.html|title=Second Inaugural Address|date=January 2, 1995|publisher=governors.library.ca.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://
In his 1997 State of the State address, Wilson criticized welfare recipients<ref>{{cite news|url=https://
===Proposition 187===
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date=August 16, 2002|
publisher=calnews.com|
isbn=9780595256914 }}</ref> Governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] is the only Republican to win a California gubernatorial, senatorial, or presidential election since 1994, in a [[2003 California gubernatorial recall election|unique 2003 recall election]]
Since 1995 the following states have had similar ballot initiatives or laws passed:
===Policies on crime===
Wilson led efforts to enact "tough on crime" measures and signed into law the "[[three strikes law|Three Strikes]]" (25 years to life for repeat offenders)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://
==Energy deregulation==
{{See also|California electricity crisis}}
Wilson supported deregulation of the energy industry in California during his administration due to heavy lobbying efforts by [[Enron]].<ref name=Time>{{cite magazine|last=Taylor |first=Chris |url=
==1996 presidential campaign==
[[File:Pete Wilson presidential campaign, 1996.png|thumb|245px|Wilson's presidential campaign logo]]
Despite a campaign promise to the people of California not to do so, Wilson also unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for President in the [[U.S. presidential election, 1996|1996 election]], making formal announcements on both coasts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buyingofthepresident.org/index.php/archives/1996/50/ |title=Center for Public Integrity, The buying of the President 1996 – Pete Wilson |access-date=January 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219233954/http://www.buyingofthepresident.org/index.php/archives/1996/50/ |archive-date=February 19, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Wilson announced first on August 28, 1995, in New York City, at [[Battery Park]], with the [[Statue of Liberty]] as a backdrop.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1995/0829/29032.html|title=Wilson Makes Debut, Again|work=Christian Science Monitor |via=Christian Science Monitor}}</ref> He completed a cross-country tour. In April of 1995, he had surgery to remove a benign nodule on his vocal cords. When Wilson did not lighten his speaking schedule, it resulted in the occasional cracking of his voice. It ended up keeping him from announcing – or even talking – for months.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-06-mn-21635-story.html|title=Wilson Has Minor Outpatient Surgery on His Vocal Cords|first=Max|last=Vanzi|date=July 6, 1996|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> His campaign ended on September 30, 1995
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-30-mn-51609-story.html|title=Wilson Drops Out of White House Race, Blames Cash Woes : Politics: Governor is first to withdraw from crowded GOP field. Move creates California opportunities for his former rivals.|date=September 30, 1995|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
A September 6, 1995, [[UC Irvine]] poll showed equal support for Wilson and incumbent President [[Bill Clinton]] among [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] voters. The same poll indicated Wilson as trailing his former Senate colleague [[Bob Dole]] by a 20-point margin.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://
▲A September 6, 1995, [[UC Irvine]] poll showed equal support for Wilson and incumbent President [[Bill Clinton]] among [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] voters. The same poll indicated Wilson as trailing [[Bob Dole]] by a 20-point margin.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1995-09-07/local/me-43076_1_pete-wilson|title=Clinton Even With Wilson, UCI Poll Shows : Politics: County respondents favor Dole for President by wide margin. They also support state initiative against affirmative action.|first=Len|last=Hall|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 7, 1995}}</ref> Dole would become the Republican nominee in the general election. Later that month, a ''Los Angeles Times'' poll found 23% of Californians believed Wilson should seek the presidency, including 30% of state voters identifying as Republican.<ref name=LATimes1995>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1995-09-12/news/mn-44994_1_pete-wilson|title=THE TIMES POLL : Wilson's Popularity Plummets With Voters : Election matchups place him far behind Clinton and Dole. The governor is seen as lacking deep convictions|first=Cathleen|last=Decker|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 12, 1995}}</ref>
==Post-political careers and commemoration==
After leaving office, Wilson spent
| url=http://www.japaninc.com/jin208 | publisher=Japaninc.com
| title=Can Japan Come Back? The Pacific Council Thinks So
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}}</ref>
Wilson is currently a distinguished visiting fellow at the [[Hoover Institution]], a conservative [[think tank]] located on the campus of [[Stanford University]], the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, the [[Richard Nixon Foundation]], the Donald Bren Foundation, is the founding director of the California Mentor Foundation and is the chairman of the board of trustees of the National World War II Museum. Wilson sits on two prestigious [[Federal Advisory Committee Act|Federal advisory committees]], the [[President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board]] and the [[Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee]]. He previously worked as a consultant at the Los Angeles office of [[Bingham McCutchen]] [[LLP#United States|LLP]], a large, national law firm.<ref>{{cite news|url=
In 1999, Wilson was awarded the prestigious Patriot Award by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society National Convention in Riverside, California.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Honorees List {{!}} Awards and Recognitions {{!}} CMOHS |url=https://www.cmohs.org/about-the-society/awards |access-date=2023-06-01 |website=Congressional Medal of Honor Society |language=en}}</ref> In 2003, Wilson was co-chair of the campaign of [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] to replace Gray Davis as governor of California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://petewilsonalumni.org/bio.html |title=Governor Pete Wilson Alumni Association |access-date=January 21, 2011}}</ref>
On September 27, 2007, Wilson endorsed [[Rudolph Giuliani]] for U.S. President,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://
In 2007, a statue of Wilson joined Ernest Hahn and [[Alonzo Horton]] on the San Diego Walk of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |last=Steele |first=Jeanette |url=http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070826-9999-1m26wilson.html |title=Jeanette Steele, Wilson statue is unveiled as Latinos, gays protest. San Diego Union-Tribune, August 26, 2007 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=August 26, 2007 |access-date=January 21, 2011 |archive-date=February 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224075242/http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070826-9999-1m26wilson.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Two hundred sponsors donated $200,000 to build the statue. Progressive Latino and LGBT groups protested the unveiling.<ref>{{cite web|last=Steele |first=Jeanette |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070826/news_1m26wilson.html |title=Wilson statue is unveiled as Latinos, gays protest |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=August 26, 2007 |access-date=January 21, 2011}}</ref> On May 23, 2009, Wilson gave the commencement speech and received an honorary degree from the San Diego State University of Professional Studies and Fine Arts.<ref>{{cite web▼
▲On September 27, 2007, Wilson endorsed [[Rudolph Giuliani]] for U.S. President,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/2007/sep/28/nation/na-wilson28 |title=Scott Martelle, Pete Wilson endorses Giuliani. ''Los Angeles Times'', September 28, 2007 |date= September 28, 2007|access-date=January 21, 2011}}</ref> but Giuliani later dropped out of the primary. On February 4, 2008, Wilson endorsed [[John McCain]] as a candidate for U.S. president.
▲In 2007, a statue of Wilson joined Ernest Hahn and [[Alonzo Horton]] on the San Diego Walk of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |last=Steele |first=Jeanette |url=http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070826-9999-1m26wilson.html |title=Jeanette Steele, Wilson statue is unveiled as Latinos, gays protest. San Diego Union-Tribune, August 26, 2007 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=August 26, 2007 |access-date=January 21, 2011 |archive-date=February 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224075242/http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070826-9999-1m26wilson.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Two hundred sponsors donated $200,000 to build the statue. Progressive Latino and LGBT groups protested the unveiling.<ref>{{cite web|last=Steele |first=Jeanette |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070826/news_1m26wilson.html |title=Wilson statue is unveiled as Latinos, gays protest |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=August 26, 2007 |access-date=January 21, 2011}}</ref>
| url=http://psfa.sdsu.edu/econnect/2009_06.html
| title=Professional Studies and Fine Arts Newsletter
|access-date=January 21, 2011}}</ref> In 2009, Wilson chaired the unsuccessful campaign of [[Meg Whitman]] for governor.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2010/0830/In-California-Meg-Whitman-leans-less-overtly-on-Pete-Wilson
| title=In Calif., Meg Whitman leans less overtly on Pete Wilson
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}}</ref>
On April 30, 2016, Wilson endorsed U.S. Senator [[Ted Cruz]] for the Republican nomination in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/04/30/pete-wilson-of-california-backs-ted-cruz-and-warns-of-donald-trump/?_r=0|title = Pete Wilson of California Backs Ted Cruz and Warns of Donald Trump|newspaper = The New York Times|date = April 30, 2016|last1 = Martin|first1 = Jonathan}}</ref> On April 4, 2019, Wilson donated $5,000 to the reelection campaign of President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fec.gov/|title=Browse Receipts|website=FEC.gov|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019}}</ref> Wilson was among the signatories of a letter released on October 1, 2020, endorsing President Trump for reelection in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]] and argued in an interview that the president "has very good judgment, and very good people around him making honest calls."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Marinucci|first=Carla|title=Pete Wilson endorses Trump, says president has 'very good judgment'|url=https://politi.co/2SjGq3f|access-date=2020-10-02|website=Politico PRO|language=en}}</ref> He served as a campaign advisor for [[Larry Elder]]'s unsuccessful [[2021 California gubernatorial recall election|2021]] gubernatorial campaign.<ref>{{cite web|website=Los Angeles Times|title=Column: Larry Elder is the most Latino candidate in California's recall. It won't help him|date=September 4, 2021|author=Gustavo Arellano|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-09-04/larry-elder-latinos-california-recall}}</ref>▼
▲On April 4, 2019, Wilson donated $5,000 to the reelection campaign of President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fec.gov/|title=Browse Receipts|website=FEC.gov|language=en|access-date=August 8, 2019}}</ref> Wilson was among the signatories of a letter released on October 1, 2020, endorsing President Trump for reelection in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]] and argued in an interview that the president "has very good judgment, and very good people around him making honest calls."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Marinucci|first=Carla|title=Pete Wilson endorses Trump, says president has 'very good judgment'|url=https://politi.co/2SjGq3f|access-date=2020-10-02|website=Politico PRO|language=en}}</ref>
==Honors and awards==
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* Wilson was also honored by the [[San Francisco Giants]] by having him open their 1998 home schedule by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch in honor of his final full year in office.
* Governor Pete Wilson Liberty Flagstaff was raised at [[The National WWII Museum]] in [[New Orleans]] in June 2017. The spire that bears Wilson's name serves as an enduring symbol of the unique American spirit—unity, resolve, and devotion to the principles of freedom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalww2museum.org/visit/museum-campus/founders-plaza/governor-pete-wilson-liberty-flagstaff|title = Governor Pete Wilson Liberty Flagstaff}}</ref>
* Wilson was honored by the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] with the [[Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service]] in November 2018, including his service on the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee.
==References==
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[[Category:American bankers]]
[[Category:American campaign managers]]
[[Category:California Republicans]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 1996 United States presidential election]]
[[Category:Governors of California]]
[[Category:Hoover Institution people]]
[[Category:Lawyers from San Diego]]
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