The Pinky Promise That Changed History
Copy of Dr. Howard Haller’s Political Science Degree
The story I’m about to share is one that changed my life—and nudged a small piece of American history in a new direction.
It started with a pinky swear
Not the kind you make and forget. This was a solemn promise made to my grandmother, Lucy White Hayes Young—granddaughter of Jefferson Davis—on her deathbed. With a piercing look and unwavering voice, she asked me to do something no one else had yet done: restore President Jefferson Davis’s full U.S. citizenship.
It wasn’t about forgiveness. It was about recognition—about righting a wrong she believed had stained our family’s legacy for far too long.
And I said yes.
The Weight of a Promise
At sixteen, I didn’t fully understand what that yes meant. But as I grew older, I realized that keeping my word would require more than passion—it would require preparation. I studied political science and law. I took courses, read legislative history, and learned to draft bills. I wasn’t chasing a degree—I was building the tools I’d need to write the law myself.
It took over a decade. From 1965 to 1978, I balanced family, a fast-rising career at Bank of America, and this quiet mission no one else saw. I poured over legislative directories in libraries (this was before Google!), looking for personal details about senators and congressmen—anything that might help me connect.
Some doors slammed shut.
One phone call with Speaker of the House Carl Albert lasted four minutes. “Not interested. Goodbye.” Click.
I sat there stunned. And then I got back to work.
A Turning Point
Eventually, I got through to my own U.S. senator from California, Allan Cranston. Unlike the Speaker, Senator Cranston actually listened. He didn’t sugarcoat it—passing a bill with unanimous consent in both the Senate and House was almost unheard of.
But then he said something I’ll never forget:
“You sound like a bright guy. I’ll watch your progress.”
That glimmer of hope was all I needed.
And it kept me going—through years of setbacks, meetings, revisions, and closed doors—until one day, 13 years later, it happened.
Why It Still Matters
On October 17, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed S.J. Res. 16 into law. It officially restored the citizenship of Jefferson Davis, 89 years after he was stripped of it by Congress.
It was a victory for history—and a promise fulfilled.
But more than that, it was proof of what one person can do when they hold fast to a mission and honor the legacy entrusted to them.
If you’ve ever wondered why one man would take on such an uphill battle for something most people had forgotten, I hope this story helps you understand.
To hear the full story—told in my own words—click the orange button below.
You’ll get the free eBook and audio version of The True Story of Jefferson Davis’s Citizenship Restoration.
It’s not just history.
It’s family.
And it changed everything.
—Dr. Howard Edward Haller