MADISON — Civil rights leader, the Rev. Jessie Jackson, crisscrossed the country during his two presidential runs in the 1980s, including a visit to Madison in 1984 captured by photojournalist Dan Plutchak, co-founder of Kaukauna Community News.
Jackson died Feb. 17, 2026 at age 84.
Jackson spoke on the UW Madison campus April 6, 1984 to advocate for his vision of a diverse political alliance during his first run for the presidency.
The visit coincided with a period of intense campaigning in the state as all three major Democratic candidates converged on Wisconsin to court voters ahead of the upcoming primary.
Jackson, who focused his platform on the needs of the disenfranchised, used the appearance to strengthen his standing as a serious contender for the nomination.
He also delivered a major speech during the visit to a joint session of the Wisconsin Legislature.
His appearance in Madison highlighted the central themes of his campaign, which aimed to unite a broad coalition of voters under the banner of social and economic justice.
The 1984 campaign marked a significant milestone as Jackson continued to build momentum by engaging with citizens and lawmakers across the country.
Walter Mondale eventually won the Wisconsin primary and became the Democratic nominee, but lost to Ronald Reagan on November.
