[2][3] After graduating from Michigan, Brooks began his teaching career as principal of Adrian High School.

It was seen as a fledgling university and many on the East Coast were "still in shock" at the summary discharge of former president David Ross Boyd.

Again, Brooks refused the job but Brandenberg continued to pursue telling him that the Board desired to keep politics out of the selection process.

Brooks later said that, "Whatever was accomplished during my eleven years as president of the University, was possible only because the Board of Education that appointed me, and its successors, never violated the basic principles set forth in that first conference.

[3] He immediately went about strengthening the faculty but he did not fire one individual brought in because of political connections if he was a good teacher.

Brooks' situation changed dramatically after John C. ("Jack") Walton was elected Governor of Oklahoma in 1922.

Edwin DeBarr, the OU vice president, had openly supported Walton's rival in the primary.

After both Brooks and the Board of Regents had written letters to the members of OU's faculty, cautioning them against taking part in the upcoming election campaign, DeBarr continued to take an active political role, making fiery speeches supporting Walton's rival for the governorship, Robert H. Wilson, the state superintendent of education.

[8][a] Walton, the Democratic nominee easily defeated Wilson, the Republican, in the general election of November, 1922, and was inaugurated in January, 1923.

Although Brooks openly hoped the young man could remain undisturbed in that position, Walton abruptly replaced him with a supportive legislator from Ottawa County.

That day, the Daily Oklahoman printed the story with the headline, "Brooks' Neck Expected to Feel the Ax Next."

Walton explained his action to the press, "...the educational system must be removed as far as possible from political maneuvering,...(T)he university organization has been used against me by Yankee republicans and I believe that it should be in democratic hands.

[9] Regarding Walton's replacement of the regents, Brooks realized that he had no future in Oklahoma without top-level political support.

Some sociology professors allowed release of a "sex survey" that most of the regents and ordinary citizens found offensive to their social views.

Brooks saw the document, which he called "sewer psychology" and wanted to fire the faculty members who had authorized sending it out without his prior approval.