Remembering Scoop Jackson

This Labor Day marked the 25th anniversary of the passing of legendary Washington Sen. Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson, who served the people of this state for more than four decades.

Labor Day is a fitting time to remember a man who served Washington state in Congress for 42 years, first as a congressman for 12 years and then as a senator. His commitment to workers, and to the people of Washington in general, is just one of the many indelible impressions left on me by the man who encouraged my own career in public service.

I first met Scoop Jackson in the kitchen of my family home in Magnolia when I was 14. My mom was hosting a dinner party attended by our neighbors Stan and Adele Golub, who brought a surprise guest. I was upstairs recovering from the flu when the smell of fragrant cuisine reawakened my appetite after several days of fasting. I sneaked down the back stairway to the kitchen — greasy-haired, dressed in pajamas and wrapped in a robe — and was loading up a plate for myself when a guest entered and said, "Hello, who are you?" I turned around and found myself face to face with Sen. Jackson.

Meeting Scoop that day left an impression on me, inspiring me to follow his work and apply for a college internship in his office. Even more remarkable is that I, as was the case with everyone he met, left an impression on him as well. Scoop took a personal interest in practically everyone in the state of Washington. He seemed never to forget a face, or a name.

During my summer internship, and when I began working as one of his aides as a postgraduate, Scoop nurtured my interest in public policy. As he did with so many other young people, he made me a member of "Scoop's Troops," getting me started and spinning me off on my own career in public service.

The education and cultivation of future leaders was immensely important to Scoop. He once told me that reading the newspaper every day is the cheapest and best education in the world. To this day, I follow Scoop's advice in that respect. A graduate of the University of Washington Law School, Scoop took an early interest in what became his namesake, the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the UW. He was a supporter, donor and active fundraiser for the school, believing: "Well-educated citizens, knowledgeable about world affairs, are the cornerstone for an effective foreign policy."

In his policy work, Scoop was prescient, championing issues that were obscure at the time but are today's forefront global issues. As the Beijing Olympics drew to a close, much attention was paid to human-rights issues in China. Jackson was the first policymaker to call attention to human rights as a component of international relations when he sponsored the Jackson/Vanik Amendment in 1974, tying international trade to emigration rights. His work won persecuted Jews in the Soviet Union the freedom to immigrate to other countries.

The senator was one of the first environmentalists in a state where the vast majority of citizens now identify themselves as environmentalists. He anticipated Washington's population growth and foresaw the need to protect natural wilderness areas before they disappeared. He was the father of the National Environmental Policy Act in 1970 and, as chairman of the Energy Committee in the 1970s, worked to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil, increase the use of renewable energy and promote conservation.

The 25th anniversary of Scoop's death also marks the 25th anniversary of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, formed by his family, staff, friends and colleagues to continue Jackson's work in the areas most important to him: international-affairs education, human rights, environment and natural-resources management, and public service. By funding more than $20 million in grants and embarking on strategic initiatives, the foundation seeks to make a lasting impact and perpetuate the Jackson legacy for the benefit of future generations. I am grateful to honor my mentor by serving on the foundation board.

In my work serving the citizens of King County, I strive to live up to Scoop's legacy and often call upon memories of his leadership and deep commitment to people and democracy. My most cherished remembrance of Scoop is what a thoroughly decent human being he was in all aspects of his life, in his treatment of the public, his staff and his family. The state of Washington is better off today thanks to the humanity, work and vision of Scoop Jackson.