KeyWiki

John Burton was a Democratic Party Congressman and state politician from California. In recent years he has served as chair of the California Democratic Party.

He is the brother of the late Philip Burton, another very radical California Congressman.

Burton has a long history of affiliation to Soviet and communist causes.

According to radical former San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan, an endorsement from Bay Area physician and publisher Carlton Goodlett, a well known Communist Party USA member, was important to the election of many political leaders. Goodlett helped to inspire and promote the political careers of Mayor Willie Brown, the late Representative Philip Burton, John Burton and Representative Ron Dellums.

From September 29 to October 12, 1975, the Soviet front World Peace Council sent a delegation on a ten-day tour of the United States of America, where it was “warmly and enthusiastically received.” In six of the ten cities visited, the delegation was officially welcomed by the mayors’ offices and presented with “keys to the city,” medals and proclamations.

One such occasion was a reception given by Congressman John Burton and members of Congress for Peace Through Law.

In 1978, Congressmen John Burton, Ted Weiss, Ron Dellums, John Conyers, Don Edwards, Charles Rangel and others… attended a World Peace Council organized meeting on Capitol Hill.

WPC delegation members included President Romesh Chandra, KGB Colonel Radomir Bogdanov and Oleg Kharkhardin of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union International Department.

Sponsors of the 1996 Bay Area People’s Weekly World banquet, at His Lordships, Berkeley Marina, included Oakland City Council members Ignacio de la Fuente, Sheila Jordan and John Russo; Berkeley City Council members Maudelle Shirek, Linda Maio and Dona Spring; San Francisco Supervisors Tom Ammiano and Sue Bierman; Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson and California State Assemblyman John L. Burton.

On May 9, 1998, the Communist Party USA’s Peoples Weekly World held a centennial festive tribute celebrating the life of communist Paul Robeson. Among the events more than 100 co-sponsors was California Senate president pro tem John L. Burton.

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