chapterOne
theStartingPoint
“Today, I stand here proudly as a citizen of the greatest country in the world. I have served as a state senator in the greatest state in the country, California. I have proved myself as a politician and I hope as a decent orator and communicator.”
“I say all of that to say this….I’m encouraged by my family and colleagues to reach beyond my boundaries. They urge me, daily, to follow my dreams. So, beginning immediately I will campaign to become president of the United States. I know this is a lofty goal, especially since there has never been a Latino president, but I….we will take this challenge and see where it leads us.”
Jeremiah Issachar continued boisterously, “This country has come to a crossroads. We must pattern our countries’ government after the successful Europeans who have set an example to us for centuries. Social justice must be our number one priority. We must level the playing field. Every man or women whether black or white, Latino or Native American …Straight or gay…Each should get their fair share in this big pie we call the American Dream. A vote for Issachar is a vote for change and total equality for everyone. Thank you.”
The crowd that surrounded Senator Issachar and all his supporters cheered wildly. The candidate raised two arms into the air with fist clenched. Reporters clamored for questions for the Senator, but within minutes Issachar’s strongmen whisked him off the stage and into the limousine that was parked close by.
Juan Garcia, the presidential candidate’s campaign manager, opened the limousine door and slid in next to Jeremiah. Then he began, “Sir, you did great, but you left out about half of your speech …What the….? …..Horace hired me to guide you to the presidency?…Why don’t you listen? We put those words in there for a reason. Those words came from powers above.”
“Juan, don’t have a cow…Everything will get said at a suitable time…I didn’t think this was the time and the place. I have plenty of time to destroy my opponents, later….Believe me, I will…..by the way, why was I not able to answer reporter questions?”
David shook his head and began, “No reporters for now….Ok, what next? By the way, Horace called earlier…He watch the announcement today, and he wants to talk with you.”
“I’ll get to him….You asked ‘what’s next?’ Well, I have to get to Sacramento to vote on my bill…That’s the priority. Do we have a flight booked?”
“I believe so…..Sergio, to the airport, please.”
Jeremiah Issachar was born in southern California. His dad, Jose Lopez, was an illegal emigrant from Mexico. Issachar’s Latino father married a black woman in the late fifties. They had only one child, Jeremiah.
In his younger years the future politician endured a hard life. Jeremiah was abused by his father, an alcoholic, and Issachar’s mother divorced Jose when her son was young. Jeremiah’s mother then married Joseph Issachar, an Israeli. Mrs. Issachar, Nelda, change her son’s last name to Issachar when he was seven.
The family moved to The Philippines in the sixties. Nelda’s husband, David, was transferred to Manila with his job as a mechanical engineer. They lived there until Jeremiah graduated from high school. The family returned to California where the young man attended college at the University of California at Berkeley.
Jeremiah went home nearly every week-end in college until he was a junior. His step dad and mother lived in Fremont, California. Beginning in his third year at university, the young Issachar’s eyes were focused more on the female population so he returned home rarely.
Much to his parent’s dismay, Jeremiah eloped with his latest fling, Abigail, and transferred to the University of the Philippines in Visayas. He finished his degree in 1981 with a major in Economics. In his studies he took many religion classes. This was one of his interests. His new wife, Abby, was a Muslim so he worked hard to understand her faith and others.
After graduated with honors from U.P., Jeremiah convinced his new wife that he wanted to continue his studies. He was thinking about going to law school. In the third year of their marriage and several months after graduation, he was accepted at Harvard Law School in Massachusetts.
The young couple moved to Boston in 1982. The future politician planned on moving back to California when he completed his studies. He wanted to set up his own law firm in his native state near his parent’s home in Fremont. Sometimes things work out differently than we plan. This was the case for this newlywed family.
In the second year of Jeremiah’s studies, Abigail told her husband she wanted to have a baby. She also yearned to return to her home in the Philippines. This was a problem for the young husband. He was doing great at Harvard, and Jeremiah had many friends and contacts there. His wife hated the northeast, and he wondered what should he do?
Abigail became pregnant in 1985. Her mind was still set on going home to her mother. Jeremiah conceded, but he stayed in Boston to finish his degree. His child was born in Manila, Philippines later that year. He took a leave from school to be with his wife. The family then traveled back to Boston.
Jeremiah received his law degree in 1987 and was licensed in Massachusetts and California. He moved his family to San Jose, California, just a few miles away from his mother and stepfather.
Then he met Horace Jenkins, a rich business leader, who contributed millions of dollars to organizations and people who had his ideals. Jeremiah Issachar was one of those few whom Horace thought had potential.
Jenkins set Issachar up in a high-rise in Santa Clara County with two other lawyers of like persuasion. Jones, Issachar and Lements Inc. was a very successful law firm in the nineties. All three lawyers eventually answered to Jenkins, and sometimes they didn’t like it.
Joe Lements, one of the partners, was extremely unhappy with the politics and the control of Jenkins. One day the sign makers pulled up to the firm and changed the sign to ‘Jones and Issachar.’ Joe Lements was unaware of what was happening until he arrived to work the next day. Later that evening he was found dead in his apartment. The police said it was suicide but most still consider that he was murdered.
Nevertheless, this team of lawyers became the talk of the town in liberal circles. They defended and won many controversial cases with wit and perseverance. Both were looked at as potential candidates for Democratic seats in the statehouse. In 1992, Lou Jones ran for the house and won, but he still kept his stake in the law firm in San Jose. At that time, Jeremiah was still looking for a political career.
Horace Jenkins took a real liking to Jeremiah Issachar. They, at times, talked for many hours about politics and economics. Jenkins pounded the young lawyers mind with his own ideology. He told Jeremiah one afternoon, “You can go along way with my help, and a little help from your socialist’s viewpoint.”
He went on to say, “The battles and victories aren’t won in the public eye….but…but behind the curtain. Jeremiah, don’t you worry about one thing. Say what I tell you to and do what I tell you to and you will be a very powerful politician someday.”
Secretly Issachar hated being manipulated. He hated that he owed his soul to Horace, but he continued to walk in the path Jenkins had outlined for him for years.
In 1995 Horace talked Jeremiah into running for state senator in California. He told him that this move would be a good launching point for his career. He, Issachar, would be a powerful liberal force in a powerfully liberal state. Issachar was elected to represent his district in Santa Clara County beginning January 1996.
The young state senator was a uniquely powerful force in his legislature. He became well know not only in liberal circles but also in the conservative coalition and the media. He constantly expressed his viewpoints in interviews for TV and newspapers. Some in the left called him too radical and ‘off the cuff’ left. He prided himself in standing his ground on any measure that affected social matters.
“We are a great nation because we protect those who are poor and care for those who are different. When I was younger the Latinos were treated as slaves. They received wages that weren’t even enough to live on yet they fought for government help and we intervened.”
“We would have never gained our equality if it weren’t for the government of the great state of California. We need this same equality all over this country, or we will be like those countries that have fallen by the wayside because of selfishness and greed.”
Issachar and his law firm continued to prosper. He defended many civil rights cases, and he catered to the Latino and black. Horace Jenkins watched him closely, but Lou Jones trouble the billionaire.
Jeremiah’s partner was skiing in the Sierras one winter and he was killed mysteriously. The police say it was an accident, but Issachar had his suspicions.
In early 1999, Jeremiah was hesitant to run for another term in the California senate. Jenkins prodded him and told him he had to run or lose everything. The state senator was distraught for days. He didn’t even mention this problem to his wife.
One day Abigail came to her husband and asked, “Jerry, what is troubling you? Is it me? Are you going to begin campaigning for your second term soon?”
“Abby, Abby, I…I…Do you want me to?”
Abigail pulled him close and looked into his eyes, “Our people depend on you. The Filipino, the Latino…those being oppressed depend on you….and besides Horace wants you to.”
In the year, 2000, Jeremiah Issachar returned as Senator for his second term. He hadn’t run for Horace’s sake, but he was glad for the new four years.
