SATURDAY STORY - MAY 20, 2023 - DAN JACKSON #14
On Saturday I write fiction. Today this is episode 14 - over a quarter of a year on the same story.
Dan Jackson at age 14 assembled a computer in his parent's basement in 1980. Friends heard about it and wanted a computer, so Dan started building more computers. The demand kept growing and soon, his parents, Dan, and his uncle Steve formed a business DJ Computers to make computers. In the story today, we are in June 1985, Dan is 19 years old and just finished his freshman year at Purdue University. Dan was working this summer in a marketing capacity for DJ Computers as DJ Computers opened stores within college bookstores.
On Thursday, June 13, 1985, Dan was kidnapped from Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois by Covenant, Sword and Arm of the Lord militant Christian group (also known as the CSA). The kidnappers' demand was that they got 30 minutes of media time to tell the American people to repent.
We start today’s episode in a cabin at a CSA campground in rural Northern Wisconsin near Crandon on Saturday, June 15, 1985.
*****
Dan Jackson jogged for an hour. He didn’t run hard or fast as he was thinking. How could this be a win-win? He was guessing that his parents were bewildered by the kidnapping. No parents want their children to be kidnapped. Even his uncle might be thinking about how the founder of DJ Computers could be kidnapped, but the publicity was phenomenal and the stock price was going through the roof. The FBI was involved and would eventually catch up with Rodney Smith and the CSA - the slogan “The FBI gets their man” was running through his mind. Rodney Smith was a good guy and wanted to get his message of turning to God out in front of the public. And, what could he do?
*****
Dan ran on the paths and trails of the campground, then out through a hole in the fence onto country roads. He passed a Potawatomi Tribal Center and the Lake Lucerne Gospel Chapel. He looped around Lake Lucerne. The loons were in the reeds by the side of the lake making their unique calls. There was a little fog over the lake as the air was colder than the lake water.
About forty minutes into his run, he started getting a plan and worked on that plan.
The details were becoming clearer to Dan, just like the fog was slowly dissipating. After looping around the lake, he came back into the campground. The front gate was closed and locked, but Dan found a low spot in the fence and jumped over the fence.
Jerry McDowell saw Dan jump over the fence. He wasn’t quite as sure as Rodney Smith was that Dan wouldn’t try to escape, but Dan was a good young man and seemingly could be trusted. Dan waved to Jerry and yelled, “Where’s Rodney?”
Jerry yelled back “In the main campground office”.
Dan finished his run by the office, knocked on the door, and waited for Rodney to let him in.
Rodney was making notes on paper (Dan thought he could be using a DJ Computer with Microsoft Word to make his notes).
“Can we talk?” asked Dan.
Rodney said, “Yes, of course.”
For the next hour, Dan Jackson and Rodney Smith made plans.
*****
Dan had Rodney call information to get the phone numbers of two people. He knew one number but didn’t know the other.
*****
D’Anton Brown was doing chores. Denise Brown had been after him to wash the windows and put on the screens. He was out in the yard with the hose when Denise called him to the phone for a “very important call”. D’Anton was thinking - sure some client had a tax question but was really surprised when Dan Jackson said “Hello Mr. Brown”!!
Dan said, “Mr. Brown, I think you are the right man to handle this kidnapping situation”. Then Dan introduced D’Anton Brown to Rodney Smith.
Rodney and D’anton talked for 20 minutes and Dan and Rodney thanked him for his time, and for his willingness to help. Actually, a lot was depending on D’Anton acting as a middleman between the FBI and the CSA.
*****
The second phone call was to the number he knew - his uncle - Steve Jackson. Steve was in the backyard tightening the bolts on a playset for the girls. Aunt Leah was so astonished to hear Dan’s voice and ran to get Steve.
Leah said, “Steve, there is an important call for you. It’s Daniel”.
“WOW” answered Steve and dropped his wrench.
Dan did the talking on this call. They talked for about 20 minutes. Dan laid out his plan - the plan that had already been discussed with D’Anton Brown. Steve Jackson and DJ Computer Company needed to be onboard.
*****
Will and Beth Jackson had been doing little tasks around the house. Will used the lawn edger on the front sidewalk. Beth answered the call from D’Anton Brown. The FBI agent listened in to the call and decided it wasn’t important to the case.
D’Anton said, “Hey Beth and Will. We’re having lunch today and would love to have you come over to our house and have some comfort food. And, yes, we’ll have some prayers for Dan. It will be a good change of pace for you to get away from your stress for an hour. Can you come over at about 12:30? Denise is already busy cooking and there is more than we can eat.”
Beth and Will looked at each other, Beth nodded ‘yes’ to Will, and he said, “That sounds lovely. We’ll be over at about 12:30.”
*****
Beth and Will were surprised to see Steve Jackson’s car in the driveway at D’Anton and Denise Brown's house.
There were warm hugs and a few tears as they gathered. D’Anton took charge - and had the guests sit at their table. Denise brought in a platter of spaghetti and meat sauce, D’Anton led a prayer and then started to eat - all that is except D’Anton who was putting forth a plan.
D’Anton started and turned to Beth and Will. “Beth and Will, Steve and I both got phone calls this morning from your son. He didn’t call you as he thought that the FBI might be listening.”
Will and Beth Jackson were confounded.
Turning to Steve, D’Anton continued, “And Steve, I think what you heard was probably about the same as what I heard.
D’Anton continued. “Dan wants to use some of his DJ Computers stock to buy media time on WBBM television in Chicago probably on Tuesday morning at about 10:00. He hopes and thinks that WBBM will get the authority to broadcast a half-hour program on all the CBS affiliates. He also thinks that WBBM might even give them the time as this is a newsworthy activity (and WBBM will still come out ahead. Being the station to break the story of Dan Jackson's kidnapping will still be in people’s minds for a long time) The leader of CSA will get to give his story, Dan will tell a little of his story, and all will come out okay. He doesn’t want any charges against his kidnappers, and if charges are filed, he will use some of his stock money to pay for a strong legal team to defend them - maybe somebody like William Kunstler who defended the Chicago Seven from the 1968 Democratic Convention protests.
“He wanted to run it by you before the CSA leader talks to you at home with the FBI listening in”.
D’Anton stopped to look at Will and Beth - who were both awestruck.
D’Anton continued, “Steve, I think this will be a win-win. DJ Computers will come out smelling like roses. You’ll have the country thinking what a great company you are, and public image is important.”
“The kidnapping will be over with, we can go back to normal - maybe a little changed by the experience. What do you think?”
The Jacksons said it seemed like a good plan. Steve also agreed.
D’Anton continued, “Will, do you have a phone number for the FBI Special Agent in Charge?”
Will answered, “Yes, I do.”
D’Anton said, “Can you call him and ask him to lunch at our house - now - or as soon as he can?”
Will and Beth Jackson laughed. “Did Denise make enough food?”
At that comment, Denise and D’Anton laughed too. D’Anton’s snap answer was “Denise could feed an army if she had ten minutes advance warning.”.
*****
Will used Brown’s telephone to call agent Wayne Pauli. “Agent Pauli, Beth and I, Steve Jackson, D’Anton, and Denise Brown are having lunch together at the Brown’s house. We’d love to have you join us.” Then Will corrected himself, “No, that needs to be stronger, we really need you to join us. Dan and his kidnappers have a plan that seems feasible.”
Agent Pauli immediately agreed and D’Anton gave him the address and in twenty minutes he arrived. D’Anton greeted the agent at the door and directed him to the table.
Denise had made room at the table although she wasn’t sure if Agent Pauli would want any food. But, he did want strong black coffee.
D’Anton gave agent Pauli the plan as it had unfolded. Dan would use his stock to purchase time on WBBM on Tuesday morning. CBS would need to agree to spread the message to their affiliates. The CSA spokesperson would get some time to talk, but probably not the thirty minus he wanted. Dan and his parents would also get to talk, Steve Jackson, if he wanted to, could have a minute or two.
D’Anton had his own part. “And, I’ve been asked by Dan to be the moderator.” Looking at Steve Jackson, he smiled, “And, that might even be good for DJ Computers to have a black man moderating the session.”
Steve Jackson had a grin, and said loudly “YES”.
D’Anton looked at Wayne Pauli. “Can this work? Can we stop any charges against the CSA, or make them just minimum charges? Dan insisted that he would pay for a high-powered lawyer if it went to trial.
Wayne Pauli paused before answering. “I know the agency would prefer to press charges. We don’t want kidnappers to go around thinking they can get away scot-free.” He stopped to think. “Of course, we can insist on charges, and in a month those charges somehow disappear quietly.”
Special Agent Wayne Pauli smiled. He knew that saving face was important for the agency.
*****
Dan had asked for a sign. If a tentative agreement was worked out, could WBBM announce on their Saturday night 10:00 news something like “It looks like the Dan Jackson kidnapping case might have a solution. WBBM will have more on this as it unfolds.”
*****
Wayne called his boss immediately after leaving lunch. He explained that there would be a solution if television station WBBM agreed to the plan.
Wayne’s boss, Emily Torrence, was a little skeptical. “We don’t negotiate with kidnappers.” was her answer.
Wayne said, “This plan came from Daniel Jackson himself. Yes, I’m pretty sure he ran it past his kidnappers before calling Mr. Brown and his uncle. And, he is willing to pay the fees. We can press charges against the Covenant, Sword, and Arm of the Lord organization.
Emily Torrence, the midwest head of the FBI finally agreed.
Emily then called her boss, William Webster the director of the FBI, and briefed him. Cases like this could go on for a long time. If the FBI could break this case quickly, it would be great. He volunteered to call CBS management in New York. He had truthfully said, “When the FBI director called the head of CBS, things happen.”
*****
William Webster called Bud Grant, head of CBS News. Yes, it was a Saturday afternoon, but this situation needed fixing. The receptionist was a little reluctant to call Mr. Grant on a Saturday but did route his call to the weekend administrator, Jim McKeown.
Jim McKeown wasn’t a fool. Getting exclusive coverage of the Dan Jackson kidnapping would win viewers to CBS News. Yes, CBS news, not NBC or ABC - but CBS would be bringing the news about the kidnapped founder of DJ Computers to the country and the world. He quickly agreed, and would call WBBM management and set it up. He took Director Webster’s number so WBBM could verify the request.
WBBM director was Lynette Gorder. Ms. Gorder should have been out with her grandchildren but had stopped by the WBBM offices about a pressing issue.
When Jim McKeown from CBS News out of New York City called, asking if WBBM would host a half-hour program ending the Dan Jackson kidnapping, Lynette agreed immediately. A note went out to all CBS affiliates to reserve the 9:30 to 10:00 time slot open for a special program on the kidnapping. Both Jim and Lynette knew that preempting the Price is Right at 10:00 would lose the heart of daytime viewers - the housewives and the seniors.
Lynette got the contact phone number for Special Agent Wayne Pauli. And, she immediately contacted agent Pauli.
So, several phone calls and conversations later, WBBM announced on their Saturday night news at 10:00 “It looks like the Dan Jackson kidnapping case might have a solution. WBBM will have more on this as it unfolds.”. And, Lynette had Harry Porterfield, the most recognized Chicago newsman come in from the suburbs on this Saturday night to make the announcement. Every hour and a half hour for the rest of the day, WBBM hyped “Exclusive News Tonight at 10:00 about the Daniel Jackson Case”.
*****
So, Dan Jackson’s plan was put into action. At about 10:05 after the WBBM evening news made the announcement, Dan Jackson called his parents with the FBI agent listening in.
After greeting his parents, Dan said, “I imagine an FBI agent is listening to our conversation. The leader of the CSA would like to talk to the FBI agent about the arrangements for Tuesday.”
The FBI agent at the house said, “He will need to talk to Wayne Pauli” - and gave Dan the phone number of Wayne Pauli.
So, Rodney Smith called Wayne Pauli, the FBI special agent in charge. Rodney was still leery of the FBI and still was using a scrambled connection through pay phones to talk to the FBI Special Agent.
*****
WBBM’s announcement of a possible solution to the Dan Jackson kidnapping case didn’t go unnoticed. Was Dan being held in Chicago? Did somebody tip them off? Even WBBM staffers didn’t know what was going on.
After the 10:00 news and announcement on WBBM, Dan Jackson called Linda Watson. He got permission from Rodney and kept it short.
Dan said, “Hi Linda, I’m safe, and I have been in contact with my parents and the FBI.”
Linda wanted to ask questions, but Dan said, “I can’t tell you more. It will all work out, I hope Bye”.
*****
Dan was wired. It was almost eleven p.m. and he was fully awake. Jerry McDowell was about ready to go to bed.
Dan said, “Mr. McDowell, I need to think. I’m not going to escape, but I am going to walk around the grounds - maybe half an hour - and think.” Dan didn’t add “And, talk to God but that was in his brain too.
Jerry said, “Dan, first please call me Jerry, and second - go ahead clear your brain.”.
Dan walked around the campground. He had never gone to summer camp. No, he corrected himself, he had never gone away to summer camp. He did a sports summer camp at the Bloomington YMCA, twice. His mom dropped him off at the Y and they had activities, crafts, and games for the kids. And, then Mom picked him up at 4:30. I guess that was summer camp, but not staying overnight.
Had he missed out on his childhood because of assembling components for a computer when he was fourteen? Linda talked of her friends from band and chorus, and all he had were his cross-country friends - and that wasn’t quite the same.
Could he have done things differently? Maybe. But, actually, his life to this point - age 19 - was pretty good. He wasn’t a big materialistic person. He could have a car, but being at Purdue University, freshmen couldn’t have cars. Did he want a car for next year? He wasn’t sure. He laughed to himself as he walked. Maybe I could assemble my own car like I did on my own computer. Hmmm - he could order a chassis, four tires, an engine - but there were so many parts to cars. Computers were simpler: a motherboard, a monitor, and chips.
He had been to New York City three times. He had been on Good Morning America, the ABC morning show; Today on NBC, and CBS This Morning. And, each of those programs had flown in the computer wunderkind from Illinois and one of his parents (he had taken Mom twice and his Dad once). He hadn’t been to Europe or Hawaii. Before he assembled that first computer, with his parents they had driven to South Dakota and Mount Rushmore, then south to Rocky Mountain National Park, and then back to Bloomington. He had been to Michigan to see his Mom’s family. He had been to Wisconsin for a Green Bay Packers football game. Yes, on paper he was a multi-millionaire - big deal - but he was just trying to be a normal 19-year-old college student. And, boy these last three days had messed that up!!
Dan was now thinking about the future. He liked being the founder of DJ Computers, but Uncle Steve was a good manager. Maybe eventually he would take over. Would he want to work for some other technology company? Dan remembered his interview with Gordon Moore of Intel. It might be good for him to work for Intel or someplace else - it would give him a different perspective. It was like his junior and senior year in high school when he worked anonymously at DJ Computers assembling new computers. He had a good technical background, but he would need to work on his people skills to get ahead. He thought it would be good to work in leadership with SigEp at Purdue and to serve on the Student Senate.
He was still pretty naive about women. He liked Linda Watson - but he really wasn’t ready to make a firm decision about that yet.
*****
Rodney Smith noticed that Dan was walking casually, and grabbed a Dr. Pepper for Dan and a Leinenkugel Beer for himself and stepped outside on the porch of his cabin.
He said, “Hey Dan, why don’t you come over here.”
Dan said, “Good Idea”.
They sat in two Adirondack chairs on the porch of Rodney’s cabin.
Rodney asked, “So, what’s on your mind, Dan?”
Dan answered, “Just in a reflective mood tonight. I’m 19, and have a lot ahead of me.” He popped the tab on the Dr. Pepper, and asked, “What were you like when you were 19, Rodney?” (Rodney had told Dan to call him Rodney instead of Mr. Smith earlier in the day).
Rodney reflected a little. “I was a bit of a hellraiser when I was 19. I joined the Army. The Korean War was close to its end, even though it is still going on. The Army sent me to Korea and the 38th Parallel. I was just a grunt - a guy with a rifle and looking through binoculars at some other grunt on the other side of the line looking back at me. It was the first time I had been outside of the United States.
“Probably like you, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life. Drinking beer with my buddies in Korea was okay, but not like it was my life’s goal.
“One Sunday we had a preacher at our base, and I went. His message struck home with me. Don’t wander around aimlessly, live with a purpose, live with Jesus in your heart. I went forward and became a real Christian at that time.”
“After my Army stint, I came back to Oklahoma and took a job in the building field. I worked on building banks, businesses, houses, gas stations - you name it. And, then I took an online course to become a preacher. I started preaching as a fill-in at a local Baptist church. Some people liked my preaching - and some didn’t - that seems to be the way with preachers. Some want more “hell and brimstone”, and others want less!!.
“I took on my own storefront church. We met in the back of a barbershop - at most 20 of us. I was still working construction and I preached for free.
“There was a sweet girl that came to that church. We dated and eventually got married. We had a son.
“And, on the job, I got promoted. I became a supervisor of a building crew. I even learned some Spanish as we did have some Mexicans on the building team. We were on time - if not even early and under budget. Upper management liked that. So, I took on two crews - generally one in the morning and one in the afternoon. And, our work was still very good, on time and within budget.
“I moved up to a community supervisor. I had six crews under me and was getting paid plenty. It affected me negatively. I spend money on a Corvette and a Harley Motorcycle. And, I went out drinking with some of the other bosses. I told myself, “Just one beer” - and for months that was all I did. I was trying to live what I preached.
Rodney paused a long time and went in to get another Dr. Pepper for Dan and another beer for himself.
Coming back, he sat for a few minutes sipping his beer.
“Then my world went dark. A drunk driver ran a red light and t-boned my wife’s car - with Timothy in it. Both were killed instantly. I blamed God and I turned my back on Him. Then a preacher friend of mine had an affair with his church secretary - and I just couldn’t understand why a man of God would do such a thing. That pushed me over into rejecting God.
“But, I found I just couldn’t reject God. I had seen so much and experienced so much of God. Then the government started infiltrating Christian movements and spying on big-time preachers for stealing money. These preachers just sickened me. Hypocrites - liars - fakes. Somehow I moved to a very conservative, very judgemental version of Christianity. I wasn’t going to be a phony. I was going to preach the unashamed word of God in all of its fullness. And, I found myself as a vigilante - going after those fakes and liars who were taking money from old folks and spending it on themselves rather than on ministry. We became the CSA - Covenant, Sword, and Arm of God - judging and taking on those that broke their covenant with God.
“Anyway, I’ve babbled too long, and I notice you are trying to stay awake. Go to bed Daniel Jackson. Tomorrow is Sunday and I invite you to worship with us tomorrow”.
Dan had been nodding off, but trying to listen to Rodney’s life story. He was glad to get to bed.
*****
The FBI knew of Daniel Jackson’s romance with Linda Watson. They had quietly put a wiretap on the Watson phone. When Daniel had called a little after 10 p.m. and even though the call was 13 seconds long, the FBI equipment identified an area code of 715, northeast Wisconsin.
Even though a deal was on the table for Rodney Smith and the CSA to turn themselves in, and to release Daniel Jackson on Tuesday morning June 18, 1985, the agents watching Watson's phone didn’t know of the deal.
The FBI had long arms and could get into AT&T’s database of phone calls from northern Wisconsin at 10:28. But, on Saturday night, there weren’t many agents that could go through the phone records from area code 715. The message was written to a work queue that wouldn’t be seen by humans until Monday, June 17.
But, on Monday, there would only be 38 phone calls made at that time, only 38 phone calls to be analyzed. That would be a piece of cake as compared to analyzing New York City or Los Angeles phone calls at that time.
*****
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