In 1983, The Associated Press profiled the Rev. Jesse Jackson when he was a 41-year-old civil rights activist preparing his historic 1984 campaign for the presidency. Jackson at the time described himself much like a prophet. In the ’60s, he battled for equal rights, picketing restaurants and marching for open housing. In the ’70s, he stressed self-respect and economic justice. In the '80s, he turned to leadership, making a run for president. Friends and foes described him similarly. They mention his ego, his drive, his grand ideas, his weakness as an organizer, and his clever courting of the media.