Two Spiritual Heroes Who Embolden Me to Shoot High
And they couldn't be more different
I was 17 years old and had sat mesmerized by a summer of Watergate hearings. Then-President Richard Nixon’s operatives had broken into the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters, and a cover-up attempt followed.
A U.S. House Judiciary Committee probed the break-in and cover-up, and I sat glued to my television, learning new revelations daily. Many new heroes were born for me during this scandal.
One such hero was Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox.
Amid this political trauma came the “Saturday Night Massacre,” where then-president Richard Nixon ordered his attorney general, Elliot Richardson, to fire special prosecutor Archibald Cox. Richardson refused. So did Nixon’s Deputy Attorney General. Solicitor General Robert Bork did the job.
The administration’s rot was revealed, and impeachment began ten days later.
What was Archibald Cox’s key role during his short stint as special prosecutor?
He subpoenaed tapes that the president had secretly recorded of conversations in the Oval Office. Nixon vehemently fought the request and then demanded no further tapes be requested. Cox refused and, shortly thereafter, was fired.
Those tapes, which revealed mysterious gaps and deletions, were key components in the investigation and led to the demise of Richard Nixon.
My memory of Archibald Cox?
Meeting him at my brother’s graduation… I was in awe of a man possessing such integrity and strength. I was a mere 17 when I went right up to him after graduation (imagine being able to do that today!), extended my hand, and told him I was proud of him and would be forever thankful.
Mr. Cox gave me a big smile and a warm handshake and said, “Thank you.”
Archibald Cox will probably always remain the most important encounter I have ever had with someone who unintentionally grabbed the headlines for doing his job—a job he then lost.
That he could receive me as he did was part two of his greatness.
Now comes a very different inspiration: Alicia Keys
There are so many reasons to appreciate Alicia Keys. We can start with her music.
That woman has range — classical, jazz, R&B, soul, and hip-hop. She plays the keyboard, sings, dances, and acts.
In terms of her ability to sing, she is a modern-day Frank Sinatra who gives meaning to the lyrics so that listeners truly feel the music. Her rendition of “Blackbird” below gives new meaning to Paul McCartney’s simple and haunting song.
And then there’s Alicia Keys’ backstory. Her mother was Italian, and her father was African American. She was raised by her mom and never had a relationship with her father, who left when she was two. She doesn’t readily share this part of her life, in part because she doesn’t want to feed into stereotypes.
What do I appreciate? Alicia Keys exudes comfort with her multiracial heritage and has a deep commitment to all parts of her.
As a mother, I remain in awe of Keys’ exceptional mother, who set a high bar for having a vision and enabling her daughter to succeed against all odds. Keys’ mom knew that living in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen meant her daughter would be exposed to violence.
Her solution? Expand Alicia’s exposure to beauty in the world and help her “find her muse.” She enrolled her in music, sports, and other recreational programs. By the young age of six, Alicia found her muse, and it was music—specifically piano and voice.
Her mother did not have ample means but was able to pinch together enough pennies to make it work. Classical music training followed, along with learning to sing and dance. Most importantly, she taught Alicia to be responsible for Alicia.
The Alicia Keys I hear being interviewed is both grounded and real. She has pivoted from classical music to R&B with a heavy jazz influence. She remains committed to her multiracial heritage and has built a rich life as a performer, creator, mom, and spouse.
As Keys sees it,
Alicia Keys clearly holds her own.
Two people couldn’t be more different.
One showed courage at a time when our country needed it.
The other set an example of how we can make our own future with determination and strength during an era when we need reminding.
These two spiritual heroes remind me of what living a life with guts and glory can do. It emboldens me to shoot high.
Who are the heroes that inspire you?
I enjoyed this. The ending about guts and persistence was motivating! 💪✨✨
I like your choice of heroes, Jill. I had not heard of Alicia Keys or her music. She has a great voice. I'm always amazed at people who can sing and play an instrument at the same time. . . I remember Watergate quite well, too. I was in the Air Force at the time of the hearings. John Dean, who served as Nixon's White House Counsel, impressed me with his honesty and forthrightness. I never liked Nixon.
One of my heroes is the "Tank Man" of Tiananmen Square, the young man in the white shirt who faced down and stopped a column of tanks on June 5, 1989. I am still awed by his bravery. We still do not know who he was or what happened to him. But he has become, at least for me, an iconic symbol for people who dare to speak truth to power, who dare to stand up for democracy. We need more such people in the world today.
Another of my heroes is the Reverend Robert H. Schuller, who founded the Crystal Cathedral and the "Hour of Power" radio and TV program in Southern California. The church started in a drive-in theater in 1955 and grew to minister to tens of millions of viewers by the time Pastor Schuller retired in 2006. Yesterday, I came across what may have been his last book, "Don't Throw Away Tomorrow" (I think he wrote over 20 books). He wrote it about the time he retired, and some parts look back over his life of ministry. My mother was not a church-going Christian, but she held Christian values and enjoyed listening to him on the radio on Sunday mornings. I still remember his sign-off, "Write to me, Robert Schuller, Garden Grove, California." I was impressed that you didn't need a street address or P.O. Box number. No Zip Code back then, either.