JT Salutes its Friend Norman Lear
Known to many for his legendary role as writer and producer of television shows such as “All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons,” “Good Times,” “Maude” and so many others, Norman Lear passed away at 101 earlier this week.
He was a trailblazer changing the role television, and specifically sitcoms, play in addressing societal issues. He was also a political activist, philanthropist and simply put, a good human. This is how many of us at JT had the honor of knowing Norman Lear.
In 2001, Norman Lear bought an original Dunlap broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence at auction for a little over $8 million. He recognized this founding document did not belong hanging in his home, but rather belonged to the people. With the germ of an idea, a group of JT senior strategists met with Norman to brainstorm what became known as the “Declaration of Independence Road Trip,” a bi-partisan national tour, co-chaired by former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, that traveled to dozens of big cities, small towns, across red and blue states to re-energize Americans, especially youth, to participate in civic activism and exercise their right to vote.
We would roll into towns with the Declaration and receive a red-carpet welcome – literally! We formed local host committees made up of the mayor, governor, elected officials, the publisher of the daily newspaper, school superintendents and others, who showed up to cheer as if Taylor Swift was in town. A multi-media exhibit that used the latest and greatest technology of the early 2000s was made available for free to school groups and the general public. Countless media stories encouraged people to see the exhibit before it left town. JT had a team of event and media specialists leapfrog cities for two years, helping produce this historical national tour. It was truly one of JT’s signature projects.
Norman did not shy away from politics. It was no secret that he was a liberal – the very kind that his most notable character Archie Bunker would despise. But, through the Declaration of Independence Road Trip, and the follow-on tour Declare Yourself, that visited college campuses leading into the 2004 presidential election, Norman reminded us that “We the People…” means all of us, regardless of race, religion or politics.
Prior to the 2004 election, more than 1 million registration forms were downloaded from the DeclareYourself.com Web site in response to the three-year DOI and Declare Yourself voter registration campaign. Of the 1 million registered, 72 percent said it was their first time voting in a U.S. election. Additionally, there was an 11 percent increase in the number of 18 – 24-year-old voters from the 2000 to 2004 election, which was the largest increase for this demographic in 30 years.
And for those who say, “but Norman was a Democrat, and this was just a way to register more liberals,” let us remind everyone, George W. Bush won the 2004 presidential election. For Norman, and us at JT, the Declaration of Independence Road Trip was about reminding all Americans we have a right, but more importantly a responsibility to be active, civic-minded citizens.
Perhaps what we need now, and especially headed into the 2024 presidential election cycle, is someone new to pick up the mantel that Norman carried for decades--and re-energize Americans to participate in civics in all its forms…political activism sure, but also, volunteering, community engagement and most importantly, voting.
Norman Lear, from your friends at JT, we honor you and all the good you did to nurture our nation by strengthening our democracy.
