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DEL.ICIO.USHamilton Jordan inspired us all
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Much has been written about the courageous life of Hamilton Jordan, chief of staff for President Jimmy Carter.
But what can not be repeated often enough is how Jordan transformed his personal struggles with cancer to a national cause with a deeply personal touch.
On an individual basis, Jordan provided hope to others stricken with the disease. He urged people to take charge of their own medical condition through self-education and search for the best possible care.
And on a global level, his book: “No Such Thing As A Bad Day” gave people a road map on how to cope with a life-threatening illness. It has been a book I’ve given friends on several occasions as a way to help them continue their own fights.
The last time I saw Jordan was when he spoke to the Atlanta Press Club in March. It was if we all knew, Jordan included, that this would be his last public address.
He spoke of Corey Grier, one of the children stricken with cancer who attended Camp Sunshine. Grier willed himself to nearly a year longer than expected so he could say good-bye to his friends at Camp Sunshine. Jordan told those at the press club lunch that Grier had showed him “the power of the human spirit to extend life.”
Jordan took that lesson to heart and became a teacher in his own right. “I’ve had six different cancers that I’ve battled over the last 20 years,” Jordan told the group. Later he added that when he started to get down, he would think of Corey Grier and “not let this disease dominate or define who I was.”
The last two years were especially tough with eight surgeries and 150 nights in the hospital. I asked him how we was able to keep the faith he wrote about in his book, “No Such Thing As A Bad Day.”
“There is such as thing as bad years,” Jordan answered. “I have not done as well as you think I have.”
At another moment, Jordan said: “I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve been to the edge of life. I’ve had to face my own mortality. I’ve been depressed. I’ve been scared at times. But I’m here to tell you, I’m not through yet.”
It was clear that Jordan wasn’t through when he spoke about cancer research and about presidential politics.
“For the first time in 35 years, funding for cancer research is going down,” Jordan said. “We have spent more money in six months than we have spent on cancer for 35 years.”
And when he spoke of Barack Obama, the fire in the belly burned bright. Jordan already had endorsed Obama and urged the Illinois senator to pick former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Georgia) as his running mate. Nunn, who was in the room that day, remained coy about whether he would join an Obama ticket.
I had believed that Jordan would have willed himself to live to November to see the outcome of the election, or at least through the Democratic convention.
Perhaps he had been fighting too long. And perhaps, all he really wanted was to live to see the Kentucky and Oregon primaries, that occurred the same day he died. It was on that day that Obama essentially became unstoppable in his quest to be the Democratic nominee for president.
May Hamilton Jordan’s spirit continue to inspire us all.
Comments
By COL. [retd] A.M.Khajawall
May 27, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
Dear Fellow Americans,
Our Greatgrand Nation, the United States of America, is facing and will face very critical, substantial “Challenges” in the coming months, years, and decades.
It is imperative that we the people of the America become interested, involved, and engaged in choosing and voting for our next President.
The following criteria will guide and help us to a right candidate. The candidate we choose must have following characteristics:
A clear, candid ” Vision and Mission” for our Nations present and future.
A ” Strong Character and significant Integrity”.
A sound and sustained “Presidential Temperament” and ” Judgment”.
Less “Washington exposure” and “real connectivity with the people and future generation”.
One who “Inspires us up” rather than “Tears us Down or divides us”.
One who is not based on sexism, racism,regionalism,ageism, or any other ism and as well as one who attempts to ” bring us together “.
A foreign policy of mainly “USA Centric”.
In my professional, political and personal opinion, the only candidate that meets all the above characteristics and has shown consistent coolness, calmness, and connectedness { PRESIDENTIAL TEMPERAMENT } is Senator Barack Obama.
As an independent registered voter since 1980, I voted for Carter, voted for Reagan, voted for First Bush, and second Bush in 2000 and in the process lost interest in Washington politics to the point where i stopped voting. Getting disinterested and disgusted in our political process and stopping voting was a very very bad decision in any circumstance, particularly under present circumstances.
This time we can not afford to stay on the sidelines and let “Washington” stay the same. We can not afford to allow our Greatgrand Nation to become less than what we are, what we were and what we can be.
We need to send a clear, careful and candid message to the world and sometimes 24-hour partisan divisive media, that We the American people will set the agenda for our future. America and Americans will be back.
These partisan media outlets are trying and will try their best to deprive, decieve,dupe, and derail us. Let us stay involved, engaged, and express our opinion freely and vote. Our Nation will get it right this time to protect, preserve, and promote our future.
Some of these partisan media and pundits are trying their best to deny us a better future and continue focusing on our weaknesses to generate a bitter future for us and our Greatgrand Nation. Our nation’s people will see thru. Unfortunately our Greatgrand Nation’s people are persistently and constantly subjected to this “Psychological Terrorism” without common people’s knowledge.
The common and regular people do not have time to see thru and sort thru this psychological terrorism perpetuated by some of these partisan media outlets.
I find it tragic, unfortunate, and sad [ They probably do not care about our Greatgrand Nation ]as they claim that they do it in the interest OF our Greatgrand Nation.
We the Americans should not and will not to allow some of these partisan media outlets to psychologically terrorize, traumatize and silence us this time nor any other time in future.
I am sure that we will get it right this time and elect Senator Obama as our next President.
Let us remember that our Greatgrand nation consists of family, friends,fellowships, faith, funds,foundation, fun, and future with fairness and freedom and without fear, favor, or failure .
We can not afford to lose any of the above. Let us stand up, be counted, save and rebuild our Greatgrand Nation for centuries to come. I am sure our Greatgrand nation andits diverse people. will reclaim, regain and restore the global economic, social, moral, and power status of USA.
God Bless our Great grand Nation and its diverse people.
Our Greatgrand nation needs present and future stability, security, safety,sustained progress and restoration of our due status in this perilous Global World at all levels.
Yours sincerely,
COL.[retd] A.M.Khajawall M.D. Forensic Psychiatrist. Disabled American Veteran. Las Vegas Nevada
By crass realist
May 27, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
Maria, although I have admired your work over the years, I have to take exception that you would turn a tribute to Ham Jordan into a gushing political tribute to Barack Obama. He has become the reason for living for the left. (I can’t believe that somebody with your intelligence has “drunk the kool-aid”. Nobody seems to want to look past the fact that he has been less-than-forthcoming about many issues in his past and that he has absolutely no record of achievement except that he could get elected.)
Let’s leave the political posturing for another day and venue. May Ham Jordan rest in peace.
By Dave53
May 28, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
“No Such Thing as a Bad Day” was one of the most inspiring pieces I read during my several battles with cancer. He has been a personal inspiration to anyone who has suffered this illness, similar to a political version of Mr. Armstrong. He was a brilliant political tactician for Jimmy Carter, and a tireless supporter of cancer research. His fight was one of immense courage. He’ll be greatly missed.
By Bill Rogers
May 28, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
Hamilton Jordan was a great, great man. I knew him well — having lived next door to his family and him for years.
He, literally, helped all he possibly could, putting those in need ahead of his own livlihood. Helping others was simply his life…. and he was that way until he took his last breath.
But, he impressed me more with his parenting than anything. Anyone who heard his three children speak of him at his funeral surely understands why I say this. Hamilton balanced everything so remarkably well and always seemed to be there for them.
Hamilton was also married to a great woman…who is a phenominal person in her own right. She supported his many efforts as he did hers. Together, they did more for others than any couple I’ve ever known.
How he did all he did I’ll never know. He was truly one-of-a-kind.
Separately, while I appreciate your article about Hamilton, I wish you had not ended it with a commercial for Obama. I could be wrong but I do not think he would have wanted that. Why? I probably communicated with him over 100 times in the last year of his life and he never mentioned Obama once…..Sam Nunn and others, many times, but Obama, none.
By Mr. WhatDoIKnow
May 28, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this
Folk:
HJ had a lot going for him and accomplished a lot early in his life, continuing as he grew older. Indeed he is a man to be admired even though he was alligned with politics of a more liberal view.
However, folks that purchase ink by the barrel (Ms. Maria & Cox) can force anything on you that they want.
Mr. Obama has Marxist views more so than any other in recent memory. Bend over and grab your ankles as he will definatly turn our country away from our founder’s original direction.
Maria, I long for the day you really have to work for a living … Maybe you will see the light.