GALVESTON, Texas - In what could be a historical decision, President Trump announced Saturday that’s he’s considering a full pardon for legendary boxer Jack Johnson.
The boxer was convicted in 1913 for transporting a woman across state lines for an “immoral purpose.”
Today, the case is considered to have been a racially-motivated prosecution. Johnson was black, his girlfriend was white.
The world heavyweight champion was born in Galveston where a park is now named after him and a where a statue of him was erected 16 years ago.
If he’s pardoned by the president, it’ll be the first time it’s ever been done to someone who’s already dead.
Jack Johnson died 72 years ago, but in his day, he was the toughest fighter in the world.
In 1908, Johnson was the first African American to win the heavyweight championship. Not everyone was excited about it.
Johnson's victory launched a racially-motivated search for what was called the “great white hope,” a white man who could beat Johnson.
When that didn’t work — other tactics were used to de-throne the champ.
Johnson had a series of white girlfriends — one of whom he married — but in 1913 an all-white jury convicted Johnson of violating the Mann Act: Crossing state lines with a woman for an “immoral purpose.”
Today, the conviction is seen as Jim-Crow-era racism, something that should’ve never happened.
Discussion of a presidential pardon has come up in the past — but nothing ever materialized.
But on Saturday, the debate was resurrected again in the President's tweet.
It reads: "Sylvester Stallone called me with the story of heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson. His trials and tribulations were great, his life complex and controversial. Others have looked at this over the years, most thought it would be done, but yes, I am considering a full pardon!”
Does Trump have the power to post-humously pardon Johnson? He does — and it would make history.
Nobody dead has ever been pardoned by a president.
Presidents who have been asked to pardon Johnson in the past have opted not to do so. Presumably because it would set a precedent.
We’ll have to wait and see if Trump’s actions will be true to the sentiments expressed in his tweet.