Jesse Jackson, Jr.

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Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office  December 15, 1995–
Preceded by	Mel Reynolds
Born	March 11, 1965 (1965-03-11) (age 43) Greenville, South Carolina
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Sandi Jackson
Children	Jessica Donatella Jesse Louis III ("Tre")[1]
Alma mater	NC A&T, B.S. magna cum laude, 1987 Chicago Theological Seminary, M.A., 1989 University of Illinois, J.D., 1993
Religion	Baptist
Website	Congressional site Campaign site

Jesse Louis "Jesse Jr." Jackson, Jr. (born March 11, 1965) is a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Illinois's 2nd congressional district, which includes the southeast suburbs of Chicago, part of the Chicago South Side and a small portion of the southeast side of Chicago. (map). He has served the 2nd district since winning a special election on December 12, 1995 to fill the seat vacated by Mel Reynolds and is the Democratic son of activist and former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson. His wife, Sandi Jackson, serves on the Chicago City Council. He serves as a national co-chairman of the Barack Obama Presidential campaign.^[2]

He was educated at Le Mans Academy, St. Albans School, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Chicago Theological Seminary, and University of Illinois College of Law.^[3] Prior to elective politics Jackson was proactive in international civil rights activism. He participated in his father's presidential campaigns and then in the office of his National Rainbow Coalition. During his time in public office he has co-authored three books, two of them with his father.

Jackson has a consistent liberal record on both social and fiscal issues.^[4] His pet issue is the pursuit of the Proposed Chicago south suburban airport to serve as a third major airport for the Chicago metropolitan area. He has been a very active Democratic spokesperson for other Democratic candidates and a popular interviewee and broadcast media guest. Although Jackson is viewed as a liberal like his father, he is perceived differently, as more moderate and low key. In his 40% white district, he has generated broad based support which has repeatedly earned him re-election by wide 5-to-1 and 10-to-1 margins.^[5] Jackson is considered less brash than his father, and he has developed a reputation for good manners, decorum and propriety.^[6]

Although he has been shown support and encouragement by former United States Senator and former United States Vice President Al Gore, he has not been a strong supporter of Gore's. In Illinois, he has become a strong political ally of Senator Obama's while having an antagonistic relationship with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Although a Daley faction blocked his bid for a seat on the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which would have helped him sway support of his pet airport project, he earned support for a seat on the United States House Committee on Appropriations, where he has served since the 106th United States Congress.

Contents 1 Early experience 2 Political career 2.1 Early years 2.2 1995 Election 2.3 Early Congress career 2.4 2000 Elections 2.5 2001-2006 2.5.1 Legislative 2.5.2 Political 2.5.3 Other activities 2.6 2006-7 Mayoral race 2.7 2006 and beyond 2.7.1 Legislative 2.7.2 Political 2.8 Committee Assignments 3 Personal life 4 Election results 4.1 Primaries 5 Notes 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Early experience

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, he is one of five children of Jesse and Jacqueline Jackson:^[7] Jackson was raised in the Jackson Park Highlands District of the South Shore community area on the South Side of Chicago.^[8][9] Santita is the oldest; Jesse Jr. is two years younger; Jonathan follows him by one year; Yusef and Jacqueline are five and ten years younger than Jonathan.^[10] He attended Nursery school at the University of Chicago and, like all of his siblings, attended the John J. Pershing Public Elementary School.^[8] One of the earliest memories of "Jesse Jr." was a speech given at the age of five from a milk crate at the Operation PUSH headquarters.^[11] He says that he was reared more by his mother, Jacqueline, although his father gave him lots of advice through the years. His father was often courting the next opportunity to get in front of the television camera according to some accounts and so his time with his father was often on his way to the next meeting.^[12]

He and his brother Jonathan were sent to LeMans Military Academy after Jackson was determined to be hyperactive. He was often paddled for disciplinary reasons during his time as a cadet.^[11][13] Jacqueline wanted both boys to go to St. Albans to spend more time with their father who was very active in Washington. Although Jonathan decided to attend Whitney Young High School, a magnet school in Chicago, Jackson moved to Washington.^[11] Biographical content in A More Perfect Union: Advancing New American Rights explains that the four-year foreign language requirement at St. Albans necessitated Jackson repeating the ninth grade and that he was suspended from school twice.^[14] According to younger brother Yusef, Jesse was responsible for changing several rules at the St. Albans dorms.^[11] He was an all-state running back on his football team in high school and his play got him into the February 13, 1984 issue of Sports Illustrated as part of their Faces In The Crowd section, which noted him for his 15 touchdowns, 889 rushing yards, and 7.2 yards per carry in six games.^[15] This issue is notable as the 1984 Swimsuit Issue.^[16] Then Jackson followed in his father's footsteps by attending North Carolina A&T where his father had been quarterback, class president and the successful suitor of Jacqueline.^[11] He took classes every summer,^[17] and he earned his Bachelor of Science degree magna cum laude from North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1987.^[18] He received his college diploma along with his brother Jonathan in 1988 in a year where his father as a Presidential candidate was a speaker.^[19] He decided to follow his father's advice and experience a seminary education at the Hyde Park based Chicago Theological Seminary, where he earned his master's degree a year early but opted not to become ordained.^[11] In 1989, he earned his M.A. from the Chicago Theological Seminary in Chicago. He then earned a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1993.^[20] Jackson proceeded to law school at the University of Illinois and convinced his future wife to transfer there from the Georgetown University Law Center. Jackson never sat for the bar exam despite finishing his coursework a semester early.^[11]

[edit] Political career

[edit] Early years

Jackson claims that at the age of 16 he rallied support for the air traffic controllers during the Air traffic controllers' strike of 1981.^[21] As a teenager, Jackson and his brother Jonathan, were involved in his father's international civil rights activities.^[22] During the 1984 Democratic Primaries, the three Jackson brothers sometimes made appearances together.^[23] While in college, Jackson held a voter registration drive that registered 3,500 voters on a campus with 4,500 students.^[17] Then during the 1986 United States House of Representatives elections he attempted to support the return to office of Robin Britt, but first-term Congressman Howard Cable won re-election by less than 100 votes.^[17][24] His first job after graduation wa as an executive director for the Rainbow Coalition.^[25]

Jackson, Jr. was again involved in his father's campaigning during the 1988 Democratic Primaries.^[26] In 1988, in the dealings between Jesse Jackson and Michael Dukakis at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, Jackson, Jr. was named an at-large member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) by a nomination from Democratic Party Chairman Paul Kirk.^[27][28] At the convention, the elder Jackson had himself introduced at the podium by all five of his children, including Jr.^[29] Jackson, Jr. was the last of the five children and introduced his father with the words "a man who fights against the odds, who lives against the odds, our dad, Jesse Jackson."^[10] At the time, in Time magazine, Margaret Carlson depicted the younger Jackson as a well-spoken and compelling personality who would likely carry any of his father' political aspirations that his father was unable to achieve himself.^[30] His experience with the DNC gave him the opportunity to work on numerous congressional election races.^[31] After the convention he also became a Vice President of Operation PUSH.^[32]

Jackson's earliest public controversy came when he was linked to Nigerian drug trafficker Pius Ailemen. Ailemen was suppose to be Jackson's best man at his 1991 wedding, but canceled at the last minute due to supposed passport-related issues. Jackson's name and pictures were included in San Francisco, California press accounts of the arrest, which resulted from a Federal Bureau of Investigation investigation.^[33] The investigation and court procedings extended for several years. The wiretap included many conversations between the two and financial records indicate that Ailemen had purchased an Alfa Romeo using a $13,000 charge on Jackson's credit card.^[34] Ailemen was sentenced to 292 months in jail.^[35] In 2003, Ailemen was denied petition for a writ of certiorari.^[36]

Jackson, Jr. spent his twenty-first birthday in a jail cell in Washington, DC following his participation in demonstrations against apartheid at the South African Embassy.^[21][37] It was not his first time being arrested for apartheid protest activity around his birthday: he was arrested with his father and brother the year before.^[38] His protest against apartheid extended to weekly demonstrations in front of the South African Consulate in Chicago. Jackson shared the stage with Nelson Mandela when Mandela made his historic speech following his release from a 27-year imprisonment in Cape Town in February 1990.^[18] Before entering the House, he became secretary of the Democratic National Committee’s Black Caucus, the national field director of the National Rainbow Coalition and a member of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.^[20] Jackson, Jr. served as the national field director of the Rainbow Coalition from 1993 to 1995.^[39] Under Jackson's leadership, the Rainbow Coalition attempted to stimulate equitable hiring in the National Basketball Association because while 78% of the league's players were African American, 92% of the front-office executive positions 88% of the administrative jobs and 85% of the support positions held by Caucasians.^[40] While serving as the field director for the National Rainbow Coalition, he registered millions of new voters through a newly instituted national non-partisan program. He also created a voter education program to teach citizens the importance of participating in the political process.^[18] He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is also a founding board member of the Apollo Alliance.

[edit] 1995 Election

Sandi envisioned Jackson running for the 2nd congressional district seat in the Spring 1996 primary election.^[11] His father felt he should obtain experience at the local level as an alderman, Illinois State Senator or Illinois State Representative.^[42] Therefore, Jackson Sr. approached Alice J. Palmer with a deal where they supported her for Congress and she support Junior for her seat in the Illinois State Senate, but Jackson Jr. did not agree with that plan.^[11] He felt if Patrick Kennedy was ready at age 26, then at age 30 he was ready.^[42] After seeking approval from former Democratic National Committee Chairman and Chicagoan David Wilhelm, he decided to run for the seat. Palmer ran and endorsed Barack Obama for her old seat.^[11]

When Mel Reynolds, who was later convicted on sex misconduct charges, announced his resignation from the Congress on September 1, 1995, Jackson's name was (along with Palmer) one of the first names to surface as a replacement.^[43][44] On September 10, 1995, Jackson officially announced his candidacy.^[45] Five Democrats, including Illinois State Senate minority leader Emil Jones, and four Republicans competed in November 29, 1995 party primaries for the party nominations in the December 12, 1995 general election.^[46][47] Jones was endorsed by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.^[11] In addition to Jones, Jackson's toughest competitor, the Democratic field included Illinois State Senator Alice Palmer, Illinois State Representative Monique Davis and businessman John Morrow.^[46] Jackson used a combination of multimedia targeted marketing and an army of family members to deliver his positive campaign messages.^[41] He also registered thousands of new voters.^[41] Jackson received no endorsements from the downtown daily newspapers (Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and the black daily, Chicago Defender), but was endorsed by the Citizen, Daily Southtown Markham, Illinois mayor, Evans Miller, and one local labor organization.^[48]

As part of his campaign he was the only candidate to embrace the third Chicago airport proposal being championed by Jim Edgar at the time.^[41] The proposed airport in Peotone, Illinois was in Will County and was outside of the congressional district (which then was entirely contained in Cook County), but with thousands of jobs that would result nearby, his region would be a large beneficiary.^[21] Jackson estimates the airport could bring the region nearly a quarter million jobs and with the multiplier effect on the economy the region would benefit by a half million jobs.^[49]

One of Jackson's most lasting memories from his first election came during a bipartisan televised debate. During Jackson's positive campaign, he had emphasized that his district would be better off keeping Jones in office at the state capital in Springfield and sending Jackson to Washington. Jones said that being a politician took more than crowd pleasing and rhyming. At the time, Chicago Bulls had just traded the popular B. J. Armstrong and Michael Jordan was playing minor league baseball. Jackson memorably stated, "I am not running against Emil Jones. I am trying to build a stronger team. B.J. should have never been traded; M.J. should have stayed in basketball; E.J. should stay in Springfield; and J.J. should be sent to Congress."^[50]

Jackson won the democratic party primary and since the district is overwhelmingly Democratic, he was the favorite for the special general election.^[46] The manner in which he won was interesting because although he lost two of the eleven city wards and three of the six townships, he won all the highest voter turnout regions (two largest townships and five largest wards) except the 34th ward, which was Jones' home base.^[41] The day after winning the primary, he received a congratulatory phone call from United States Vice President Al Gore who had also won his first election (representing Tennessee in the House of Representatives) in the shadow of his father, Albert Gore, Sr. who had represented Tennessee in Congress.^[41]

On the eve of the election, Gore attended a Jackson address.^[51] Jackson was campaigning in a district where his father was well-known.^[46] During this campaign, his lone controversy was the fact that his salary as field director the Rainbow Coalition had been subsidized by the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, which was accused by a Senate investigating committee of having ties to organized crime.^[46] Jackson won the general election against Republican Thomas Somer (76 percent to 24 percent).^[52][39][53] The victory had been widely anticipated.^[54] Upon his victory, Jackson made it known he would be a liberal voice in opposition to Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich,^[51] and he was sworn in by Gingrich on December 15, 1995 before being introduced to the House by long-time Chicago congressman Sidney Yates.^[55] Jackson was perceived as less charismatic than his father and less credentialed than the Rhodes Scholar Reynolds, but his family pedigree was expected to help him open the doors that would enable him to serve the needs of his constituents effectively.^[47][39] In August 1996, Somer withdrew from a rematch leaving Jackson with no major party opposition.^[56] As a result, Jackson received 94% of the vote in the general election.^[57]

Upon his election, Jackson announced his aspirations for his constituents: "I too have a dream...that one day the South Side of Chicago and the south suburbs will look like the North Side of Chicago and the northwest suburbs." —Jackson, 1996[56]

After being elected in the special general election, Jackson was one of many congressional politicians who received a donation from John Huang. Jackson's donation was unexplained. Many recipients felt compelled to return the donations as a scandal erupted involving the true source of the funds.^[58] Eventually there was an Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Department of Justice interrogation of Mr. Huang concerning irregularities which seemed to relate to Jackson and Bill Clinton.^[59]

[edit] Early Congress career

As a freshman congressman, Jackson quickly earned a reputation for his manners and decorum.^[6] Even when Jackson takes issue with the status quo, his deference to rules, political decorum, parliamentary procedure and personal principals shows through.^[60][6] Jackson's popularity on Capitol Hill also manifested itself very quickly. In his first nine months in office, he began to rival his father as a requested visitor to congressional districts with 36 requests from congressional colleagues. He was quickly immersed in efforts to help fellow Democrats on the campaign trail,^[61] where he is typically sent on the "black circuit" without any notification to the press.^[12] He was even chosen to represent congress during a special week of television gameshow Jeopardy!^[62] In 1997, when Newsweek mentioned him in their list of 100 people to watch in the new century, dubbed "the Century Club", they praised both his oratorical skills and his popularity in Congress. They also raised the question of whether he would be the first black President.^[63] During the Clinton administration, Jackson voiced concern over patterns of compromising with the Republicans too often and voted in dissent on several notable bills that were the products of such compromise.^[21] Jackson quickly attempted to parlay his popularity into a seat on the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure using the leverage of his ability to perform voter registration drives.^[64] By late 1996, it was speculated that if Carol Mosley-Braun agreed to drop out of the 1998 United States Senate elections, as she was being pressured to do for her support of controversial Nigerian military leader and politician Sani Abacha, that Jackson would consider running.^[65]

Jackson had some controversial interactions with Jewish leaders in his early years in office. In 1996, his message of unity and cooperation with the Jews was met with skepticism.^[66] In 1997, New York City Mayoral candidates Al Sharpton and Ruth Messinger had engaged in bickering about Louis Farrakhan's remarks about Judaism and Jews after Jackson commented on the issue in a way that was not favorably received.^[67] Nonetheless, Jackson remained a popular speaker, making 30 appearances for Democratic Congressional candidates in 1998 according to Minority Leader, Dick Gephart.^[68]

Much of Jackson's political ideology became clear to the public based on his early press appearances. Jackson developed a style in which he has focused his discussion on the economic impact of actions.^[5] He has believed that the majority of racial debate is about economics, which is better framed in terms of employment, growth, and the economy.^[12] Jackson preferred direct aid to trade reform as a method of helping impoverished nations such as those of the sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean Basin. He feared relaxed trade regulations will have perverse economic incentives that benefit big business more than the needy and that it may even lead to exploitation of labor.^[69][70] The bill on this issue, which was sponsored by Charles Rangel,^[68] eventually became the African Growth and Opportunity Act and divided the 36-person Congressional Black Caucus with Jackson leading the 14 dissenting members.^[71] He is also an opponent of incentives for corporations to invest in developing nations.^[72] Jackson's objected to the aforementioned bill in part because it would not motivate adherence to internationally recognized core labor rights and proposed his own bill that "provided debt relief, worker rights and duty-free, quota-free access to the United States market for clothing made of African cloth".^[73] He was outspoken on issues of minority hiring in industries such as information technology.^[74]

At the time of the Impeachment of Bill Clinton at the beginning of 1999, Jackson was a proponent of having Clinton testify under oath to the American people. Jackson was also an opponent of investing Social Security money in the stock market at the same time.^[75]

Jackson was born four days after Bloody Sunday, a significant day in the civil rights movement, and quickly built a track record of never missing a floor vote.^[21][68] Once he nearly missed his great-grandmothers funeral for a roll call, but by the good graces of the presiding officer was able to keep his record perfect with the help of a slight delay in closing the roll.^[21] When he does vote and debate he does so with a contentiousness that makes it difficult to view him as a team player according to Charles Rangel.^[68] Jackson has not only developed foes in the House, but also Mayor Daley has had a hand in several attempts to block Jackson such as objecting to both his committee seating and his doing a Chicago talk show, and Rush Limbaugh and the right-wing talk show hosts have targeted him.^[68] Daley has also been an opponent of the third Chicago airport which would diminish O'Hare International Airport.^[68]

Jackson's district was 65% black as well as one-third suburban when he first assumed it responsibility for it and many of the suburban constituents had moved from the city.^[12] After the 2002 redistricting following the 2000 Census, Jackson's resulting 650,000-constituent district remains predominately black.^[76] Jackson has established a hard core liberal voting record on both social and fiscal issues,^[4][11] and he has not been seriously challenged since his first election.^[77] Because of his name recognition and liberal track record, Jackson is besieged with public speaking requests, television appearance request, and requests for political commentary on issues of current affairs and liberal causes, and although he declines many, he recognizes his roles is to propagate his liberal message.^[21]

[edit] 2000 Elections

In 1998, Gore attempted to be as good to the Jackson family as possible with an eye on the 2000 elections. He noted that his actions were intended to keep the elder Jackson from causing minorities to support other candidates, including himself if he decided to run. Gore even advised and campaigned for Jackson, Jr. on a trip to Chicago and issued instructions to his aides to create the "Vice Presidential effect" in Jackson's district.^[78] By December 1999, Jackson, Jr. was displeased with and critical of each potential Democratic nominees (Hillary Clinton, Gore and Bill Bradley) who were not as liberal as he would like.^[79]

At the 2000 Democratic National Convention, Jackson was notable for his lackluster support for Democratic Presidential nominee Al Gore.^[80][81] Jackson, Jr., a representative of the left wing of the Democratic Party, endorsed the Gore/Joseph I. Lieberman ticket as a matter of pragmatism despite its disconcerting centrist policies, because he feared the Bush/Dick Cheney ticket and felt even the disillusioned should avoid the Ralph Nader Green Party option. The elder Jackson agreed and compared his endorsement of Gore with intaking castor oil.^[82] At this convention, Jesse Jackson, Sr. gave a memorable introduction for Jesse Jackson, Jr.^[83] Despite the tepid support from Jackson, Jr., he was still considered a likely United States Secretary of Education in the event of a Gore Presidency.^[84]

Jackson won reelection in the 2000 House of Representatives elections by a 90–10 margin over Robert Gordon.^[85] When George W. Bush seemed destined to become United States President after the tumultuous United States Presidential Election, 2000, Jackson, one of Bush's harshest critics, realized that despite having only received 8% of the Black vote, Bush was going to attempt to court the black vote rather than pay it some sort of retribution. As word spread that Bush intended to appoint both Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice and a third unnamed black to the United States Cabinet, Jackson recognized very quickly that Republican leaders such as Newt Gingrich had expressed the sentiment that the Republicans could achieve political dominance with a 15% share of the Black vote and would for this reason probably attempt to curry favor with the blacks by making favorable appointments.^[86] Jackson was one of the liberal leaders who was at the National Press Club meetings to plot strategy after Bush actually assumed control.^[87]

[edit] 2001-2006

[edit] Legislative

First partnering with Henry Hyde, Jackson has been trying to pursue the Proposed Chicago south suburban airport since he assumed office.^[12] Jackson referred to the Republican Hyde as the right wing complement to his own left wing role in pursuing support for the airport.^[88] The 3rd Chicago airport has been supported by Illinois Governors Edgar, George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich.^[11] The efforts to promote the proposed airport had sputtered for twenty years before Jackson got involved. Then in June 4, 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration authorized a master plan.^[89] Jackson has withheld support for local Democrats who would not support the airport, such as 1998 Democratic Illinois Governor nominee Glenn Poshard.^[90][68]

In 2004 Jackson, stood behind the Ho-Chunk tribe's proposal for a casino within his district in Lynwood, Illinois. The proposal was to build the largest casino in the state as part of an entertainment complex. Local residents who fear the change to the neighborhood had contested the plan, but Lynwood Mayor at the time supported by the plan because of the prospect of new job creation. The Ho-Chunk tribe has already build numerous casinos in Wisconsin.^[91] Also in 2004, Jackson was one of the politicians that Meg Whitman met with in an effort to ensure that internet sales continue to be free of sales tax.^[92] He also noted his support for granting Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion in boxing, a presidential pardon.^[93]

In 2005, Jackson along with co-sponsor John Kerry wrote and shepherded a bill designating $370,000 for the design, creation and acquisition of a life-size statue of Rosa Parks (who died October 24, 2005) to be placed in Statuary Hall at the United States Capitol. The bill was signed by President Bush on December 1, 2005 with funds earmarked for use prior to December 1, 2007.^[94][95] Parks' statue will be the first commission of a full-sized statue authorized and funded by the U.S. Congress since the 1870s.^[96] Parks will become the first black woman to have a statue in Statuary hall.^[95] On March 11, 2008, the National Endowment for the Arts announced that they would manage a design competition for the statue and that the Chrysler Foundation would support the competitions with a $100,000 grant.^[96]

Jackson has been very active in funding AIDS service organizations through congress in support of efforts by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People following moves by the Congressional Black Caucus.^[97]

[edit] Political

During the 2002 Democratic primary for Jackson's 2nd District congressional seat, Jackson claimed that Illinois State Senator William Shaw, who would later become Dolton Mayor, and his brother, Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Robert Shaw, had planted a bogus candidate in the primary race. The claim was that they selected 68-year-old retired Robbins truck driver, "Jesse L. Jackson", as an opponent in order to confuse voters and derail the congressman's re-election campaign.^[98][99] Although no criminal wrongdoing was found, the Jackson from Robbins withdrew his candidacy after the unexpected death of his wife was followed by his 19-year-old grandson's death during football tryouts at Northern Illinois University.^[100]

In 2001, the Federal Election Commission ruled that Jackson could hire his wife on his campaign payroll. The ruling stated that relatives can be employed as long as they were compensated "no more than the fair market value" for their services. Many other lawmakers have made similar arrangements without contacting the FEC for a ruling. When House Majority Leader Tom Delay was charged with ethical infractions, matters such as these came to light.^[101]

When Jackson decided not to run in the 2004 United States Senate election, he became one of Barack Obama's early supporters.^[102] He also became an early supporter of Howard Dean for the 2004 United States Democratic Presidential nomination.^[103][104] The nomination was a bitter blow to the hopes of Al Sharpton who had hoped for endorsements from both Jackson, Jr. and Jackson, Sr.^[105][106] Jackson's nomination corroborated Al Gore's endorsement of Dean as the most likely of the ten candidates to beat President Bush,^[107] and it came despite two African Americans (Al Sharpton and Carol Mosley Braun, a fellow Illinoisan) in the field.^[108] Jackson was one of nearly three dozen House of Representatives endorsers of Dean.^[109] The 2004 elections contributed to his joint support, with the Congressional Black Caucus, for election reform. He dislikes the way election rules differ across jurisdictions, saying that our country "is founded on the constitutional foundation of 'states' rights'--50 states, 3,067 counties and 13,000 different election jurisdictions, all separate and unequal."^[60] He was one of the 31 who voted in the House not to count the electoral votes from Ohio in the 2004 presidential election.^[110] He also proposed legislation for uniform voting standards that was supported by black leaders.^[111]

Jackson won reelection in the 2004 House of Representatives elections by a wide margin over Stephanie Kennedy Sailor.^[112] In 2005 Jackson supported legislation that gave the United States Federal Court of Appeals jurisdiction over the Terri Schiavo case.^[113] In advance of the 2006 House of Representatives elections, with the 2008 presidential election on the horizon, Jackson was a proponent of having Bill Clinton on the campaign trail. He felt Clinton might help the Democratic candidates reach out toward Black voters.^[114] During the 2006 House of Representatives elections among Jackson's opponents was Libertarian candidate and African-American pastor Anthony Williams who was an opponent of immigration.^[115]

[edit] Other activities

In December 1999, he co-authored It's About the Money: How You Can Get Out of Debt, Build Wealth, and Achieve Your Financial Dreams.^[116] The book is a self-help book with directions for achieving personal financial independence.^[117] The book is targeted toward people of limited means.^[79] In the fall of 2001, he co-authored Legal Lynching: The Death Penalty and America’s Future, also known as Legal Lynching II.^[118] With coauthors, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Jackson, Jr., and Bruce Shapiro, the anti-death penalty voice was heard very publicly.^[119] The book was published at a time when public opposition to the death penalty was at a historically high level by two of America's most prominent civil rights leaders.^[120] It was a follow up to Legal Lynching: Racism, Injustice and the Death Penalty,^[121] which was released in 1996 by Jackson, Sr. In 2001, Jackson, Jr. authored A More Perfect Union: Advancing New American Rights, with his press secretary, Frank Watkins.^[122] The book outlines his moral and political philosophies, and it provides an autobiographical sketch.^[123] It provides analysis on the link between race and economics from colonial America to the present with a vision for the future.^[124][123] In addition to the analysis, it provides eight proposed constitutional amendments that Jackson sees as essential to pursuit of broader social and economic opportunity.^[125]

In March of 2005, he revealed that he had lost 50 pounds (22.7 kg/3.6 st) due to gastric bypass surgery. In Ebony, Joe Madison revealed that when he and Jackson were on a panel at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation conference he asked Jackson why he looked so different. He stated that Jackson described having undergone a duodenal switch medical procedure that his sister, Santita, had used to lose 200 pounds (90.7 kg/14.3 st) over several years.^[126]

[edit] 2006-7 Mayoral race

Chicago is the largest American city without mayoral term limits,^[127] and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley started his mayoral tenure in 1989.^[128] Jackson is less attracted to the limelight of the media than his father and rarely holds press conferences.^[5] After making a formal announcement in 2006 with a press conference, Jackson was considered a strong potential candidate to oppose Daley in the February 27, 2007 municipal election.^[129] He stated on September 7, 2006 that his final decision would come after election day.^[130] Jackson had built up a more moderate reputation than his father and had support that transcended racial lines.^[129] Jackson views his broad based support as a sign that our nation is advancing to the point where politicians from ethnic minorities can appeal to broad constituencies.^[131]

After more than a decade in the national political spotlight he had maintained an untarnished image, unlike his troubled 2nd district predecessors Mel Reynolds and Gus Savage,^[46] and had challenged Daley on several issues on the local political scene. Jackson has supported the living wage legislation that had been hotly contested in the Chicago City Council, and he has been an ardent backer of the long-proposed third Chicago airport in Peotone, Illinois, placing him at odds with Daley on both issues.^[129] He also railed against Daley over a trucking contract scandal involving city workers' collecting payoffs.^[5] At the time, the Mayor had recently exercised the first veto in his seventeen year mayoral term to thwart a big box retailer city minimum wage bill from the City Council despite the bill's public popularity.^[132]

There were always doubts about the seriousness of Jackson's interest in the Mayors office.^[5] On November 8, 2006, Jackson reported that he would not pursue a 2007 mayoral campaign in Chicago:

“

[...] as you know Democrats are now poised to take control of the Congress for the first time in my eleven year career. More than any time since I took my initial oath of office, I am excited, I am eager, and I am downright giddy about the prospects of being in Washington. Washington will be the place to be in the next two years, and maybe even the foreseeable future. For me this means an unprecedented opportunity to help lead this country in a new and a better direction and to help serve my constituents, my hometown of Chicago and my state of Illinois. So I will not be a candidate for the mayor of the city of Chicago in 2007.[133]

”

[edit] 2006 and beyond

[edit] Legislative

Emancipation Hall Bill Images
	Zach Wamp, George W. Bush & Jackson at White House (2007-12-18) Zach Wamp & Jackson at Emancipation Hall (2007-12-18) Emancipation Hall Bill Signing Day
	Wamp & Jackson at House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing for Emancipation Hall (2007-09-25)

Jackson and Zach Wamp were spokespersons for the changing the name of the main hall of the United States Capitol Visitor Center from the Great Hall to Emancipation Hall. The Library of Congress's main hall was already designated Great Hall. Some had wanted further feedback on naming possibilities, but the United States House Committee on Appropriations approved the proposed new name.^[134] On November 13, 2007, the House of Representatives approved the renaming of the Hall in a roll call vote that was requested by Eleanor Holmes Norton.^[135] The name is symbolic of the struggle against slavery, and the contribution of slaves in building the Capitol.^[135] Dianne Feinstein is a co-sponsor of the companion legislation in the Senate.^[135]

Jackson has continued to pursue support for the eight constitutional amendments outlined in his book A More Perfect Union. Jackson has been proposing the eight amendments since the 107th United States Congress when the Public Education amendment (H.J.RES.31) obtained 29 co-sponsors and the Health Care amendment obtained 10 (H.J.RES.29). In the 108th United States Congress all of the amendments had co-sponsors, and those with the most were the Right to Vote (H.J.RES.28) with 45, the Public Education of Equal High Quality (H.J.RES.29) with 37, Health Care of Equal High Quality (H.J.RES.30) with 35. Support peaked in the 109th United States Congress with 61, 35 and 35 co-sponsors respectively for these same amendments. On February 13, 2007, he proposed the eight amendments again in the 110th United States Congress; the amendment regarding the right to vote has accumulated 51 co-sponsors, and was referred to the United States House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties on March 1, 2007.^[136] The amendment regarding the right of citizens of the United States to health care of equal high quality (H.J.RES.30) also has a few sponsors.

Jackson is one of the progressive leaders who supports a fixed timetable for Iraq troop withdrawals.^[137] In 2007, he has also co-sponsored (along with Roy Blunt), legislation providing nearly $1 million dollars to each family the lost someone to the al-Qaida activities in the 1998 United States embassy bombings.^[138]

In 2007 Jackson voiced an interest in having Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi initiate impeachment proceedings against the President Bush for "crimes against the Constitution of the United States."^[139]

[edit] Political

Jackson feels that America has moved forward, based in large part on his own experiences where he has seen political rhetoric change its tone in Chicago. He had felt that then-incumbent congressman Harold Ford who was running for reelection would overcome the Bradley effect in the 2006 Tennessee Senate election.^[140] Jackson represents a state that has elected Carol Mosley-Braun as the first black female senator and Barack Obama as a senator. He also serves in a city where over the last thirty years Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan have replaced Al Capone as the personalities most closely associated with the city.^[141] Although Jackson’s experiences may have seemed unique to his environment, Ford lost by the same slim margin predicted by advance polling that accurately accounted for the percentage of white voters indicating their predisposition.^[142] Several other 2006 biracial contests saw pre-election polls predict their respective elections' final results with similar accuracy.^[143]

In the February 27, 2007 Chicago municipal elections, Jackson's wife, Sandi Jackson, won the election for Alderman in Chicago's 7th ward.^[144] Also, in February 2007, Barack Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.^[145] In March 2007, Jackson became an early Barack Obama supporter in his presidential bid,^[146] and he serves as a national co-chairman of the Barack Obama Presidential campaign.^[2] As such, he is involved in garnering support from the superdelegates.^[147] During the campaign, he provided the voice for some advertisements such as one South Carolina radio ad in which he said: "Once, South Carolina voted for my father, and sent a strong message to the nation,...Next year, you can send more than a message. You can launch a president.'"^[148] When describing Obama he stated that "Barack Obama is not speaking as a friend of the community; he's part of the community...He doesn't always tell people what they want to hear. He tells them what they need to hear.'"^[148]

Jackson has a lengthy relationship with Barack Obama. Barack's Illinois State Senate 13th district that he served from January 8, 1997 – November 4, 2004 was within Jackson's Congressional district. Now, the role is reversed with Jackson's 2nd district within Obama's statewide United States Senate jurisdiction. The two have collaborated on issues, stood together against the party slate on certain reform-minded candidates and sought each other’s advice. Additionally, Jackson's sister Santita was a close friend of Michelle Obama and served as a bridesmaid at the Obama wedding.^[149] Despite their shared name, the younger Jackson has taken great pains to establish his political and philosophical differences from his father. For example, when in 2008 Jackson Sr. wrote an op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times attacking presidential candidate Barack Obama for his lack of activist involvement,^[150] Jackson Jr. responded sharply in the same paper with a defense of Obama.^{[151][152][149]}

[edit] Committee Assignments

When Jackson entered Congress, he sought a seat on the United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in order to shepherd the third Chicago Airport. However, allies of Mayor Daley, such as Illinois' 3rd congressional district Congressman Bill Lipinski,^[11] blocked his nomination and he was relegated to the United States House Committee on Financial Services.^[68] During the 106th United States Congress, Dick Gephart supported his seating on the United States House Committee on Appropriations.^[21]

• Appropriations Committee
  • Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, vice chair

Jackson was also appointed to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission in 2003 by the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives.^[18][153]

[edit] Personal life

Jackson is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. In 2006, when Jackson became a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Nu Pi Chapter, the Illinois House of Representatives issued a congratulatory resolution to his father.^[154] Jesse Sr. is also a member of the Omega fraternity.^[155] Jackson, Jr. delivered the keynote address to the fraternity at the November 18, 2006 Founder's Day gathering.^[155] He is also affiliated with the Theta Epsilon Chapter.^[156]

Jackson met press secretary for United States Congressman Mickey Leland, Sandi Stevens, his future and current wife, during the 1988 Presidential campaign.^[157] After her first year at Georgetown University Law Center, the couple decided public schooling was more affordable and jointly enrolled at the University of Illinois College of Law. While still law students, the couple got married on June 1, 1991.^[33] Jackson and Sandi now have two children, Jesse III ("Tre") and Jessica and keep two homes. They own one in the South Shore community area,^[11] which is within both the 2nd district that Congressman Jackson represents in the United States House of Representatives and within the seventh ward that his wife, Alderman Sandi Jackson, represents on the Chicago City Council. The South Shore home serves as an election base for himself and candidates he has supported, for which he claims a 13–0 record in public elections.^[11] They also own a home in Dupont Circle in Washington, DC, which serves as the family home and base for his service in Congress.^[11]

Jackson acknowledges that he has had the benefits of privilege and opportunity and says that his hobbies include fencing, hunting and fishing, especially salmon fishing.^[5][51] He often enjoys these hobbies in bipartisan friendships that include Dick Armey and regarded the late Republican Rep. Henry Hyde as one of his closest friends.^[5] In fact, Armey points to Jackson as an example of his ability to work with politicians at all ends of the political spectrum.^[158] Jackson also has a very good relationship with Republican United States President George W. Bush despite their sharp ideological differences.^[159] The relationship traces back to when Jackson Sr. and United States President-Elect George H. W. Bush met to discuss a range of issues while Jackson Jr. and his siblings Santita and Jonathan had an hour and a half luncheon with future president George W.^[160] He also developed a relationship with Bill and Hillary Clinton that enabled him to watch Super Bowl XXXIII at Camp David with them.^[75]

Jackson is a martial arts enthusiast,^[161] who practices Tae Kwon Do and Kung Fu.^[162] On August 1, 2007, Jackson got into a verbal disagreement with Rep. Lee Terry, a Republican from Nebraska on the House floor. Jackson stated in floor debate that "Republicans can't be trusted" and Terry responded with "shut up" before approaching Jackson. Jackson then spoke profanities and challenged Terry to step outside, presumably for a physical fight. Steve Rothman helped avoid escalation to actual physical confrontation.^[163] Martial artists throughout the Omaha, Nebraska area (Terry's district) called to inquire about Jackson's mindset and intentions.^[162] Jackson says Terry was the instigator.^[162] Terry says Jackson was at fault, but the two shook hands the next day and agreed to move forward in the interest of their constituents.^[164] However, a week later an unidentified man who claimed to be a Jackson relative walked into Terry's Omaha office saying he was Jackson's hitman who had come to beat up Terry, which led to FBI involvement.^[165] Although the story was covered in the Washington Post, and Omaha World-Herald, neither the Chicago Tribune nor the Chicago Sun-Times covered any part of the story.^[166]

[edit] Election results

Illinois Congressman results: 1995–2006

Year	Democrat	Votes	Pct	Republican	Votes	Pct	Libertarian	Votes	Pct
1995*[167]	Jesse Jackson, Jr.	43,333	74.2%	Thomas Somer	15,076	25.8%
1996[168]	Jesse Jackson, Jr.	172,648	94.1%				Frank Stratman	10,880	5.9%
1998[169]	Jesse Jackson, Jr.	148,985	89.4%	Robert Gordon III	16,075	9.6%	Matthew Beauchamp	1,608	1.0%
2000[170]	Jesse Jackson, Jr.	175,995	89.8%	Robert Gordon III	19,906	10.2%
2002[171]	Jesse Jackson, Jr.	151,443	82.3%	Doug Nelson	32,567	17.7%
2004[172]	Jesse Jackson, Jr.	207,535	88.5%				Stephanie Sailor	26,990	11.5%
2006[173]	Jesse Jackson, Jr.	146,347	84.8%	Robert Belin	20,395	11.8%	Anthony Williams	5,748	3.3%

*93% of precincts

[edit] Primaries

November 29, 1995 General Democratic Primary:

Jones	38,865	38.2%
Palmer	9,260	9.1%
Jackson	50,600	49.7%
Davis	2,742	2.7%
Morrow	319	0.3%

March 19, 1996 General Primary:

JACKSON, JR. (Dem)	60,923
SOMER (Rep)	6,558

1998-present results from Illinois State Board of Elections:^[77]

March 17, 1998 General Primary:

JACKSON, JR. (Dem)	79,297
GORDON III (Rep)	7,526
BEAUCHAMP (Libt)	16
WINDISCHMAN III (Libt)	3

March 21, 2000 General Primary:

JACKSON, JR. (Dem)	67,784
GORDON III (Dem)	4

March 19, 2002 General Primary:

JACKSON, JR. (Dem)	100,370
NELSON (Rep)	10,494
CHRISTIAN-WILLIAMS (Dem)	11,757
WILLIAMS (Dem)	5,501

March 16, 2004 General Primary:

JACKSON JR. (Dem)	106,506	88.5%
REYNOLDS (Dem)	7,103	5.9%
WILLIAMS (Dem)	5,159	4.3%
SHUMPERT (Dem)	1,516	1.3%

March 21, 2006 General Primary:

BELIN (Rep)	3,829
SCHUG (Rep)	2,729
JACKSON, JR. (Dem)	90,656
WILLIAMS (Libt)	12

February 2, 2008 General Primary:

JACKSON, JR. (Dem)	149,760

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

Jackson, Jesse L., Jr., with Frank E. Watkins, A More Perfect Union: Advancing New American Rights.., ISBN 1-56649-186-X, Welcome Rain Publishers: New York, 2001.

[edit] External links

• U.S. Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. - official House site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
• Jesse Jackson Jr.'s profile at Congressional Black Caucus
• Jesse Jackson Jr.'s profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
• Jesse Jackson, Jr. - official campaign site
• extensive early career biography

Articles

• Buzzflash Interview: Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. - December 30, 2002
• Jackson Jr., Jesse The Right to Vote, The Nation, January 19, 2006.

Political offices
Preceded by Mel Reynolds	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 2nd congressional district 1995–Present	Succeeded by Incumbent

v • d • e Illinois's current delegation to the United States Congress Senators Richard Durbin (D), Barack Obama (D) Representative(s) Bobby Rush (D), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D), Dan Lipinski (D), Luis Gutiérrez (D), Rahm Emanuel (D), Peter Roskam (R), Danny Davis (D), Melissa Bean (D), Jan Schakowsky (D), Mark Kirk (R), Jerry Weller (R), Jerry Costello (D), Judy Biggert (R), Bill Foster (D), Tim Johnson (R), Donald Manzullo (R), Phil Hare (D), Ray LaHood (R), John Shimkus (R) State delegations Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming Non-voting delegations American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands

Persondata
NAME	Jesse Louis Jackson, Jr.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	United States Congressman from Illinois
DATE OF BIRTH	March 11, 1965
PLACE OF BIRTH	Greenville, South Carolina
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH