Time for All to Meet Marie

Some met her when she was a Florida beauty queen.  Others may have met her when she was married to a boxer. Others made her acquaintance when she divorced him after he turned alcoholic and began beating her.  With three small children in tow, and refusing to accept any financial support from the boxer, she moved in with her mother to begin a new life.  While waitressing at a bar others met her.   But it wasn’t until she attended Vanderbilt University on a scholarship that T. Edward "Eddie" Sisk met her.    

 

Shortly after graduation Sisk became legal counsel to Tennessee’s newly elected Governor Ray Blanton.  Shortly after she graduated, Sisk offered her a remarkable opportunity to serve as an extradition officer.  She found herself being quickly promoted to the prestigious and powerful position as the chair of the Tennessee Board of Pardons and Paroles.  Her financial headaches were over, her children were secure, and she had a blossoming career.  

 

However, while in her new position, she discovered something most disturbing. There was a “Cash-for-Clemency” program within the governor’s administration.  She naturally felt compelled - against the strong objections of Sisk - to bring it to Governor Blanton’s attention. 

 

After notifying the governor she was shocked to see the program not only continued but flourished to include violent and sadistic felons. 

 

She met with Sisk several more times.  She made it clear she would not parole undeserving inmates.   As pressure grew to get her in line, she made a demand.   Either the program ends or she will go public with it.  They responded by giving her a substantial raise in pay, making her the second highest paid government official in Tennessee.

She persisted.  What followed was a nightmare of incredible proportions.   At one point she was arrested and jailed on trumped up charges.  When none of that worked, they fired her.

Gone was her livelihood.  Gone was the children’s security.  Gone was her blossoming career.  That would have stopped most people dead in their tracks; but not this lady.

 

She was determined to end the graft.   She now knew her only hope was to make it a matter of public record.  She therefore decided to sue the state of Tennessee for wrongful discharge making the hideous “Cash-for-Clemency” program the linchpin of her argument.  

 

Finding an attorney brave and ethical enough to take on the state became her next challenge.

 

Before he was a U.S. Senator from Tennessee and before he was an accomplished actor, Fred Dalton Thompson was an attorney – a good one and a brave one.  He risked his career by agreeing to expose this very powerful and corrupt state government in a trial that he believed he could never win.

 

The essence of their struggle was a key component in Thompson’s closing argument to the jury.

 

 “But you know a remarkable thing happened.  She didn’t collapse.  She fought back.  Not just for a job, but because she had to.

 

Have you ever fought a fight – alone – knowin’ you were gonna have to pay a price for it but you did it anyway because it was the right thing to do?  I hope I never see the day when I stop believing people do that sort of thing.”

 

And with that, a public record of Blanton’s malfeasance was finally achieved.

The sad truth is that the mention of Marie Ragghianti almost never conjures up any recollection.  It is a fervent hope that that will soon be corrected.  Her extraordinary courage and character need to be indelibly etched in our minds.  

 

Leadership is born of courage.  Without courage, progress and change are impossible.  Our country badly lacks such leadership today.

 

It is now time for all of America to become acquainted with Marie Ragghianti.  It is also time that we too pray that we “never see the day when (we) stop believing people do that sort of thing” and that a Marie Ragghianti will be found to lead us, very soon.

 

Note:  To learn more reference;

          Book: Marie: A True Story by Peter Maas

Film: Marie: A True Story - 1985