Tom Bradley (politician) - Definition

Tom Bradley (December 29, 1917 - September 29, 1998) made history in 1973 by being the first black mayor of a major American city, following the Civil Rights Movement, by being elected to the mayorship in Los Angeles. He won the mayoral election four more times, serving from 1973 to 1993 (five terms), until he retired. He twice ran for governor, in 1982 and 1986. In 1982 he was defeated by Gov. George Deukmejian by less than 53,000 votes. During his tenure, L.A. hosted the 1984 Summer Olympic Games and passed Chicago to become the second most populous city in the country. LA began to emerge as a true world-class city under his guidance. This period also contained the 1992 riots and the formation of the Christopher Commission. The Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX is named in his honor.