Jesse Jackson

The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. (born October 8, 1941) is a civil rights and political activist in the United States. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988.

Current Activities

While Jesse Jackson was initially critical of the "third way" or more moderate policies of Bill Clinton, he became a key ally in gaining black support for Clinton, and eventually became a close advisor and friend of the Clinton family. Clinton awarded Jesse Jackson the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest honor bestowed on civilians. His son, Jesse Jackson, Jr., also emerged as a political figure, becoming a member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois.

Related Topics:
Third way - Bill Clinton - Clinton family - Medal of Freedom - Jesse Jackson, Jr. - United States House of Representatives - Illinois

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Jackson has been involved in several negotiations with foreign leaders to release Americans imprisoned as hostages. In 1984 he won the release of United States Navy aviator Lt. Robert Goodman from captivity in Syria. He has met with Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and Serb president Slobodan Milo?evi? in efforts to free various American detainees as well. Jackson is also known as a passionate orator, in the tradition of Southern US and African American Protestant preaching.

Related Topics:
1984 - United States Navy - Robert Goodman - Syria - Fidel Castro - Saddam Hussein - Slobodan Milo?evi? - Protestant

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In 2003, Jackson surprised many observers by declining to endorse the campaigns of either the Reverend Al Sharpton or former Senator Carol Moseley Braun, the two African-American candidates in the race for the Democratic Party's 2004 presidential nomination. Instead, Jackson remained largely silent about his preference in the race until late in the primary season, when he allowed Democratic Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, another presidential candidate, to speak at a Rainbow/PUSH forum on March 31, 2004. Although he did not explicitly voice an endorsement of Rep. Kucinich, Jackson described Kucinich as "assuming the burden of saying 'you make the most sense, but you can't win.'"http://www.muhajabah.com/muslims4kucinich/archives/008497.php

Related Topics:
2003 - Al Sharpton - Carol Moseley Braun - Dennis Kucinich - Ohio - Rainbow/PUSH - March 31 - 2004

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He also writes for "The Progressive Populist."

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In 2005, he was enlisted as part of the United Kingdom's "Operation Black Vote", a campaign to encourage more of Britain's ethnic minorities to vote in political elections ahead of the May 2005 General Election. His work involved giving speeches to ethnic audiences.

Related Topics:
2005 - United Kingdom

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Also in early 2005, Jackson visited the parents of Terri Schiavo and their supporters; he supported their unsuccessful bid to keep the disabled Florida woman alive.

Related Topics:
Terri Schiavo - Florida

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