Next to the End Ford Enlargement that Carter was to stand in front of
END FORD 1976 © J. Pritikin
I thought I had taken the Presidential campaign picture of 1976. You won't find this picture in any books or newspapers at the time it was taken, but not for the lack of trying. The life of the picture was limited too. Reagan was still in the race until Ford was nominated by the Republicans. The 2nd debate site was switched a couple of times before they decided on San Francisco. I was at the S.F.Democratic campaign office and there happened to be some Carter "advance men" making post plans to the October debate. They saw my photo and asked if a large 6 'x 8' be made in time for a post party after the debate at Brooks Hall in the Civic Center. I said I'm sure and then added "I can see Jimmy Carter, standing in front of it and saying to the San Francisco crowd... PRESIDENT FORD SAID RECENTLY THAT HIS FAVORITE TV SHOW WAS KOJACK, and then pointing to the picture...AND MINE IS THE STREET'S OF SAN FRANCISCO!" The next thing I know the advance men are talking on the phone to Atlanta and they said it was a "Go!" They were going to use my idea. A large black and white picture was made up and delivered to Brooks Hall on the afternoon of the debate. It was reported that tickets to the debate were almost impossible to get. I came up with a fund raising idea for the sponsors of the debate THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, and my price was a ticket. That's the good news...I made up a T-shirt, Jerry Pritikin's instant poll, for the 2nd Debate, and I was going to put a red X in the box for the winner Ford or Carter. If Ford had won the debate it would have been hard for me not to tell the truth, but he made it easier when he declared "Russia had no satellites in Eastern Europe". After the debate, I was shown putting my red X or the Carter side. There was no way I could get over to the Civic center to bask in my glory knowing that a future President not only held up my photo. but was going to stand in front of it and use my words too.
The bad news...a peon forgot to put the picture behind the podium where Carter was to utter my words...and I was told by those at the Civic Center that Carter came on the stage, looked around as if looking for something, took the podium and never mentioned "The Streets of San Francisco".
The one time the large Carter photo was used by the Democratic Victory party was the night of the November Presidential election. During the celebration, several college kids stole it. A couple of days later after seeing the news report on my missing picture, they called me to return it. Kron-TV was on hand showing me taking the picture out of a convertible and bringing it in to the house. We were interviewed. Just after it aired. my phone rang, a friend said he just saw the story on KRON and to tell me my fly was open!
The Romney/ Obama Debate tonight brought back memories of the Carter Curse* There a longer version that first appeared on the www.Beyondthechron.org
www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=4434
The original image
Chip Carter at Gay Memorial Day Trike Race... note the posters.
Letter from Amy
Letter From Jimmy
Amount paid to have made up.
Program for 2nd Debate- I have the ticket packed away.
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1 comment:
Hi Jerry,
During the summer of 1979 you met a couple of young men from michigan sunning themselves on stinson beach. We were in a big black truck and you gave us the short tour of SF and allowed us to stay a night in your apartment. I don't know if you remember us or not, but I remember you and its a fond memory. I was able to find you because I remember the End Ford/Carter image and the story behind it. Cheers and I hope all is well.
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