artist journals
Governor Jack Stanton (Primary Colors)
"One of my favorite movie characters is Governor Jack Stanton - the hopelessly flawed Presidential candidate portrayed by John Travolta in Primary Colors. If you ask ten people familiar with the movie to pick out a Jack Stanton Moment, I imagine most of them would pick a moment that highlights one of his many missteps (and understandably so). But the moment that always comes to my mind first has nothing to do with his many foibles. When I think of Jack Stanton, I always think of his holiday party. It was an event which brought together people from all different racial, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds -- from single moms to CEOs, from deep-pocketed donors to the guy that sold him doughnuts. When someone at the party asked how Stanton brought all these diverse people together, the response was something to the effect of 'Some guys collect stamps. Others collect cards. Jack Stanton collects people.' And it was meant in a good way. For whatever his flaws, no matter how many he may have had, Stanton genuinely seemed to enjoy staying in touch with everyone he met, no matter who they were, and then connecting the dots between them."