‘People basically want solutions to America’s problems.’

In one of black America’s most important political years, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke is pretty much watching from the sidelines.

Burke was a black political pioneer of the 1960s and ‘70s. She was the first black woman to serve in the state Legislature and the first to represent California in Congress.

In 1972, Burke was co-chair of the Democratic National Convention that nominated South Dakota Sen. George S. McGovern for President. In the brief euphoria of the convention, before the party’s disastrous defeat in November, the presence of the young black woman on national television was a symbol of the goals of liberals who had taken over the party.

This year, the dominant symbol of black political gain is the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who is focusing the final drive of his campaign for the presidential nomination on California. But Burke, an attorney, is concentrating on her own career, glad to be out of politics.

“I’m at a stage where I have to look to the last part of my career, the working years,” said Burke, 55, who specializes in government finance, helping to put together bond packages. “I have about 15.”

Burke said the fact that Jackson remains one of the two contenders for the nomination shows that “there has been a misreading to a certain degree of the American people” on the strength of a black candidate.

“Race is a factor,” she said. “But people basically want solutions to America’s problems.”

Burke is contributing money to the Jackson campaign. “Nowadays, they don’t want you to get involved; they want money, they don’t want your advice,” she said. “I don’t know what I could do, anyway.” Her position on the Federal Reserve Board of Los Angeles prevents her from taking an active role in campaigns.

Burke quit politics after she was defeated in a 1980 race for Los Angeles County supervisor. She had left Congress when she ran a losing race for state attorney general in 1978.

After running her own law firm for a few years, Burke recently joined the Los Angeles office of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue.

She also serves on the University of California Board of Regents, the board of the Educational Testing Service and on Ford Foundation boards and commissions.

The latter assignment gives her a chance to deal with relations with Mexico, drugs and immigration. This keeps her in touch with issues she dealt with in Congress.

In addition, she travels with her husband, Bill, who directs the Los Angeles Marathon. They attended the Boston Marathon and each year usually visit New York and London for races in those cities.

Does she miss politics?

“Not particularly,” Burke said. Sometimes, she said, regret “flashes very fast--and goes away.”