Schwarzenegger Returns to Sacramento Talking Climate, Legacy

More than 3½ years after his final "Hasta la vista, baby!" to state government, Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to Sacramento Monday for a victory lap of sorts -- bragging about his efforts to combat climate change and, later, unveiling his official portrait under the Capitol dome.

For a single day in the capital city, it seemed that Schwarzenegger’s legacy was seen as unquestionably good, a change from the recession-weary send-off he received in January 2011.

"I have missed being here, many times," said Schwarzenegger during a Capitol rotunda ceremony to unveil his portrait. "My seven years as governor were the most fulfilling years I ever had in my life."

The Republican ex-governor made a day of it in Sacramento, offering the keynote speech at a climate change summit, boasting of California's efforts in leading the charge on reducing greenhouse gases and promoting renewable energy.

Dozens of former staffers, as well as a who's who of California politics, crowded into the rotunda to watch Schwarzenegger -- flanked by sons Patrick and Christopher -- pull down a velvet drape to reveal what will easily be the largest governor's portrait in the stately old Capitol, standing 75 5/8 inches tall and 53 1/2 inches wide.

Unlike all but one modern gubernatorial portrait, Schwarzenegger's does not depict a realistic scene. No proud stance in Capitol Park like that of Ronald Reagan or Pete Wilson, no ocean and field of poppies like Gray Davis. The backdrop for Schwarzenegger is barren, except for the gubernatorial seal.

Instead, the Schwarzenegger portrait shares its uniqueness with the one of the man who succeeded him, Gov. Jerry Brown. It is Brown's 1984 portrait, hanging on the Capitol's third floor, that's to date the biggest tourist attraction of all of the statehouse's portraits.

Brown threw in a few jokes about his painting in his remarks at the Capitol event -- remembering how his father, the late Gov. Pat Brown, "was angry" when he first saw it, promising his son it was a sure sign that he'd never be elected to office again. Still, Brown told the audience that the portraits -- whatever the reaction -- have a purpose.

"It's not an occasion of change," said Brown about portrait unveilings, "so much as it is an occasion of continuity."

Brown and Schwarzenegger traded compliments throughout the day on Monday, beginning with the morning summit on climate issues. Brown praised Schwarzenegger's independence in bucking party politics by helping craft the state's 2005 landmark climate change law. Schwarzenegger praised Brown's vision in the 1970s as helping spark the state's focus on environmental protection.

And the ex-governor took a classic Schwarzenegger jab at everyone from his fellow Republicans to industries that had opposed his efforts to create a California-centric model on climate change policies.

"They said this was Washington's job, the state had no business in doing any of that," recounted Schwarzenegger on Monday morning. "We said, 'The hell with that. We don't wait for anyone.' "