George Deukmejian dead at 89, public safety and law-and-order dominated two-term governor’s agenda

George Deukmejian served two terms as California governor and built his career on fighting crime, hardening the state’s criminal-justice stance and shoring up its leaky finances. He spent almost 28 years in Sacramento, enjoying a reputation as someone of unquestioned integrity but whose manner was so severe that he earned the nickname “Iron Duke.” He was 89.

Gov. George Deukmejian and wife, Gloria, look happily at their daughter Leslie, who is waiting her turn to enter All Saints Episcopal Church for her wedding on July 19, 1986.

Sen. Pete Wilson, second from left, and Gov. George Deukmejian, in white hat, are surrounded by Native Americans shortly after they entered the party at the Irvine Ranch.

Governor George Deukmejian and his wife Gloria, vote in Belmont Shore in Long Beach on Nov. 2, 1982.

Gov. George Deukmejian meets the press on June 4, 1986, as he begins his drive for the upcoming November election.

A signed photograph of former President Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan with former California Gov. George Deukmejian. The photo is his from official archives doanted to Cal State Long Beach.

Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson, right, shakes hands with presidential candidate George Bush as California Gov. George Deukmejian looks on at a rally in Orange, Calif., on June 8, 1988.

From left, former California Govs. George Deukmejian, Jerry Brown, Gray Davis and Pete Wilson at the Huntington Library in San Marino, Calif., in May 2005.

From left, Gov. Gray Davis, former Gov. George Deukmejian and former Secretary of State Warren Christopher at a news conference at the Museum Of Tolerance in February 2000.

At a 2008 news conference, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and, from left, Gray Davis, Pete Wilson, Jerry Brown and George Deukmejian join Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley in urging Californians to vote no on Proposition 5.