Jack Kemp, all-star quarterback, politician, father, dead of cancer, 73

(UPDATE: An update on the Kemp memorial service has been added below.)

Jack Kemp, the all-star college and pro quarterback who went on to serve nine House terms, as secretary of Housing and Urban Development and as Robert Dole's VP running mate on the 1996 Republican presidential ticket, died this evening.

Kemp also ran his own unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1988 against Ronald Reagan's vice president, George H.W. Bush, who would go on to appoint Kemp as his HUD secretary.

The cause of death was cancer. He was 73 years old and had allowed his office to release the news of his terminal illness only in early January. But there were no details at the time of treatment or what type, only word that he would continue his charitable activities.

(UPDATE: Tonight a former aide revealed that Kemp had cancer in the hip that was believed to be a secondary infection. The origin of the cancer was unknown, which made targeted treatments difficult. Kemp did undergo extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments at Sloan-Kettering that ended only recently.)

Moments ago, the Kemp family released a statement:

Jack Kemp passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord shortly after 6 o’clock this evening, surrounded by the love of his family and pastor, and believing with Isaiah, “My strength and my courage is the Lord.”

During the treatment of his cancer, Jack expressed his gratitude for the thoughts and prayers of so many friends, a gratitude which the Kemp family shares.

Funeral details were incomplete tonight and expected to be released Sunday.

Kemp's condition had been declining rapidly since the announcement and friends knew the end was near for the devoted father and politician. He was famed for predictably breaking off Friday business meetings to fly overnight to watch his two boys, Jeff and Jimmy, also quarterbacks, play college or pro football on the weekends.

"So sad," said Karl Rove, longtime Republican strategist, in a cellphone text message.

The troubled GOP could have used the friendly, empathetic and well-spoken southern Californian in its national rebuilding now. Kemp was known as a bleeding heart conservative for his interest in social issues and bettering the lives of average citizens. And he was well-liked by teammates, both the athletic and political kind.

A West Los Angeles native and graduate of celebrity-strewn Fairfax High School, until last year Kemp was probably the most famous politician to attend Occidental College. No longer.

Now, Barack Obama is. The president is four inches taller than Kemp, but did not play quarterback, safety, punter and place kicker on the school's football team.

Kemp's 13-year football career involved the National Football League, the Canadian Football League and the defunct American Football League, where Kemp was an all-star for seven of the league's 10 years and played in five of its championship games.

Our blogging buddy, the ever-alert Larry Harnisch over on The Daily Mirror, has quickly come up with an op-ed item here written 16 months by Kemp for The Times on bankruptcy laws and homeownership. It's so prescient it could have been written today.

(UPDATE: The Kemp family has announced details of the memorial service at Washington's National Cathedral on Friday, May 8 at 2 p.m. "The memorial service is open to family, friends, former colleagues, and all those who would like to attend. Seating for the service begins at 1 pm, and attendees should plan on arriving as close to 1 pm as possible.

(The service is closed to media; however, media organizations are allowed outside, near the west end entrance to the Cathedral for arrivals and departures. Since all Cathedral schools are in session, no surface parking will be available. Media are asked to drop off at Wisconsin Avenue and South Road.)

Now, watch this brief video recap of Kemp's career and check out the old Kemp trading card from his Buffalo Bills playing days.

-- Andrew Malcolm

We go inside politics several times every day. Click here to go with us and receive automatic Twitter alerts of each new Ticket item. or follow us   @latimestot

Photo: Cliff Schiappa / Associated Press (Kemp and Dole); Reed Saxon / Associated Press (Kemp speaks in a Santa Ana, Calif. church during the 1996 presidential campaign).

Comments

[Mary Ellen]

My thoughts and prayers are with Jack Kemp's family. I wish, however, that the LA Times could have written this piece without having to mention Obama. Is it necessary to include Obama in every single incident in this country. Couldn't this have just been about Jack Kemp? Really, it's not all about BO, I wish the media would wake up to that and quit acting like his cheerleader.

(Well, this isn't the LA Times newspaper. The newspaper is printed on newsprint. This is an online blog. Thanks again for reading.)

[Bob]

As a Democrat, I did not agree with trickle-down economics and many other aspects of 80's Republican policies, however I always admired Jack Kemp. His heart was sincere and he championed ideas that both parties could agree with such as Enterprise Zones. He rolled up his sleeves and reached out to minorities and low income constituents on a national level. He also supported DC Vote (and was honored by the proponents of DC Vote in 2006) and stuck up for Presidential candidate Obama when he was attacked by reference because of the Minister of the Church that he attended. My thoughts and prayers are with the Kemp family.

[Shoshana]

Now, wouldn't you think that the reason Barack Obama is now the more well-known of the two is because he's the President of the United States? But apparently, male prowess speaks so deeply to the American public that the LA Times article has to rush to assure its readers that Obama is 4 whole inches taller than Kemp, even if he didn't go in for sports! Just think of those slobbering news reports about Obama's amazing work-outs and his magnificent pecs; it really makes you wonder if the correlation between policy and popularity is even lower than we'd like to imagine.

[David]

God Bless Jack Kemp!

[CD NASSIF]

A very good man left us today. Mr Kemp, thank you for all that you have given America. Your optimism and common sense ideas will be missed.

[Friend6]

I mourn the loss of Jack Kemp. Many years ago I was granted the privilege to be a summer Congressional Intern in Jack’s Washington office. While I was never a Republican, Jack’s openness to diverse views and differing opinions made me feel comfortable expressing my youthful voice during meetings with interns. Indeed, Jack wisely tasked me to research the feasibility of creating an Iroquois community college in his upstate New York congressional district. Jack sent me and other interns to many meetings where we were tasked to take copious notes and create briefs for him. We updated his files and used our growing knowledge of Jack’s positions to answer the many letters that flooded Jack’s office from his constituents. Jack would lunch with us, engage us in his interests, and energize us to work as a team. He will always be a model of a powerful personality whose word and deed showed he deeply cared that diverse ethnic and cultural voices get a piece of the American pie.

[Guard Wife]

May Mr. Kemp rest in peace and his family be comforted by their memories of him.

As an aside to this post's writer--learn to cull what is worth mention and what is not. Simply because a fact exists doesn't make it worth mentioning in every context.

Much like memorial services should not become political rallies, a memorial post should concentrate on the subject.

[uncle_vito]

Both Jack Kemp and Obama attended my alma mater, Occidental College.

You hear all about Obama (who never graduated) and nothing about Kemp.

I quit giving money to those clowns yeara ago.

Vito

[The Freedom Muse]

A definite asset to our country has been lost. And we certainly send the warmest condolences to the Kemp family.

This article started out quite well,but then it turned off topic. How is this section relevant?

"Now, Barack Obama is. The president is four inches taller than Kemp, but did not play quarterback, safety, punter and place kicker on the school's football team."

If I were in the position of an editor or even an English school teacher...this section would have a RED X.

Stick to topic...and report the news.
That is simply what the American people need and want.

[Tiffany M.]

My thoughts and prayers are with the Kemp family. I knew Jack well in a short period of time, although we have not been in contact for over a year. It was a privilege getting to know Jack, he will never be forgotten.

[Neil Flynn]

Not only did you degrade yourself by using a good man's obituary to lionize your savior Obama, you had to belittle Kemp by "pointing out" that Obama is a much taller man, except you can't even get simple facts right.

Obama is 6'1 just like Kemp.

You are so blinded by your love of the Obamessiah he really appears to you as a giant compared to other men.

[hereandthere]

Jack's column advocating allowing judges to modify loan terms to help folks avoid foreclosure was a great idea---shot down by a wildly conservative, selfish and entitled wingnut class that, today, would never allow a "liberal" like Kemp (or any fair minded person) to get near the ticket. Shame. I wonder how author would have reacted had Kemp gone for a big play on his housing idea......

[Alfred Hussein Neuman]

Good grief. What does Obama have to do with Jack Kemp? The LATimes continues its hero worship. As to Obama not playing football, it may be because he was doing drugs during that time, not playing sports.

[Sgt. York]

Are you kidding us with this 4 inches comment? In what kind of thrall does one have to be in to think this is in any way appropriate? It's worse than the "enchanted" question at the recent presser. It's like a SNL skit. You will justify the conservative media watchdogs' existences for years with this one.

[The Thinker]

All those complaining about mentioning Obama should read where both politicians attended Occidental. The height and athletic comments were stupid, but why all the whining? Why did the Times have to mention Karl Rove, Ronald Regan, Bob Dole or George Bush? Because there were interesting facts that associated Jack Kemp with all of these people??!! If the Times inserted what Arlen Spectre said about Kemp's death, you Obama haters would need medical attention.