Then-San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, left, laughs during a gathering with his staff on his last day in office in San Francisco in 2004.

San Francisco ? It’s a cold, foggy morning in Willie Brown’s San Francisco, and the 73-year-old former speaker of the California Assembly and two-term mayor of this city appears a bit frosty and guarded as he settles into an interview in the Ferry Building office of the Willie L. Brown Jr. Institute on Politics & Public Service.

He looks resplendent, as usual, wearing a blue blazer, checked shirt and a necktie that, to quote from his new memoir, “Basic Brown: My Life and Our Times,” “would have exhausted a trust fund baby’s monthly stipend.”

In that just-published book (Simon & Schuster, $26), the man who once dominated California politics writes (with the assistance of P.J. Corkery of the San Francisco Examiner) about his upbringing in segregated east Texas, his unconventional family life and his rise to power in the state Assembly, where he represented San Francisco from 1964 to 1995 and reigned for 14 1/2 of those years as speaker – or as he puts it, “Ayatollah.”

Brown also discusses his terms as the mayor of his adopted hometown, reminisces about famous people he has known and offers advice to politicians and the public alike about appropriate wardrobes, campaign financing and other matters.

But “Basic Brown” isn’t an autobiography. “There are lots of things not included in the book that are on the cutting-room floor,” Brown says. “You don’t do what Bill Clinton did – Bill Clinton’s book (‘My Life’) covers every time he went to the bathroom from birth to present day.”

These days, Brown, who ended his last term as mayor in January 2004, works as the head of his institute, which sponsors seminars and other activities on issues such as green technology and jobs for disadvantaged people, community reinvestment, stem-cell research and leadership training. He also does private law work, mostly related to land development and contract negotiations. He was involved in negotiating the recent gaming compact involving the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, which was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and recently was approved by California voters.

With our interview taking place only a few days after the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday primaries (but before Barack Obama’s primary and caucus victories in Washington, D.C., Louisiana, Virginia, Maryland and other states), we began with some questions about this year’s presidential race.

Q: You have not yet endorsed anyone for president. Why is that?

Simply because when the race started out, there were at least five or six people that I had some relationship with, was fond of and had great respect for: Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Hillary Clinton and the young Obama. In view of that, I thought I would not be able to make a decision between those friends. And then I turned out to be a sought-after analyst, and you do not do well as an analyst if you already have (made) a choice.

Q: Do you think this will be the first Democratic convention since 1972, when you emerged as a national leader as head of the California delegation supporting George McGovern, where the nomination will be decided there?

A: Yes, I think this will be the very first since ’72 in which, under the rules, you get a chance to have an actual credentials fight, and out of the credentials fight could grow a nomination. The credentials fight in this case will be primarily over whether Florida and Michigan get seated. And they will get seated – there’s no question that the Democrats cannot win this thing without (those states).

Q: Turning to your years in Sacramento, what are the legislative victories you’re most proud of?

A: I think maintaining the speakership for 14 1/2 years is what I’m most proud of. In the 31 years that I was there, in almost every session you could point to something that was incredibly significant in the lives of the people of this state and in the history of this state.

(Brown then rattles off a list of legislation related to public school finance, cost-of-living adjustments for welfare recipients, pro-choice legislation, children’s health measures and more.)

Most people would highlight apartheid (ending University of California investments in companies doing business with South Africa), or the ban on assault weapons, or (legalizing) consenting sex acts between adults in private – those kinds of things. But there were (many other measures).

Q: As a Sacramentan, I was a bit surprised to read this statement in your book: “When I became speaker I made Sacramento as attractive as Las Vegas to the members: There was always something flashy going on. It was fun to be there, fun to be part of the crowd.” Could you explain that, because I guess I haven’t seen it.

A: As usual, politicians are prone to excessive descriptions of what they do, and I definitely plead guilty to that. … When it comes to the statement you referred to … I always tried to make it interesting in one fashion or another. Whether it was putting together the poker games we played on Monday nights, or receptions that would bring Sammy Davis Jr. or the 49ers or Will Durst – every week, I would try to have something that would make Sacramento interesting, even organizing forays to movie theaters or music events at the old governor’s mansion, or doing a mass barbecue on the Capitol lawn.

Q: In “Basic Brown” you discuss some of the criticisms you’ve received over the campaign contributions you took. In particular, you talk quite a bit about “Big Tobacco” giving you money but your not giving them anything in return. Could someone say that perhaps you prevented more severe or stringent anti-tobacco legislation from getting through?

A: That would be a fair criticism, sure. (But) then you would be attributing to me the ability to kill everything. I don’t think that’s accurate, because ultimately the legislative process in most cases turns to what’s in the public’s best interest.

Q: In your book, you openly discuss your unconventional marriage with Blanche Brown (they’ve been married for 50 years, but have not lived together for the past 25 years). Do you think that you could have maintained your political career and your very public involvement with other women in any other city besides San Francisco?

A: Oh sure. I don’t think the public places any great measure on your personal and private conduct. Period. Having private, personal relationships with people is your business, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your (work).

Q: Why do you think the FBI was so determined to target you when you were the speaker, and why were they unsuccessful?

A: Because I never did do anything illegal. Period.

Q: Some of the early reviews of “Basic Brown” have criticized you for boasting, for praising yourself too often in your book. Any thoughts about that?

A: Yeah, I’m going to get that. But I don’t think it’s praising (myself), it’s just telling the story as the story unfolded. I’m very proud of my skills. I didn’t always win every fight, but the ones that I won, in my opinion, were classics.

Q: Do you ever expect to run for office again?

A: Never. I’ve done it for 40 years, and it’s now time for a change.