Thomas Bradley
(December 29, 1917 – September 29, 1998)
Politician
He was an American politician and former police officer, best known for his remarkable tenure as the 38th Mayor of Los Angeles, a role he held from 1973 to 1993. Bradley’s significance lies in his historical achievement as the first Black mayor of Los Angeles, and his two decades in office constitute the longest mayoral tenure in the city’s history. He made history again by becoming only the second Black mayor of a major U.S. city when elected in 1973. Bradley’s retirement in 1993 came after his approval ratings declined following the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. In recognition of his leadership, a panel of 69 scholars in 1993 ranked him among the top ten mayors in American history. Despite being a Democrat, Bradley also ventured into California’s gubernatorial elections in 1982 and 1986, though he faced defeat on both occasions at the hands of Republican candidate George Deukmejian. The complex racial dynamics that seemingly influenced his narrow loss in 1982 gave birth to the political concept known as the “Bradley effect.” In 1985, Bradley received the prestigious Spingarn Medal from the NAACP, further underscoring his enduring impact on American politics and civil rights.
Thomas Bradley, born on December 29, 1917, into a family with a history tied to slavery, emerged as a prominent figure in American politics. Raised by Lee Thomas and Crenner Bradley, sharecroppers from Texas, Bradley’s early life was marked by struggles. He excelled in his education, becoming the first Black student elected president of the Boys League and inducted into the Ephebians national honor society at Polytechnic High School in Los Angeles. After earning an athletic scholarship, Bradley attended UCLA in 1937 and joined Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity while supporting himself with jobs like working as a photographer for comedian Jimmy Durante.
Bradley’s career took a unique turn when he joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1940, becoming one of only 400 Black officers among 4,000. He faced racial discrimination in the form of denied credit and restaurant services, highlighting the challenges of his time. In 1941, he married Ethel Arnold, and together they had three daughters. Their journey to homeownership in a predominantly white section of Los Angeles required a white intermediary.
While serving as a police officer, Bradley pursued law studies at Southwestern University Law School, launching his career as a lawyer upon retiring from the police department. His entry into politics came when he became president of the United Club, a liberal, reformist group. This move placed him at odds with other African American leaders, like Mervyn Dymally, who were associated with Jesse M. Unruh’s political organization.
In 1963, Bradley made history by becoming the first African-American elected to the Los Angeles City Council. His tenure was marked by notable positions, including his opposition to a study of American slang’s offensive content. Bradley’s rise continued as he challenged incumbent Mayor Sam Yorty in 1969, ultimately unseating him in 1973. During his time as mayor, Bradley contributed to the city’s financial growth and played a key role in developing business hubs.
His support for public transit led to the expansion of Los Angeles International Airport and the city’s light rail network. He also presided over the 1984 Summer Olympics and oversaw the city’s transformation into the second-most-populated in the U.S. However, by his fifth term, Bradley’s popularity began to wane due to various factors, including controversial decisions and his reluctance to condemn Louis Farrakhan.
In 1993, after serving as mayor for twenty years, Bradley chose not to seek a sixth term. He was remembered as one of the top American big-city mayors in history, as indicated by a 1993 survey. Bradley made unsuccessful runs for Governor of California in 1982 and 1986, experiencing the phenomenon known as the “Bradley effect,” where voters tell pollsters one thing but vote differently on election day. He suffered a heart attack and stroke in the mid-1990s, passing away on September 29, 1998.
Bradley’s legacy is celebrated through various honors and memorials, including an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, the Olympic Order in silver, and a Los Angeles International Airport terminal named in his honor. His mayoral archives are preserved at UCLA, and the Tom and Ethel Bradley Center at California State University, Northridge, holds over a million archived images from communities of color. Bradley’s contributions to public service are remembered through the Civic Center/Grand Park/Tom Bradley station on Metro Rail’s B and D lines.
Thomas Bradley received several honors and awards during his lifetime, recognizing his contributions to public service and leadership. Some of the notable honors and awards include:
- Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) degree from Whittier College (1976).
- Olympic Order in silver (1984).
- Naming of the Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport in his honor.
- Preservation of his mayoral archives at UCLA.
- The Tom and Ethel Bradley Center at California State University, Northridge, housing over one million archived images from communities of color in Los Angeles and Latin American countries.
- Commemorative bust at Los Angeles International Airport.
- Civic Center/Grand Park/Tom Bradley station on Metro Rail’s B and D lines.
These honors and awards reflect the impact and legacy of Thomas Bradley’s contributions to the city of Los Angeles and the field of politics.