ship shApe 183
meet-the-candidates spot.
The race was never in doubt.
GOP strategists had re-
cruited Elicker in large part
to keep Scoop from spend-
ing more time boosting other
Democrats.
Jackson won re-election
with an astonishing 84 per-
cent of the vote, but he
shunned Gorton for the next
decade. Gorton was mysti-
fied and disappointed. “All I
said was, ‘This is a great guy,
and he’d make a great United
States senator.’”
Peter Jackson, Scoop’s
son, also points to some un-
flattering remarks by Gor-
ton concerning his father’s
sponsorship of the Indian
Self-Determination Act. In
any case, Jackson’s congratulatory call on the night Gorton ended Magnu-
son’s career in Congress was unexpected, gratifying and a huge relief. In
the 32 months they were seatmates, Jackson and Gorton forged a partner-
ship based on mutual respect and shared goals. Absent party obligations,
it also bloomed into a genuine friendship.^5
AftetheiR R weLcoMe-to-wAshington Lunch, the Jacksons hosted a
reception for the Gortons. Helen Jackson, 21 years younger than her
spouse, and Sally Gorton bonded immediately. They were the same age,
outgoing and unpretentious. Sally had a degree in journalism; Helen was
an Enlish major. “She was beautiful, gracious and smart,” Sally recalls. g
“She looked like Grace Kelly. Just a lovely person. And Scoop was a dear.”
Sometimes when her freshman spouse was busy, he’d take her to lunch
and give her books and articles to read and pass along to Slade. When
Peter Jackson, then a boy, was shopping for a bike he turned to Slade for
advice. The spitting image of his dad, with his large Scandinavian head
and infectious smile, Peter says his parents enjoyed the Gortons’ company.
Many were surprised that Gorton and Jackson got along so well. Slade,
Sally and Slade with Scoop and Helen Jackson
in 1982. University of Washington Libraries,
Special Collections, UW28890