News

Lietuvos rytas

November 23, 2020

Rita Stankeviciute

Original article in Lithuanian

Translation by Gintaute Genender

American Lithuanian's family finally took a deep breath of relief after collecting millions for US presidential campaign

Juratė Kazickas still remembers meeting Donald Trump at a tennis court in New York few decades ago. Today, after four D. Trump presidential years, the philanthropist hopes she will never see him again.

"My life is wonderful. I have an amazing family and friends, but for the last four years I've lived as with a low grade fever - feeling anxiety, sadness and despair. Every day was consumed by it," shared the philanthropist, 77 year old journalist J. Kazickas her thoughts on D. Trump's presidency with "Lietuvos rytas" in an interview from her home in New York.

Together with hundreds of American Lithuanians she mailed out handwritten letters and messages encouraging people to vote.

Her husband Roger Altman, investment banking advisory firm "Evercore" founder, collected few million dollars of donations to support Joe Biden's campaign.

They took a deep breath of relief only after three days of counting votes, J. Biden was announced as a winner, even though D. Trump still toots that his victory was stolen.

Plenty of reasons to overturn

There are many pictures with Barack Obama at the well known family's home. There are moments captured hugging Hillary and Bill Clinton. They became family friends since R. Altman was a Deputy Secretary of the US Treasury in the Clinton administration. J. Kazickas welcomed American Presidents at the fundraisers at their home by the Central Park in New York.

After raising their children there, family sold the house and moved into a smaller apartment, however, they quarantined far from New York's peripeteias, in their Wyoming ranch. Currently they reside in their summer home in the suburbs. But no pandemic could slow down this American Lithuanian and her husband to continue their work in the wings of US politics.

"We felt huge motivation to overturn this person's presidency. This demagogue, autocrat, sexist liar, who belittled people with disabilities, members of other races, immigrants. The list goes on and on," shared J. Kazickas, not trying to hide her view on D. Trump.

"No one is indifferent to him, love and hate are boiling in America stronger than ever.

More than 73 mln. people voted for D. Trump, but that is 6 mln. less than for J. Biden.

It is impossible to feel nothing for him. During the four year D. Trump era, more than 150 books were published about him. TV channels were broadcasting not the news, but White House reality show.

D. Trump spent nights tweeting to the world.

Few days before the election B. Obama met with the Michigan voters and promised "you won't have to think about them every day."

"Every morning for the last four years you'd wake up to see absurd D. Trump tweets, sometimes few hundred every day. He was always in your face. I kept thinking: How is it possible? Waht is happening in America?' shared J. Kazickas.

J.Kazickas, who grew up in a well known Alexanda and Joseph Kazickas's family, noted "Thank God that they didn't see D. Trump's presidency. That would have caused them too much grief, even though my parents voted for the republicans their entire life."

Lithuanians for Biden

History shows that Lithuanian immigrants more often supported US right party, in hopes that they would run more strict policy regarding Russia.

Even though J. Kazickas has more liberal viewpoint, she never argued with her parents over their choice, because the most important thing was to have honest, dedicated leaders.

"According to my Christian values, it is important to take care of others, love your neighbors.

During the B. Obama election, my parents probably voted for John McCain. Would I have been happy to see him as our president? Absolutely!

Later on republican candidate was Mitt Romney - if he would have won, I would have supported him - a decent, caring, understanding public servant. Just not this selfish psychopath D. Trump," said J. Kazickas.

More than a thousand like minded American Lithuanians came together to form a group called "Lithuanian Americans and Friends for Biden."

They shared the insights and news, together volunteered encouraging the Americans to vote and posed for pictures wearing the t-shirts with the name JOE spelled out in Lithuanian flag colors: yellow, green and red.

Arguments among the immigrants

The activism of J. Biden supporters got the attention from the D. Trump supporters in the American Lithuanian community.

One well known activist Kestutis Eidukonis even shared a letter saying how saddened he was when he found out that so many Lithuanians support J. Biden, because he "used to be a friend of Lithuania, but now he befriended China, Russia and Iran."

J. Biden's supporters answered him in a long letter, counterweighing K. Eidukonis's every argument.

"You say J. Biden will lead us into socialism. Please share where you found such information that J. Biden administration encourages the government to control production and distribution? J. Biden administration will work on tax, wages and social reforms to make the middle class stronger," wrote the American Lithuanian activists in their public answer. "We are not on our way to socialism with J. Biden, but with D. Trump we are becoming banana republic, where the leaders of the important institutions focus on loyalty to the president instead of working to benefit the American people. Our country is drifting away from the lawful state and principals of shared governance, even though that was always the foundation of Democracy."

Lived not far from the candidate

J. Kazickas proudly wore her t-shirt with JOE in Lithuanian colors and as many other Lithuanian activists, dedicated hours writing letters and messages to the voters in Florida.

"The messages had to be neutral, just encouraging to vote. I just wanted to ask one question: what did D. Trump do for you?

I was so excited to see so many Lithuanians volunteering. I hope that such enthusiasm will remain for good,' shared J. Kazickas.

J. Kazickas was born during the World War II in then occupied Vilnius. Later on with her family she escaped the Soviets in a horse-drawn carriage from Zalioji village in Suvalkija to East Prussia. Their journey continued by train to Vroclav till they ended up in a war refugee camp.

After spending three years in the camp in Germany, Kazickas family reached America by ship. New life started there.

„When I see J. Biden, I will share that when my family arrived to America in 1947, we lived in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a town in his district,“ smiled J. Kazickas.

Conversation with the candidate

She met with President elect many times, since her journalist career in 1977 in Washington. Back then J. Biden was US Senator and J. Kazickas was just an observer of politics.

But everything changed when she ended her journalist career and didn't have to stay neutral. Especially because her husband R. Altman was a dedicated activist who volunteered with Robert Kennedy campaign during his college days. Later he was a part of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton administrations.

When Democratic party was selecting a candidate who would be able to face D. Trump in the elections, R. Altman sensed right away that J. Biden has the best chance to win.

To help his candidate to fight the President, R. Altman mobilized many people he knew on the Wall Street who could donate large amounts of money.

During one of the events, you could interact with J. Biden via Zoom for a large donation for his campaign, of course.

"But my husband is certainly not even thinking of working in new administration. It is really important to him to help and be a part of it," assured J. Kazickas.

The crowd is not interested in the lies

When after three long days of vote counting the winner was announced, J. Kazickas popped open a bottle of champagne.

"Only nobody drinks in my family, so I had to finish it by myself," she laughed.

However, she was honest, the anxiety over divided country didn't go away, because D. Trump's power is still immense.

"Did you see the rallies of his passionate supporters? They ignore his lies and vulgar behavior. His demeaning tone and rhetoric. They don't care about anything, but the fact that he is their guy.

Noboday has said what they think out loud before: let's restore American pride, go back in times when black people didn't have rights, gays couldn't marry or even kiss in public...

I saw a picture of nuns holding a sign "Catholic nuns for Trump". How can they support him? A person who is the least as Jesus Christ, who has done nothing for his brothers or sisters. People voted because of only one belief - against the abortions. Doesn't anything else matter? I can't believe we're still stuck on a question that was being discusses fifty years ago when I started journalist career," shared J. Kazickas.

Donations for a noble cause

Seeking to understand the ones different than you, yearning to hear people's stories and share them with others brought J. Kazickas to a journalist career.

Back then in the 70s women journalists could only cover the topics such as fashion, home or parties.

Regardless of the obstacles, J. Kazickas went to Vietnam that was fighting the war and became one of few women war reporters.

Growing up the conversations at our home covered the Cold War, well-being of Lithuania and the world, democracy, and fight against the oppression, so that mattered much more than your own backyard or personal benefit.

That's the reason why J. Kazickas uses her own influence and family fortune to support the candidates who, in her opinion, care about the social well-being of others, while in Lithuania she supports many social and educational projects.

"I love Lithuania so much. Those ties with your homeland are endless," continued J. Kazickas who is a President of the Kazickas Family Foundation, founded in 1998. "Money can't solve all the problems, but by supporting people with similar values, you can change many lives."

She supports programs helping the children in remote areas to find the right career path, teaches them life skills through sports, organizes creative workshops. She also supports organizations helping the elderly and working on suicide prevention.

The Foundation also offers scholarships for studies and research in the US, supports cultural events and Lithuanian schools in the US.

"It is crucial to reach the children in the remote regions and through sports and mentorship to boost their self-esteem, self care, as well as care for others and your country. Teach young people the right and valued profession and he won't leave for England or Ireland to search for work. He will remain in Lithuania planning how to benefic his country," reassures J. Kazickas.

Wants to extend his hand to others

J. Kazickas, who often visits Lithuania, is not sure when she will be able to travel there again, because the pandemic froze all the plans and travels. She feels safe in New York, because everyone is wearing masks and keeps safe distance.

However, she is concerned about the rest of America that follows current President's lead, making fun of people wearing masks.

"If they are not wearing a mask now, they won't do it because J. Biden tells them to," mentioned J. Kazickas while talking about President-elect plans to take this fight with the pandemic in the US seriously. "The division in the country is so wide. I am not sure how J. Biden will successfully heal the nation." 

Remembering her run in with D. Trump on an open tennis court in the 90s, J. Kazickas shakes her head "I don't ever want to see him again."

However, she would like to hear the viewpoint of the traditional Republicans and build bridges between left and right, instead of building walls.

"J. Biden will have to bring the calmness and invite the other side. He's been doing it his entire life," shared J. Kazickas. "We must listen to each other and find common grounds. But I question if J. Biden will get the support of the Republicans at the Senate.

New four year will be difficult. Not as chaotic as during the D. Trump presidency, but it won't be easy.

Waiting for President's invitation

She is anxious because of neverending D. Trump tirades over supposedly fabricated election results, even though there is absolutely no evidence for it. She is worried that he will make it a hell for new administration, instead of helping new President to take over the duties for the sake of our country.

However, D. Trump already mentioned the 2024 election. That proves that he sees no path to winning this year.

"On one hand he understands that he has lost, But D. Trump can't call himself a looser," shrugged J. Kazickas.

She is anxiously awaiting for January 20, when D. Trump must leave the White House, and J. Biden will swear in in front of the US Capitol to become the 46th President of The United States.

J. Kazickas and her husband still remember the feeling of B. Obama inauguration in 2008: "We were there and were so excited, couldn't believe what just happened."

During the presidency of B. Obama and J. Biden, the couple visited the White House few times during the Christmas events.

J. Kazickas smiled hoping that with D. Trump's defeat she will be able to return there: "I hope Joe will invite us."