I’ve just spoken with former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, and he shared some heartfelt memories of his friend, Jesse Jackson. Their paths crossed many times, especially within the Illinois Democratic scene. One of their significant shared experiences was in 1999 in Yugoslavia, where they worked together to secure the release of three American soldiers during the Kosovo War.
Blagojevich expressed his sadness, saying, “I feel like I lost a friend. He will always hold a special place in my heart.” He also compared Jackson’s influence to that of great figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass.
The last time Blagojevich saw Jackson was the summer before last. He was struck by Jackson’s courage in facing Parkinson’s disease. “He needed help getting out of his chair,” Blagojevich recalled. “It was amazing to see someone so strong deal with such a heavy burden.”
Blagojevich’s own journey has been rocky. He served as governor from 2003 to 2009 but faced a downfall due to a federal corruption conviction in 2011. He spent nearly eight years in prison before President Trump commuted his sentence in 2020, later granting him a full pardon. What’s interesting is Blagojevich credits Jackson for playing a role in that decision.
He said, “I called him the moment I was released after 2,896 days behind bars. In 1999, we went overseas together to free soldiers, and now he helped free me.”
Reflecting on their connection reveals a deeper understanding of friendship and resilience. The legacy of Jackson is not only in politics and civil rights but in the personal stories of friendship that transcend hard times.
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