alternatehistory.com

April 6th, 1988


Gary Hart was at his desk in his study, looking through internal campaign polling for the Delaware caucuses, set to take place in twelve days. His eyes scanned the pages, but he didn't take any of the knowledge into his mind; it seemed to him that, if his campaign aides were right, there wouldn't be a Delaware caucus at all.


As if on cue, the phone began to ring and Hart grabbed it, anticipating what it might be.


"Is this Gary Hart?" The voice on the other end asked, immediately recognizable. It was Jesse Jackson.


"Yes, and this must be Jesse Jackson." Hart was trying to keep his composure, but excitement was coursing through him, and he tossed the Delaware papers down with such force that a couple other memos flew off his desk.


"So, you have been expecting this call." Jackson said with a laugh. "I think you know what I'm going to say. You must have heard about the press conference that I've called for later today."


"It's been a good race, Jesse. And I am extremely happy that you have enough faith in me to withdraw now. I only hope you will support my campaign fully going forward." Hart was attempting to choose his words carefully, afraid that he may make an overstep and offend Jackson, breaking the concept of cooperation.


"I plan to do just that. I know what kind of man you are and I know what kind of President will you be. How you handled the departure of your wife was nothing short of incredible, and I cannot wait until you are the President of the United States."


"I appreciate that greatly, Jesse." Hart could sense that the process couldn't be that easy.


"There's just one thing, Gary." Jackson began. "When you assemble your cabinet, keep me in mind. That is all I ask."


Hart was relieved that Jackson hadn't requested the Vice Presidency. It would've been a reasonable move by Jackson, but Hart already had someone in mind for the position.


"Well, tell me Jesse: what position do you have your eye on?"


As Jackson told him, a smile appeared on Gary Hart's face, and he could feel a sureness and confidence that he hadn't had before.



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"It is with a heavy heart that I must announce my withdrawal from the Democratic primaries, and my subsequent endorsement of Gary Hart for President of the United States.


Gary Hart is not a perfect candidate. Neither was I. But we are attached by one thing: our goal of bettering this country in the year 1988 and beyond.


This may be the end of the Jackson campaign, but this is not the end of the Jackson movement. The movement lives on in all of us. It lives on in the farmer, the student, and everyone who feels disrespected, disheartened, and misrepresented.


These groups have come out in this cycle in droves. They have voted for me, and they have voted for Gary Hart, and they have also voted for Lee Iacocca. But, what is clear is that they have voted for the Democratic candidates. And I pray that we do not let them down.


I have watched this party grow and change, even since 1984. We have become a party that I can feel proud as a representative as; a party which represents the forgotten among our people. They have not only been forgotten by Reagan, Bush and Quayle, but by the old Democratic Party as well.


This party has grown and it has become more evolved. My respect for Mr. Hart is even greater than it was four years ago. He has shown that he is not only a capable President, but a man of strong convictions and calm, intelligent decision making skills. This is a man who I pray will become President.


I look forward to working closely with Mr. Hart soon, both on the campaign trail but also in the Oval Office. I once believed that 1984 was our time, but I was proven wrong.


I say it again, in the year 1988: this is our year!"


-An excerpt from Jesse Jackson's withdrawal speech