Dolph Briscoe Research Paper

Dolph Briscoe, Jr., was born on April 23, 1923 in Uvalde, Texas, he was the only child of Dolph and Georgie Briscoe. The Briscoe’s family has a strong background in Texas history and politics; their ancestor Andrew Briscoe signed the Texas Declaration of Independence, and led a company of volunteers in the battle of San Jacinto, and was appointed the first judge of Harris County by Sam Houston. Dolph Briscoe, Jr. graduated and met his wife, Betty Jane Slaughter, from the University of Texas at Austin in 1942. After graduating Briscoe served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Briscoe, Jr. was attracted to politics at an early age due to his father friendship with Gov. Ross Sterling. Briscoe, Jr., at the age on nine was invited to stay at Governor’s Mansion in Austin Texas, and to sleep in Sam Houston’s bed. Once Briscoe slept in his Houston’s bed he knew one day he would go back to

the Mansion.
Political Career
In 1948, Briscoe ran for the office of State representative. Briscoe won and served from 1949 to 1957. During his years in office Briscoe became known for his effective debating skills and a knowledgeable legislator. Briscoe was a conservative and his main focus was on fixing administrations rather than creating new ones. In 1954, Briscoe father passed and instead of running a 5th term he went home to run the families ranch and his father and Gov. Sterling created together. Making Junior the owner and manager of the largest and most diverse ranches in the state of Texas. In 1968 Briscoe attempted to rekindle his political career but failed to make it onto the Democratic ticket. Four years later, the Sharpstown bank scandal took the Texas government for a swirl. Briscoe ran as a reform candidate and defeated the incumbent Governor Preston Smith and Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes. Briscoe ran on a platform of an honesty and integrity and against any new state taxes. During his terms as Governor he balanced the demands for state services in a rapidly growing population. Since Briscoe was elected after a big scandal he had a strong incline battle on restoring the faith back in the people’s eyes about the government.
During his terms Briscoe raised teachers and state employees’ salaries by the highest percentage in the history of the state by adding four billion dollars to the new state fund in public education and higher education.

He expanded services to handicapped Texans by the department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and established the first toll-free hotline for runaway children. He appointed a larger number of women and minorities than any previous administration, and appointed the first African American members to state boards and appointed the first African American district judge. No new state taxes were passed during Briscoe's terms as governor, making him the first governor since World War II to hold the line on new state taxes or increasing existing state taxes. Briscoe restore integrity back to Texas state government and left a number of achievements and landmarks event when he retired out of office. Briscoe was the first Texas governor to serve a four-term, making his political career as Texas governor for six years. In 1978 Briscoe lost and was denied for a third

term.
In addition to his accomplishments as governor, Briscoe served as chairman of the Southern Governors Association, presided over the Interstate Oil Compact Commission, served on the National Petroleum Council, and was on the executive committee of the National Governor's Association.
Important Career Moves
During his four years as state representative Briscoe helped write the Colson-Briscoe Act, Farm-to-Market or Ranch-to-Market system. The first farm-to-market road was opened in 1941. This act is one of the best thing to happen to the rural parts of Texas. Giving the farms a way to get in and out of town without having to be stuck in the mud. The act’s slogan was “Get the farmer out of the mud,” and its success was assured in 1949 when the Legislature guaranteed permanent funding for new farm-to-market roads. Today farm roads make up well over half of the Texas highway systems, 41,000 miles out of 73,000.
Briscoe passed the most extensive ethics and financial disclosure bill in state history, passage of Open Meetings and Open Records legislation provides and open freedom of information that allows for a more transpiration government. The open meetings allows the public a chance to hear how the government officials votes and stops. The “Government is the servant and not the master of the people,” states the open government act (1993). After the Sharpstown affair this act was desperately needed and Briscoe signed it in. Briscoe also strengthened laws regulating lobbyists by restricting the amount of money lobbyist could spend on legislators for entertainment and gifts. If the lobbyist spends more than ninety dollars on a legislator they are required to fill out a report. The detailed report is filed with Texas Ethics Commissions and are made available for the public viewing. The reports are filed so the public can see which legislator is being persuaded by the lobbyist to vote for their clients instead of what is in the best interest of the people.