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Jackson won't seek presidency in 2000
March 24, 1999 
Jackson announced that he would not make a third bid for the White House in a statement posted on the Web site of his son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Illinois). [http://jessejacksonjr.org] "Money raised and spent to support a campaign for president is money that may never be dedicated to another cause, " he said. " I've got so much work to do. I've got so many issues I want to raise. I've got so many battles left to fight. I simply believe that I can most effectively advance that work, those issues, and these battles outside the context of a presidential campaign. "
Jackson said his "job is not to run for president, but to lead a moral struggle to build a more perfect union." With Jackson declining to run, that leaves Vice President Al Gore and former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley as the only Democrats seeking the 2000 nomination. Other prominent Democrats who have opted out of the 2000 race are Sens. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, John Kerry of Massachusetts and Bob Kerrey of Nebraska and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri. Jackson was to speak to supporters in further detail about his decision at a news conference and luncheon speech later Wednesday in Chicago. The next frontier of civil rightsJackson said the United States is at the leading edge of the next frontier of the civil rights movement and many decisions affecting communities across the nation are made far from the halls of government. "They are made in corporate boardrooms, in the suites of investment bankers, in the offices of pension fund trustees and managers," he said. "These unlikely locales will become the battlegrounds of the future." Jackson cited his efforts to pressure Wall Street to pay more attention to minorities as one way he might be able to do more good outside a race for office. He singled out Apple Computer as an example of a company lacking in minority representation. "I am not fooled when Apple Computer uses the images of Jackie Robinson, Cesar Chavez, and Miles Davis in its advertising campaigns, but fails to include a single African-American or Latino on its board," he said. He said he wants to build investment vehicles that can bridge the gap between Wall Street and places like Appalachia and Harlem. "There is a continuing need for engagement on the political front but let us realize the necessity of full engagement of th finance culture," he said. "The world of capital must be informed by the values of democracy." Jackson also pledged to raise issues in public education, to broaden his focus on public heath issues, to continue his work in Africa as President Bill Clinton's envoy to the continent and to work on voter registration efforts. Jackson wasn't expected to runJackson was not expected to run as he had not begun building an organization needed to run for president nor had he begun raising the money necessary for a bid. Jackson's son had strongly advocated his father joining the race. His father's announcement is likely to bring attention to his son's Web site and raise the profile of what for Jesse Jackson Jr. is the beginning of an ambitious effort to build a grass-roots political organization. He referred to his son several times in his statement. The only other candidate to make an official announcement on the Internet is Republican Steve Forbes, who announced his candidacy last week via his Web site. The 57-year-old Jackson, who calls both Chicago and Washington home, has never held public office but remains one of the country's best-known black political leaders. Previously ran in 1984 and 1988Jackson first ran for president in 1984, winning 3.5 million votes and registering more than 1 million voters. His 1988 candidacy won 7 million votes and registered 2 million new voters. Nearly every presidential election season since has seen him at least contemplate a run. In both his campaigns, he added a distinctively liberal voice to the field and was credited with motivating high black voter turnout in many areas, particularly in the South. In the years since, he has remained visible in the civil rights movement and progressive Democratic politics. Jackson was active in the civil rights movement in the 1960s and he founded Operation PUSH in 1971. He still runs the now-merged Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, a Chicago-based non-profit organization seeking economic and political empowerment for minorities. Jackson also hosts the weekly CNN talk show "Both Sides with Jesse Jackson." Earlier this decade, Jackson served as the District of Columbia's "shadow senator," advocating for statehood and voting representation in Congress for the nation's capital city. The Associated Press contributed to this report. |
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MORE STORIES:Wednesday, March 24, 1999
• Clinton explains attacks to U.S. public • The politics of bombing • U.S. defense secretary: No indication of NATO casualties • Text of House Kosovo resolution • GOP pushes flag burning amendment • Jackson won't seek presidency in 2000 • McDougal says her ex-husband lied about Clinton's Whitewater involvement • Clinton urges Arafat to delay declaration of Palestinian state • Congress voices support for airstrikes, troops • Democrats criticize census bill, Census director criticized • Iran-Contra independent counsel suggests keeping the law • House approves $180 million for its committees • Anti-bigotry measure defeated after contentious House debate • Black-tailed prairie dog to be evaluated for endangered status • House approves $1.3 billion for Central America, farmers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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