I know Jack Kemp. Well, “know” loosely.
Back in 1996, Kemp headed out on the campaign trail with Bob Dole as Dole’s Vice Presidential pick. For those of you who don’t really remember that time period well, Kemp did for Dole what Palin did for McCain among conservatives — excited a conservative base distrustful of the then Senate Majority Leader.
Never mind the gold standard business. Kemp was tax cuts, liberty, and free enterprise zones.
In the summer of 1996, Kemp came through Macon, Georgia. Being Chairman of the local College Republicans, the Dole-Kemp campaign asked me to drive in the motorcade. In a pre-9/11 world, I got to drive the lead car behind the limo — chief of staff and press secretary in the car.1
Kemp came off the plane aloof and focused. After a few hours riding around in the car, eating at the Bear’s Den (where I’ll have to go this week in his honor), and pounding the pavement downtown, Kemp transformed into one of the guys. He was as nice as he could be — and had I been more mature at the time, I’d have noticed how much trouble he was for Dole too.
Kemp wasn’t afraid to speak his mind and call a dumb idea “dumb.” His press secretary and chief of staff were raising hell because Kemp wouldn’t keep to the talking points, not that they disagreed with him. Kemp wanted to talk freedom — freedom for small business owners like the guys who owned Cassidy’s garage, freedom to go to the school of your choice, freedom in general. It was and is a message that resonates.
I got to chat with Kemp that day and after. He remembered me even though he did not have to. In fact, in 1994, I’d written Kemp to tell him I thought he was misguided on his opposition to California’s Proposition 187. He wrote back and expressed his concerns that the opposition to illegal immigration, which he largely shared, would tarnish legal immigrants. He was adamant in his opposition and argued on grounds of freedom. In any event, in 1996, he remembered me.
I’ve run into Kemp since starting RedState. We are acquaintances, not friends. But growing up overseas in the 80’s, Kemp was one of the guys I followed. He was instrumental in passing Reagan’s freedom expanding tax cuts. It was cool to one day drive in his motorcade and even cooler to know that he knew who I was and knew RedState.
Kemp was a mighty warrior for freedom. We’re losing too many of those these days and not replacing them. I suspect Kemp would have given Jim DeMint’s op-ed in this weekend’s Wall Street Journal a ringing endorsement because Jack Kemp never wavered from the idea that freedom wins.
Hon. Jack French Kemp, Member of the United States House of Representatives for the State of New York, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Republican Vice Presidential Nominee. Requiescat in pace.
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Funny side story here. I called my friend Christy from the mini-van I was driving. “You’ll never guess what I’m doing,” I told her excitedly. “What,” she asked. “Driving in Jack Kemp’s motorcade!,” I proclaimed. “Wow,” Christy replied. “That’s really cool. Who is Jack Kemp?” I deflatedly explained it all to her. About that time, my roommate, who I recruited into also driving, tapped on my window as we were stopped at the Bear’s Den while Jack went in to eat fried chicken.
“Erick,” Brian said. “This is impressive. Is this guy running for office or something?”
A few years later I got the chance to tell Kemp those two stories. He replied, “The Dole camp probably wanted to know if I was running for office too.” And yes, the Christy in this story is now my wife.
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He is from a generation of Republican leaders that will be sorely missed
civil_truth Saturday, May 2nd at 11:28PM EDT (link)Able to articulate and explain conservative principle in a way people could understand, willing to stand up and fight unashamed for his convictions - but wiht integrity and without descending into the gutter, and acting consistently with his beliefs.
So unlike too many of our so-called party “leaders” today.
And Rightly So!
And, I voted for Jack Kemp and his running mate in '96.
mbecker908 Saturday, May 2nd at 11:30PM EDT (link)I really wished Reagan had picked Kemp instead of B41.
15%
Erick Erickson Saturday, May 2nd at 11:34PM EDT (link)For the longest time I kept one of those yellow circles with the 15% written on it from the 1996 campaign on my wall. Kemp signed it that day in Macon.
It was for the 15% tax cut Dole campaigned on that he didn’t want but Kemp insisted on.
Lost that somewhere along the way.
Who will stand on either hand and keep this bridge with me?
Pretty much my same recollection of that election
Darin_H Sunday, May 3rd at 4:08PM EDT (link)Dole, sheesh, only Republican that I can remember that ran a worse campaign than McCain.
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Very sad news indeed, good man!...nt
JadedByPolitics Saturday, May 2nd at 11:55PM EDT (link)…
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
This was sad.
bobojake Sunday, May 3rd at 12:10AM EDT (link)Jack was playing Quarterback for San Diego and I was 18 years old and just graduated from USN Boot Camp in 1962. I got to go out at least twice to Balboa Stadium to watch him play what a thrill then to follow his career.
We lost a good leader, if Jack had been running for President instead of Bob Dole we probably would of won that election. Similar to if we had turned palin loose on obama and the left McCain in the duggout we would be fighting the obama thugs.
A good man is gone
lkdavis Sunday, May 3rd at 12:34AM EDT (link)A straight shooter and a stand-up guy. We don’t have enough of them in government now. His example will be missed.
Interesting parallel you drew
Josh Painter Sunday, May 3rd at 1:10AM EDT (link)between Jack Kemp and Sarah Palin, Erick. There are others. Like Kemp, Palin is an optimist and a happy warrior. I couldn’t help but smile at the recollection of how he gave campaign staffers fits by occasionally departing from the script and speaking his mind. that also brings Palin to mind. Finally, Gov. Palin shares Kemp’s abiding faith in God and his belief in freedom.
Jack Kemp bridged the gap between the Reagan years and the present for many young conservatives. His loss is tempered only by the realization that there is a new generation of Reagan disciples who will carry that great president’s message and preach it to all who will listen. Governors Palin, Jindal and Sanford, as well as Representatives Bachmann, Flake, Hensarling and Pence are just a few of those who were too young to have known Reagan personally, but old enough to have been influenced by Kemp, who kept Reagan’s flame burning brightly.
His family is in my thoughts and prayers.
- JP
“An armed society is a polite society” - Robert A. Heinlein, “Beyond This Horizon” (1942)
Drudge?
Karina Sunday, May 3rd at 5:01AM EDT (link)There isn’t anything about this on Drudge yet. Obama to be on Idol, sure, but nothing on Jack Kemp. I’m very sorry to hear of his passing. He’s one of the last giants that made our party truly “grand”. Our current leaders would go far to emulate his steadfastness, his unwavering belief in our founding fathers, and his unwillingness to compromise on core issues. (Ms. Collins and Ms. Snowe etc). We have much to look forward to including a war to take back our country from the progressives. Each battle of ideas must be fought as he played football; with enthusiasm and with no thought of defeat. For we battle not for the party but for the very soul of America.
Stop confusing me with the facts, I’m making up my own imagination. ~My grandmother who voted for Obama
My dream ticket for 1996 was "JK-squared": Jack Kemp/ Jeane Kirkpatrick
ZootSuit Sunday, May 3rd at 12:17PM EDT (link)Although I had followed his career most of my “conservative” adult life — it should go without mention that Jack Kemp was ADAMANT about getting more African-Americans in the Republican Party — I only personally met him a few years ago. We were both boarding a flight from new York to Washington and he sat down in my (for Erick’s sake, I will add, First Class) seat. I told him he was in my seat and he asked if I would not mind switching: he had a bum right knee and was more comfortable sitting in left aisle seat. So I switched and I sat in the aisle seat across from him.
For such a thoughtful person, Jack Kemp was a gregarious man. I honestly don’t remember how the subject came up but before the plane had left the gate, we were talking about Austrian economics and Ayn Rand. In that short flight it seemed that we talked about everything. He even mentioned a then little known but severely misguided politician named Barack Obama. After the flight, we shook hands and he gave me his contact information.
I cannot say that we stayed in touch over the next year or two but we did send each other information. Truthfully, I do not know if he was more impressed with me for being a Black Republican or for being a disciple of von Hayek and Mises. But I was impressed by his aggressive intellect. The man had a true hunger and thirst for knowledge and was totally dedicated to ideas of freedom and prosperity.
The sad thing is, there are very, very few within the Republican party — indeed, within the conservative movement — who combine the qualities, the depth of thought, the commitment to conservative ideas and the gregarious optimism that draws you in. For that, and for his loss, the Republican Party and the conservative movement are much the worse today.
***** Unrepentant African-American nationalist, Unapologetic African-American conservative!
What a great American!
azletx Sunday, May 3rd at 3:54PM EDT (link)I wish I was just a 1/10th of the man he is and now was !!