2004 Kerry Campaign Flight

Marvin Nicholson

CHIEF OF "STUFF"

The first time I met MAGIC MARVIN Nicholson, he was working in a Boston windsurfing shop. He told me what a big a fan he was of my magazine. A few weeks after the cover article came out, Senator John Kerry walked into the windsurfing shop. Marvin goes “Hey! You’re that windsurfer on the cover of American Windsurfer!”   What happened afterwards is a well-documented… Just Google his name and read it for yourself.

After Kerry’s loss in the 2004 elections, Marvin and I had lunch in Washington DC and I wondered whether Kerry would run again. Marvin looked at me and said…“I told Kerry, ‘Don’t know about you, but I am going to the White House..'” We laughed and then he added. “I told him he can come along if he like.”

Several months later on Thanksgiving day, a call came in from Canada, it was Marvin. He said he was thinking of me and wanted to call and thank me…I didn’t know what he was talking about, so I changed the subject.

 

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Can’t resist linking some great photos of Magic Marv from White House photographer Peter Souza.

Years later, Obama was in the White House and I happen to see Marvin in one of Pete Souza’s sweet photo of the President sharing his coat with the First Lady. Well, what you know!… The windsurfer made it to the White House! Not only that, Washington Post claimed that he is the “man that made Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign run”. In January of 2017, when Marvin tied the knot with Helen Pajcic, his old windsurfing buddy, Secretary of State John Kerry officiated the wedding and Barack Obama was one of his groomsmen. 

It sure made me proud!,

I don’t know how Marvin roped me into this interview during the 2004 Democratic Convention.

1980’s DECADE

INDULGING DEFIANCE: Photography gave me wings but also a sense of boundless creativity. This was a decade of independence, anti-establishment. It was a decade that avoided entrapment, both stylistic and accomplishment,. an era of exploration and renaissance.

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1990’s DECADE

SINK OR SWIM: The ’90s were filled with risk and perils. A decade of demanding faith and vision. Jumping before knowing where to land. A decade filled with challenges, difficulties and yet breathtaking miracles.

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MACAQUE WARRIOR

NEW WORK: I felt I had an appointment with a moment. So I went up the mountain in the rain. Half-frozen I came down with nothing to justify the morning soak. Then out of the woods, this monkey came and sat in front of me…

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Collectable

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Woody Camp

PHOTO AGENCY OWNER
A future blog about the late Woody Camp will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Circa 1982.

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Ju Ming

SCULPTOR
A future blog about renowned sculptor from TaiwanJu Mingwill be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 1981.

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Ron Jamis

FOUNDER OF JAMIS BIKE
A future blog about Ron Jamis will be added here. Enter now to see photos. Since 2003.

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Susan Biddle

PHOTOGRAPHER
A future blog about White House photographer Susan Biddle will be completed. Enter now to see photos. Since 1978.

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