On Election Day, Chicago’s seventh ward Alderman Sandi Jackson, a seasoned political strategist, former campaign manager for several Illinois politicians, and presidential appointee in the Clinton administration, says President-elect Barack Obama’s campaign was both painful and exciting. Painful, because her duties as alderman kept her from participating in the campaign, and exciting because watching the Obama family go from Hyde Park to the White House has been for her a fascinating ride, especially given the close relationship she and husband Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) share with Michelle, Barack, and the girls.
How long have you known Michelle and President-elect Barack Obama?
They were at Jesse and my wedding 17 years ago. Jesse and I were showing the kids our wedding video and there was Michelle and Barack sitting on one of the couches. We got married at Jesse’s parent’s home.
Michelle has been very close to our family. She went to high school with Jesse Jr’s oldest sister Santita. I met Michelle through Santita, and we struck up a friendship from there. She and Barack started dating shortly after I met her; that is how he ended up at our wedding. It’s really funny because we attended their wedding as well. When we looked back at old pictures, we laugh at how young we all looked. We’ve been friends ever since.
The rest of the country is curious to learn more about Michelle Obama. What does she mean to you as a friend?
It’s been a great friendship. I love her so much. She is so no nonsense and the kind of friend that every woman would want to have because she is the kind of girlfriend that gives it to you straight. She says what is on her mind, but she says it in a loving and caring way. I really appreciate and respect that. She is like the big sister that I’ve always wished I had.
Since they are close personal friends, how do you feel about Barack becoming president of the United States and Michelle becoming first lady?
Is this really happening? To have
our state senator become our senator and now our president is incredibly gratifying. I feel very blessed that it did happen to these folks that are good people. They are friends of ours. We know them to be good, sound citizens. They care so much about the community and our country. We just know they are going to do a great job and we know they are the best suited for this day and in this time to carry this country forward.It is so special that it is surreal because we know him. We know Michelle. We know the girls. And to see them go from Hyde Park to the White House is the most incredible thing, but also the most wonderful journey. We could not be more proud and I wake up every morning and I pinch myself because I know that only in America could something like this have happened.
You’ve worked with several presidents and candidates for president. What sets them apart from candidates of the past?
I feel as
if I’m watching my family members go through this process. I care so much for them and the girls, and we all worry for their safety. But because they are from Chicago, we have a special affinity for them; that, plus the fact that they are African Americans standing on the threshold of taking the most powerful seat in the world. What does this say to the world community? We live in a global economy, and we can’t just think of the U.S. in isolation. We must think of the U.S. in its role as a world leader.From what you know of him, how capable is Barack Obama to lead the country as president?
For me, Barack is uniquely suited to now take that position–his rightful position as a leader of this new world dynamic. With his background, his history and having been born in Hawaii, spending four to five years in Indonesia, then coming back to the U.S., working hard studying and getting up at 4 a.m. to get his lesson done, and
then getting accepted to the best colleges in the country. That is what we are all told to do, and he did it. He paid his dues and here he is. And not only did he do it– He excelled at it. He was at the top of his class.When I went to law school at Georgetown University, I prayed to get on law review. This guy not only got on law review, but he became the editor, and the first black editor of the Harvard Law Review. When I saw that happen I said, “Oh my gosh! Who is this guy?†The New York Times had written a story about him, and I thought “Wow, this guy has got to be some kind of incredible.†It is difficult enough to grade onto law review, but to be the editor is something that is totally out of the realm for most of us. He has just an incredible intellect is all that I can say.