Dan White's Twinkie Problem

Dan White

Dan White was a traditional American man. He fought in Vietnam, served as a police officer for several years, and ran for public office in San Francisco as a "defender of the home, the family and religious life against homosexuals, pot smokers, and cynics."

White was a city supervisor—a position that has been eliminated for various reasons, some of which will be revealed momentarily—for just over a year. He clashed frequently with Harvey Milk, the first openly-gay supervisor in San Francisco and, in fact, in the whole of America.

White had a questionable stance on gay rights. He supported housing discrimination against gay individuals, but he opposed an anti-gay ballot that would prevent gay individuals from working in schools. White was deeply respected by the law enforcement community. His conservative stance appeared to the San Francisco police.

After having an argument with Harvey Milk over a proposed drug rehabilitation center, Dan White quit his job as city supervisor. About two weeks later, he came back to the San Francisco City Hall, climbed in through a window, shot the mayor five times, left his office, and shot Harvey Milk four times.

He was eventually convicted, served five years, and committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning after he was released. White is probably best remembered in the Dead Kennedys cover of "I Fought the Law":

The law don't mean shit if you've got the right friends
That's how this country's run
Twinkies are the best friend I've ever had
You can get away with murder if you've got a badge
I fought the law and I won; I am the law so I won