Cass Elliot: California Senator

Cass Elliot, the legendary singer from The Mamas and The Papas, might have served as a U.S. senator from California if she had lived.

Labeled "The Queen of L.A. Pop Society" in the 1960s by Rolling Stone, and "The Earth Mother of Hippiedom" by Papa John Phillips, Cass Elliot was also a political activist who had dreamed of winning a U.S. Senate seat from California.

In the early 1970s, during a nationally televised interview, she expressed a desire to one day run for the U.S. Senate.  Soon after, she became politically active and famously involved in the 1972 presidential campaign.

Elliot spent the whole year touring college campuses, speaking on the importance of voter registration.  Her passion was confronting social apathy.

A great speaker, Cass Elliot had a great interest in the issues of the day.  "I know the way I would like to see things for this country and in my travels, when I talk to people, everybody wants pretty much the same thing:  peace, enough jobs, no poverty and good education."

Cass was very outspoken about social and political concerns.  She was not "politically-correct", especially for the early 1970s, but people liked her and listened.  She would, no doubt, be a force to be reckoned with in today's California. 

Feeling that California needed changes, Cass stated that "it’s a police state.  I know, because I bought an Aston-Martin and I put a Reagan sticker on it, only because I know if I’m speeding through Orange County late at night with a Reagan sticker on that kind of expensive car, I’ll never be stopped.  If I were in a Renault, I might go to jail."

Cass Elliot was famous for her sense of humor, optimism, charisma, magnetism, individuality, originality, freedom, determination, charm, honesty and straightforwardness.  Her powers of persuasion were as legendary as her phenomenal vocal talent.

About celebrities in politics, she said, "So many people in show business go into politics, and I used to say 'What the heck do they know about it?'  But when you travel around, you really do get to feel --- not to be cliche --- the pulse of the country and what people want.  I'm concerned and it's not good to be unconcerned and just sit there."

What kind of leader might a Senator Cass Elliot have been today?  We will never know, but she is remembered my many as a powerful "mover and shaker" during her short life.

From her home base in the Laurel Canyon section of Los Angeles, Cass was a connection maker in the '60s and '70s.  Several of the music industry's greatest groups would not have existed if Cass had not introduced singers, songwriters and musicians to one another.

Ms. Elliot was respected as a skilled behind-the-scenes strategist who made big things happen.

Surrounded by the biggest players of the time in entertainment, politics, media and business, Cass Elliot made it her business to know everyone --- and knowing Cass had its benefits.  Her Rolodex was as golden as California.

Born near the nation's Capitol, the accomplished singer, actress and producer had politics in her blood.

In a Rolling Stone interview, Cass stated, "I think everybody who has a brain should get involved in politics.  Working within. Not criticizing it from the outside.  Become an active participant, no matter how feeble you think the effort is."

Her words still resonate today:  "I don't think it's so important who you vote for --- you vote for who you believe in.  The important thing is to vote, because it's our way and it's the best way."

To millions around the world, Cass Elliot represented what California was all about --- a place where anybody could live their dream with boldness and passion.