Willie Brown sees protégés rise to the top

Over a political career that’s well into a sixth decade, Willie Brown has had several incarnations.
From a fiery civil rights agitator in the 1960s, Brown evolved into an expert legislative dealmaker during three decades as a state assemblyman – including a record-long stint as speaker – and two terms as mayor of San Francisco.
Along the way, be became a bon vivant, swathed in expensive, hand-tailored suits, and, until his eyesight failed, driving exotic sports cars at high spe