I Remember Jesse Jackson
A brief meeting lead to a lifetime memory!
When Greenville, SC native Jesse Jackson was running for president in 1988, I was working at a radio station in Upstate NY. I watched the political news with great interest, and always have since I was a kid. In 1988, my 7-year old daughter, Frances, walked by the TV set many times when a debate or speech or another event was playing. For some reason I never understood, my little girl took a great interest in Rev. Jesse Jackson and his bid for the White House. Frances couldn't have understood much of the political details, but she was somehow a bit mesmerized by Rev. Jackson. One day, I heard at my radio station newsroom that Jackson was making a campaign swing through Central New York. He was stopping at the Binghamton (NY) Airport to hold a press conference. I thought it would be fun to take Frances down to the airport (an hour away) and see if we could catch a glimpse of Jackson. My 7-year old was very excited. She even made a big colorful sign that read "Run, Jesse, Run." Anyways, we got to the airport and the press conference was restricted to press only. Not to be stopped, Frances stood at the runway fence, overturned a pink plastic crate, and held her sign up high in hopes that Jackson would see her. I thought the whole thing was comical, but I was proud of her. Believe it or not, Jackson departed his plane, came down the steps, looked our way and saw Frances' sign! He came over and shook my hand and asked if he could take Frances in for his press conference. I agreed and we both went in with the Secret Service. Jackson came into the airport conference room and sat on a couch with a bunch of microphones in front of him. He called my daughter up and asked her what her name is. "Francie D'Imperio" she said confidently. He asked her sit next to him...which she did for the entire press conference!! At the end he gave her a kiss on the cheek, thanked me for allowing her in, and was gone.
And all that remains of that amazing day is this precious 1988 photo of my little girl and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. May he rest in peace. Such a sweet memory.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson and my 7-year old daughter, Frances.
