Q: The trip to Syria in '83 to free the downed U.S. pilot, Robert Goodman...can you talk about that?Well, that was really exciting and obviously boosted his chances. There had been so many diplomatic efforts on the part of the government and on the part of others to bring this person back and when Jesse Jackson was able to go to Syria and was able to persuade the authorities that they should allow him to bring him home.
I think that was one of the first times that people in very high places took Jesse Jackson seriously and recognized or realized what he potentially was capable of doing.
I think that up to that point that they had not viewed him --they viewed him as basically a preacher, as a person who could engage, who was charismatic and who could engage in rhetoric. But they did not see him as a person who could be a serious player in international affairs and foreign relations. He had done other things that I thought were very interesting -- but that was the first time that there was almost, there had to be some national recognition.
And what was interesting was that when they brought him back to the White House, President Reagan was there and there was sort of a press conference in the Rose Garden, it was very clear -- anyone watching that would know that it was, that President Reagan's every intent was that Jesse Jackson was to be seen but not heard at that press conference. That he would make remarks, the officer would make remarks and that would be it. And Jesse Jackson would not speak. But Jesse Jackson literally took the microphone away from the President and spoke. And in many ways, I think that characterizes his relationship with people in the government, in high places in the government.
In many ways, they see the value of what a Jesse Jackson can do, what he is capable of.
From the Interview with Richard Hatcher at Frontline: The Pilgrimage of Jesse Jackson.
And later, in May of 1999:
Three captured U.S. servicemen were handed over by Yugoslavia on Sunday to a delegation led by U.S. civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson.Jackson signed transfer documents for the three, Staff Sgt. Andrew Ramirez, 24, of Los Angeles; Staff Sgt. Christopher Stone, 25, of Smiths Creek, Michigan; and Steven Gonzales, 22, of Huntsville, Texas.
The three had been held for more than a month -- they were captured on March 31 while on patrol near the Yugoslav-Macedonian border. CNN's Walter Rodgers said the soldiers were boarding a bus for a four-hour trip to Zagreb, Croatia. From there, they were to travel to Germany to be debriefed, and to undergo medical exams.
From the article Three captured U.S. soldiers released by Yugoslavia at CNN.
I know, I know, why am I bringing up old stuff.
Actually I rather appreciate your bringing it up. I remember when I was a teenage and got to give my first big speech from the same panel that Jesse Jackson was speaking from. For years after that I felt a certain affiliation with him, as if he in some way was an elder of mine, blazing the way. Over the years I have soured on his seeming lack of realism and effectiveness, his many abondoned organizations in his trail of sporadic public action and apparent self-glorification. But then there are those times, such as ones you point out in your post, where he has made a real difference in the lives of people and presumably bridged international understanding in the process. I am proud of him in those times.
Because what's old is new again. Or some shit like that.
Don't know why this post relates to P6's post, in my warped view.
Overall, it saddens me even more when you realize how far Jesse has fallen since that time 20 odd years ago.
Indigo Ocean, I was going to add something about how people -- mostly right-wingers -- seemed full of the milk of human kindness and forgiveness regarding Rush L. and Arnold S., but were constantly down on Jesse for his past mistakes. And I was going to ask, "So precisely how many lives have either of those gentlemen saved?"
But it seemed tacky. And the other stuff speaks for itself.
Ronn, but the funny thing is, if we need someone to negotiate with those folks who "hate us for our freedoms" or whateverthefuck to get somebody back, I'm thinking Jesse is still the go-to guy. Can you think of anyone else? Like I said in the title, Powell's out. . .