Tweet This!You Don’t Know Jack.
Dear Business-Builder,
Over the weekend, American entrepreneurs and small business owners lost one of our greatest friends and champions; Jack Kemp.
Jack began his career in 1957 as a quarterback for the Steelers and after 13 years as a pro football star, went on to politics, representing Western New York for nine terms in Congress (1971-1989) and finally, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development between 1989 and 1993.
And every day Jack spent in Washington, he fought to preserve our liberty … to lower our tax burden … and to ensure opportunity for all Americans.
Jack was a proud Republican at a time when that still meant low taxes, common-sense fiscal conservatism and the defense of free enterprise — in the years before the Bush family hijacked the GOP and made it the party of “Read My Lips,” massive government and record-shattering budget deficits.
Jack described himself as a “bleeding-heart conservative” who believed as I do that the only way to lift people out of poverty and dependence on Washington is to help them claim an ownership stake in their communities and to guarantee they have equal opportunity to become wealthy through entrepreneurship.
Or, as Jack famously said it …
“There are no limits to our future if we don’t put limits on our people.”
“When people lack jobs, opportunity and ownership of property, they have little or no stake in their communities.”
One of my favorite Kemp-championed initiatives is his inner-city Enterprise Zones which encourage businesses to provide employment in the inner cities and also empowered minorities to become rich by launching their own businesses, free of burdensome federal taxes.
As secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Jack also worked tirelessly to make it possible for poor people living in government housing to purchase their apartments, earn equity of them and then use that equity to start their own businesses.
And of course, there’s Kemp-Roth; his history-making bill that slashed marginal tax rates 25% in 1981. His reasoning: “Every time in this century we’ve lowered the tax rates across the board, on employment, on saving, investment and risk-taking in this economy, revenues went up, not down”
But while Jack was a loyal Republican, he was also a fearless critic of his party when it failed to defend these principles. He’s famous for saying, “Democracy without morality is impossible.” And “Republicans many times can’t get the words ‘equality of opportunity’ out of their mouths. Their lips do not form that way.”
I also loved Jack’s self-effacing attitude. “Pro football gave me a good perspective,” Jack once said. “When I entered the political arena, I had already been booed, cheered, cut, sold, traded, and hung in effigy.”
I was privileged to have met and/or worked with Jack Kemp on three separate occasions. I was in his office soon after Kemp-Roth passed. When the congressman asked me what I thought of the bill, I groused about the abolition of certain tax loopholes. He chided me for my “conservative selfishness.”
A few years later, Jack kindly agreed to give me a ringing on-camera testimonial for a video I wrote and directed for Blanchard & Company. (The video garnered a 100% response rate and a $45 million average sale – but that’s another story.)
The real eye-opener for me, though, came when Tom Phillips tagged me to launch Jack’s newsletter for him. As part of that launch, I had the pleasure of spending several hours chatting with Jack — and even more enlightening, several more hours getting to know him better through conversations with his grown children.
Jack’s kids painted a picture of a devoted, loving father and regaled me with stories of how their dad would often surprise them with surprise superstar dinner guests — political, economic and business luminaries — to engage his kids in lively conversations on the topics of the day.
And frankly, when I heard the news about Jack’s passing yesterday, those conversations were the first memories to spring to my mind.
Because after all, the best testament to a man’s life is not his public accomplishments – it is measured by the intensity of the love and respect of those who knew him best.
So to Joanne, Jeff, Jimmy, Jennifer and Judith: Please know that we join you in celebrating Jack’s life this week – and are thanking whatever deities we worship for the benefits this great champion of liberty has brought to all of our lives.
Yours for Bigger Winners, More Often,
Clayton Makepeace
Publisher & Editor
THE TOTAL PACKAGE
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11 Comments »
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– Clayton
Comment by Denise — May 4, 2009 @ 11:16 am
Good article Clayton - like many stories in the news of late, reminds one about the book-cover idiom. Makes you wish you had known the man… and you were lucky enough to have done so. Best wishes to his family.
Comment by Joe — May 4, 2009 @ 11:18 am
We could use more leaders cut from the same cloth as Jack Kemp. You’d think that after Kemp-Roth we’d have learned that lower tax rates grow the economy.
Politics and policy aside, you’re right Clayton - a man’s most important legacy is his family. I’m glad to hear that this man’s private life was at least as successful as his public endeavors.
Comment by Mike — May 4, 2009 @ 11:30 am
Thank you Clayton for the story of a great man. It’s great to know that people such as Jack exist, as we are so jaded when it comes to politicians.
And, not to take anything away from Mr. Kemp but the “you don’t know Jack” hook was awesome as well.
My condolences to the Kemp family.
Mike Bresee
Comment by Robert Schwarztrauber — May 4, 2009 @ 11:33 am
As a lifelong Western New Yorker, it was a great honor and privilege to be represented for so many years by Jack Kemp.
A champion of our values and tireless servant for the people of this community, Jack Kemp will surely be missed. But the work he has done on our behalf will never be forgotten.
Comment by Sam Crozier — May 4, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
Ah yes, lower general tax rates may stimulate economic growth- when those tax cuts aren’t skewed towards higher-income earners, that is, but reduce poverty? That’s another story entirely.
But life was indeed so much better in so many ways before the Bush Influence swept over Washington. Although I submit that before said influence took hold at the CIA, life was even better still!
Always nice to hear about anyone on Capitol Hill who isn’t a lobbyist’s plaything though Clayton
Sam
Comment by Denny Koska — May 4, 2009 @ 12:45 pm
I worked on a fund raiser for Jack Kemp back in the late 80’s. What a wonderful person!!! He was the same in front of the crowd and when the lights and cameras were off.
Comment by Rich Bingham — May 4, 2009 @ 1:36 pm
I remember Jack when he was quarterback for the Buffalo Bills and how he always took the high road and boosted Buffalo, NY and all Western NY where I used to live.
We agreed on politics as well and I wish we had more people of his character and inspiration in all areas of our govt.
He will be truly missed… prayers go out to his family,
Rich
Comment by Wes Hopper — May 4, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
I share your sense of loss, not only of Jack, but of the Republican Party I used to know and love, and that he represented. The blowhards, bigots and idiots that claim to speak for the party today are a gross embarrassment, not only for their lack of ideas but for their shameful connivance in the illegal excesses of recent years. The loss of a principled and intelligent Republican like Kemp really hurts, since they seem to be an endangered species. I’m not surprised you knew and liked him. My condolences to his family in their loss.
Comment by Capt Phil — May 4, 2009 @ 5:56 pm
Nice thoughts on the passing of a good man. We need more like him, but there doesn’t seem to be many around — an unfortunate tribute to the success of lesser men, in academia and media, who have indoctrinated several generations of Americans away from the principles that produced a man like Jack Kemp.
Comment by Lou Schuyler — May 7, 2009 @ 9:57 am
A great eulogy for a great human being. A sad loss for all of us.
My condolences to you and to his family.
May the memories sustain you.
Comment by Elizabeth Miller — May 22, 2009 @ 8:48 pm
Very good of you, Clayton, to write such a fine tribute. Big loss and we need more like Jack, more now than ever. But also it says a lot about you. Your openness is refreshing, and it’s comforting to know where you’re coming from.