[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 172 (Thursday, November 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MELVIN L. WATT

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 19, 2009

  Mr. WATT. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize to honor the 
outstanding achievements of Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
  Twenty-five years ago, Reverend Jackson took an historic step when he 
ran for President of the United States, becoming only the second 
African-American to run for that office. He received over eighteen 
percent of the total Democratic primary vote and won five primaries and 
caucuses.
  The numbers, while impressive, don't begin to convey the broad impact 
of his candidacy. Reverend Jackson motivated millions of new voters to 
register to vote and become engaged in the electoral process. His 
example of hope and achievement reaffirmed the self-worth of an entire 
generation of young African-American men and women. His candidacy was 
not a compromised, watered-down one. It demanded publicly that the 
national political agenda include the issues affecting a ``Rainbow 
Coalition'' of individuals, including African-Americans, Hispanics, 
Arab-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, gays, lesbians, 
farmers, the poor and the working class, and it started a whole new 
public dialogue.
  Reverend Jackson challenged us to think bigger and inspired many 
others to pursue careers in public service. He paved the way for many 
of us in this body to run for political office and laid the foundation 
for the candidacy, nomination and election of President Barack Obama, 
our most recent historic candidacy and election.
  Rev. Jackson's place in American history was legend long before his 
presidential candidacy--through his activism at North Carolina A & T 
University and leadership of civil rights demonstrations in Greensboro, 
North Carolina, his work with Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the 
S.C.L.C. and the formation of Operation PUSH and the Rainbow/PUSH 
Coalition. But his presidential run twenty-five years ago solidified 
his place in history and continues to be an inspiration for all 
Americans today.
  Rev. Jackson, thank you for all that you have done.

                          ____________________