Jack Johnson Pardon Appears Unlikely

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: In The News

(AP Photo)

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs indicated today that the White House is not pushing for a pardon of Jack Johnson, the African-American boxer who many believe was sentenced to prison time in 1913 primarily because of his romantic involvement with white women.

Johnson, who died in 1946, was an outspoken opponent of segregation. He served ten months in prison for violating the Mann Act, which made it illegal to cross state lines with a woman for "immoral purposes."

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) championed a resolution earlier this year seeking a pardon of Johnson. It passed both houses of Congress but the Justice Department rejected the effort earlier this month, saying that the department does not traditionally pardon the deceased.

In its response, Justice said it prefers to focus its pardon resources on people "who can truly benefit" from them.

Last week, the lawmakers wrote a letter to President Obama saying they were "sorely disappointed" in the decision and further pressing the case. They asked the president to break with the Justice Department, as is his right, and "concur with Congress and swiftly issue a posthumous pardon for Mr. Johnson."

Asked about pardoning Johnson today, Gibbs suggested the White House was following the Justice Department recommendation.

"In terms of Jack Johnson, I think the Department of Justice came back recommending -- not recommending a pardon on that," he said.

Johnson became the first black heavyweight boxing champion in 1908, a century before Mr. Obama became the first black president.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by aldon61 December 22, 2009 5:07 PM EST: This goes beyond politics. Common sense decency is called for here. Jack Johnson was a thorn in white america's side and the Mann act WAS invoked to punish the him. Obama needs to grow a pair and step up to right the wrong. Johnson himself may be dead Mr. Holder, but his family still cries for justice. Pardon Him!; Reply to this comment


by saturn05 December 22, 2009 4:55 PM EST: I feel for Jack Johnson's family and friends. I think we all know how unjust the punishment was. But I understand the government's decision that they don't pardon deceased people. If he was alive I would say by all means do it now, but really, even in the history books we would all know what a croc of garbage this sentence was and he was another victim of racial hatred. But at that time and at that place it was the law(a bad law obviously), but a law and he was a scapegoat to the white idiots of the time. But I have to say if is just a swipe of a pen to pardon Mr. Johnson, they just do it.; Reply to this comment