Congressman Charlie Rangel Is In The Hospital

This photo was taken by F. Strongbow on November 5, 2006.



The comments herein expressed, are mine, and do not imply an editorial slant, and should be taken as the comments of someone who cares very deeply about a wonderful friend who is ill and feeling "below" the weather these days. If I express too much in the way of my feelings, please chalk it to my sentimentalism, okay? I do not claim to have all the facts in regard to dates, or how circumstances or events developed..

Of all the friends I have been blessed with having in this life, one of them is indeed a remarkable friend I care for deeply and who has all of my affection, loyalty, and gratitude.
That dear friend is Congressman Charlie Rangel of Harlem, New York.

Most of you know I have some ideals that are very American, even if some of you might describe them as "conservative". I consider my thoughts to be quite Human and quite American.

I share with my wonderful and dear friend, Congressman Charles B. Rangel, a profound love, and abiding respect for this Nation, and I honor Charlie's brave , yet unheralded service to our Country during the War in Korea (1950-1953), where he not only took the battlefield as a 20 year old from Harlem, New York, but was almost mortally wounded by mortar fire while valiantly protecting his unit from certain death. Charlie languished for many weeks with a deadly wound to his back, and he survived , I believe, because our Heavenly Father had a special calling for him beyond that tragic battlefield of ideological warfare.

Charlie went on to St. John's School of Law, and became a Deputy United States Attorney, went on be elected to the New York State Assembly, and in 1970, ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, challenging a venerable incumbent in the person of the unforgettable Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who at that time (1970) was in his 26Th year of continuous service in the Congress. Charlie ran for the seat in a Primary where more than 8 candidates competed included the legendary Powell himself, and Charlie won the democratic primary which at that time of 1970, was held in June, not in September the way it is held these days in New York City.

I met Charlie and his family while he was still State Assemblyman representing a district in Harlem. My Mom, bless her, was a long time friend of the late Ms.Hattie Dodson, who worked for Congressman Powell as a Chief of Staff. Ms. Dodson had asked my Mom to "lend your lanky son (Me), to help Charlie over in his campaign. Charlie is a nice, good -hearted kid and, if my guy
(Powell) doesn't want the seat anymore, then I want Charlie to win the seat."

Hattie was not being disloyal, for she was an Elderly Lady who saw far beyond what the political pundits were saying of the Congressional race, and she probably felt that Congressman Powell, ailing, absent from Congress (He was mortally ill with cancer), was not likely to be up to this primary challenge. In fact, Ms. Dodson was right. Congressman Powell did some nominal campaigning, spending more time, and this was understandable, seeing his doctors. Powell was a venerated figure who commanded the fierce loyalty of his devotees. I was a new kid to the Harlem scene then, and I obeyed my Mother's call for me to volunteer, and I did.
I recall stepping out of the underground No. 6 train when it stopped at 116Th street in El Barrio and Lexington Avenue, I walked up the stairs that exited to the Street level, and there was Assemblyman Charlie Rangel shaking hands with subway riders as they entered the subway and as they exited it. Some of his supporters were giving out palm-cards describing his plan for the district if he got elected to Congress. I took a bunch of palm cards from one volunteer and I volunteered right there to help. Charlie has a store front campaign headquarters that was jumping with energy. He wore a beige trench coat when campaigned in the Fall of 1970, and some folks confused him with Powell because there was a striking similarity between the two, some observers noted in terms of style and substance.

Charlie Rangel was elected to Congress in November, 1970, and he was sworn in January 4, 1971. He is currently Chairman of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means. He has been principled in his opposition to the War in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for calling for the draft to be reinstated.

I share Congressman Rangel's call for the Draft for reasons of knowing that I was drafted during the War in Vietnam (1967) and that coming from a working-class family, I had no say in whether I was going to be placed in the field of battle, and my Parents were not wealthy, politically connected, or influential so that they could send me to live in Canada to sit out the War ,and the Draft which was mandatory at the time. The War in Vietnam was ended by a resentful Congress. Many citizens at the time, questioned how young men and women who came from poor families were more often, not- so- coincidentally, drafted, while influential and affluent families always escaped "detection".

And... when some of those wealthy families happened to get a draft letter by a fluke, the reply was quick and curt from the family, although one can not blame any Parent, for doing what they can to keep a son or daughter out of harms' way in a time of War with a Draft underway. Most wealthy parents sent their children to live in Canada or in Europe.

In a surprising twist, the War in the Vietnam ended in early Summer, 1975 when then-President Gerald R. Ford declared the War was over as far as the United States was concerned. We pulled out of Vietnam then ...under a Republican Administration, quite interestingly, we are at War now, and there are few supporters of pulling out of Iraq or Afghanistan.

I honor, respect and I have reverence for the brave men and women who are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their courageous efforts to fight terrorism, is indeed magnanimous and gratefully and deeply appreciated by me. I note with deep sadness, the death of the many brave young men and women who have sacrificed their lives upon the alter of freedom in defense of our Liberty. May our Heavenly Father comfort their loved ones, even as He cradles them in His loving arms.

Congressman Rangel Is In The Hospital As of This Writing:

I want to say that I just learned from viewing the web site of the New York Daily News today Sunday March 9, 2008, that my dear friend Congressman Charlie Rangel has been in the hospital for several days with the flu. I phoned the hospital switchboard to ascertain if I can go visit him, but not surprisingly, the person who answered the telephone call, was being protective of Congressman Rangel's privacy, so no information is being preferred on the telephone. I am a long time personal friend of Congressman Rangel, and I will do what I can for him in this time of illness, so I have reached out to two of his ablest staff members, Emile Milne and George Dalley, via Email, in the hope they can get me on the Guest List to visit Congressman Rangel at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.

Congressman Rangel's Visit to the New York Temple:

Congressman Rangel took the tour of the Manhattan LDS Temple during the period when it conducted the Open House in June, 2004. I was there with him when he took the tour, and I recall when the huge Dave Checketts, all six feet 6 inches of him, prodded me to introduce him, to Congressman Rangel after the tour ended, and Checketts observed Rangel leaving the Temple.
As Congressman Rangel exited, Dave Checketts turned to me and said, "Franck, I want to meet Congressman Charlie Rangel" and we both sprinted around the corner of Columbus Avenue to West 66Th Street, to catch up with Congressman Rangel who was walking toward the ABC News studio with my good friend Jim Capel, his Chief of Staff.

Checketts and Rangel talked right there on the sidewalk, and they agreed to meet again at a future date. As is customary with Charlie Rangel, he was affable, friendly, and receptive to Dave Checketts, regardless of any thought of ideology, beliefs, or labels. That's how Charlie is. Congressman Rangel is the most powerful Member of Congress as Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and that is where all the federal money is marked up for appropriations, but...he takes my phone calls himself. Charlie always says to me, and I am grateful to him for his long time friendship, "Anything I can do for you, you just let me know". These remarks are affectionate reassurance from a dear friend of many years, God bless him.

Several days after Congressman Rangel's visit to the New York Temple in Manhattan, he told me, "Franck, it was a beautiful and memorable experience. I hope you will tell me more about the Church ."

I have spoken with him of the Church and the Prophet Joseph Smith, many times, and I am happy to say Charlie Rangel is a member of Congress who venerates our Heavenly Father.

Congressman Rangel is not a narrow minded person. Congressman Rangel is friends with U.S. Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon, who is Republican, U. S. Senators Orrin Hatch, and Robert Bennet of Utah, Republicans, and of U.S. Senator Harry Reid, a Democrat, who is Senate Majority Leader. This is in keeping with the protocols of being a Member of Congress, and I applaud Congressman Rangel's magnanimous ability to walk across the aisle without regard to party affiliation. Congressman Rangel is a friend of U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and of U.S. Senator Barack Obama.

I had the honor of speaking with senators Gordon Smith and Harry Reid during the Manhattan Temple Open House Tour in June, 2004, and they are outstanding public servants. I am grateful to have made their acquaintance.

I am going to invite Congressman Rangel to Olmstead Ward-2, but I will check with Stake President Bench and Bishop Brignoni first, to see if they will join me in inviting Chairman Rangel to visit us for Sacrament Meeting one of these Sundays soon.

To all my friends who see this column, please join me in sending get well greetings to Congressman Charlie Rangel, in care of his Congressional Address:
163 West 125 Street, Suite 737
New York, NY 10027
Tel. 212-663-3900
or
2354 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tel (202) 225-4365

To all my Church friends, please call his office, and send your good wishes to him, and tell the staff you are also a friend of Franck Strongbow, who is a good friend of Congressman Rangel.

Congressman Rangel is a truly great American patriot and a National treasure.

Thank you for reading this. Please give me your comments.