May 2, 2012: Ottawa

May 9th, 2012

Over the last two days I have attended two events which reminded me of how far we have come in the last few generations.

On Monday evening I spoke to the Bora Laskin Law Society.  To be honest, before Monday I didn’t know who Bora Laskin was. But I did some research and I learned Laskin had been the Chief Justice of the Canadian Supreme Court from 1973-1984. I also learned that because he was Jewish, despite an exemplary academic record, he could not find a job in a good Canadian law firm. So he went into teaching law.  As time went on, his abilities shone through and he went on to a distinguished career.

I am familiar with a similar story in my country. (In fact there are probably thousands across North America.) William Coleman graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania. He then went to Harvard Law School where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. Despite that record, he could not get a legal job in his native Philadelphia — because he was African American. So he commuted back and forth every day on the train to New York where he worked at Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, the law firm where I started my career. Coleman worked with Thurgood Marshall on what became the landmark Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education, which struck down separate schools for blacks and whites. He went on be an illustrious career that included serving as the United States Secretary of Transportation.

Then on Tuesday morning I attended the Canadian National Prayer Breakfast. It was a wonderful event with participants from every religion. It emphasized one of the things that clearly separates places like Canada and the United States from many places in the world. While we all value our religions, we respect the rights of others to practice theirs. And we reach across religious lines in government. In the private sector. In our daily lives.

DJ

 

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Posted in May 2012 |

May 8, 2012: Ottawa

May 8th, 2012

Like I’m sure many of you did, I took some time to pause and reflect on the tragedy of the Titanic 100 years ago off the coast of Newfoundland. There are so many stories about the Titanic that we are all familiar with. There are those about the ship’s encounter with the iceberg, the more than 1,500 victims of the disaster, and the countless accounts of bravery both during and after the accident. Then there are many more untold accounts none of us will ever know.

Juniper Titanic ceremony

These stories, like the Titanic itself, were lost to the icy waters of the North Atlantic more than a century ago. In the midst of these stories we know all too well and those we will never hear, there are others that have slipped from our collective memories of the Titanic over the years, only to be revived on the occasion of the disaster’s 100th anniversary. The history of the International Ice Patrol is one such story.

In the months following the Titanic’s sinking, the international community came together to create the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Ice Patrol in an effort to improve maritime safety. The mission of the Ice Patrol was simple – keep shipping lanes open by directing vessels around large icebergs like the one that sank the Titanic. Today, the United States Coast Guard operates the Ice Patrol with the cooperation and funding from 13 nations, including Canada. Thanks to their efforts, not a single ship heeding Ice Patrol warnings has struck an iceberg since it was established in 1914. Our partnership with the Canadian Ice Service and the Canadian Coast Guard is a model of international cooperation and helps ensure that critical maritime safety issues are addressed.

Juniper Titanic ceremony

The United States Coast Guard and the Canadian Ice Patrol paid tribute to the Titanic victims on April 14 during a special ceremony over the site where the Titanic sank 100 years earlier. Together, our servicemen and women scattered more than 1.5 million rose petals over the area marking the victims’ final resting place. The solemn event was another reminder of all we lost that tragic day in 1912. Our unified response then and now was a reminder of all that we have gained.

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Posted in May 2012 |

May 1, 2012: Ottawa

May 4th, 2012

As the people who work with me at the United States Embassy will tell you – often to their dismay – I love statistics.  I am always asking for new ones.  Here are some trade statistics I got recently that I thought you might find interesting.

This chart shows the percentage of growth in Canadian exports to Canada’s  top 20 export markets during 2011.

Percent Increase in Canadian Exports - Top 20 Export Markets

I would have to concede that the U.S. gain – about 15% — seems small in comparison to some other countries.  But to put that in perspective, you have to look at the next chart which shows the dollar gains in Canadian exports in 2011.

Total Change in Exports - Top 20 Canadian Export Destinations

The dollar gains in Canadian exports to the United States of $43.3 billion were $39 billion more than the dollar gains of Canadian exports to China, the next closest country, and twice as much as the dollar gains of Canadian exports to the rest of the world combined. In fact, the dollar gains of Canadian exports to the United States in 2011 exceeded total Canadian exports to China, Japan, Mexico and South Korea combined.

One other chart is worth noting.  Much is made of the fact that Canadian exports to the United States shrank in 2009 – the worst economic year since the Great Depression.  Since 1960 exports have gone down four times and they have gone up 47 times.  Which I think shows that we are a pretty reliable trading partner for our Canadian neighbors.

Percent Change in CA Exports to US

The percentage of Canadian exports to the United States has indeed shrunk over the past nine years, from a high of 87% to 74%.  But only because Canadian exports to other countries are growing quickly.  The rest of the world is getting stronger economically, and Canada – along with the United States – is benefiting from it.

As I often say in speeches, people have not done well over the last 250 years betting against the United States of America.  I strongly doubt that long-term trend fell off a cliff in 2009.  Stay tuned!!

DJ

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Posted in May 2012 |

April 30, 2012: Ottawa

May 4th, 2012

Ambassador Jacobson and the US Embassy Team at MS Walk in Ottawa

Yesterday several members of our Embassy team participated in the Ottawa MS Walk.  About 1200 people from across the city walked to raise close to $300,000 to support the fight against MS.

The Embassy fielded a team because MS has struck one of our Embassy community, and we all wanted to rally to support him.  I also had a personal reason for participating.  A friend of mine back in Chicago has MS and I have seen firsthand the challenges he has faced.  I was proud to be able to participate.

DJ

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Posted in April 2012 |

April 26, 2012: Ottawa

May 3rd, 2012

Last night Ambassador Doer and I were the co-hosts of the Politics and Pen dinner in Ottawa, a fundraising event in support of the Writers’ Trust of Canada, that celebrates Canadian political and literary cultures. It was great fun.

For those of you who might not be familiar with it, the centerpiece of the evening is the award of the  Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for the best political writing in Canada, awarded this year to Richard Gwyn for his biography Nation Maker: Sir John A. Macdonald: His Life, Our Times; Volume Two: 1867-1891.

The Writers’ Trust celebrates and rewards the talents and achievements of Canada’s novelists, short story writers, poets, biographers, and other fiction and nonfiction writers. Recent award winners include: Patrick DeWitt, Wayne Johnston, and David Adams Richards.

Besides authors, some of others in attendance were: Laureen Harper, Finance Minister Flaherty, Foreign Affairs Minister Baird, Liberal Leader Rae and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair. Really, about the only way you can get in the door is to be an author or get elected to Parliament.

I agreed to co-host the event because I support the writers of Canada.  Oh yea, and my wife Julie was the co-chair of the event.

Julie and David Jacobson with author Ron Graham at a reception for the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize finalists. (Credit: Steve Gerecke)

The hosts are supposed to be funny.  And I have got to tell you that adds A LOT of pressure.  As Amb. Doer said, they don’t pay us to be funny.  But we seemed to do ok.  The theme of our effort was Thrilla on the Hilla – Part II.  We both came out in boxing robes and gloves.  Got a few laughs.  Still, I think I’ll keep my day job and leave comedy to the professionals.  As we stepped off the stage, I thought of one of my favorite lines from Winston Churchill:  “Nothing is quite so exhilarating as to be shot at and missed.”

Co-hosts David Jacobson and Gary Doer, Ambassador of Canada to the U.S. have some fun on stage (Photo Credit: Jake Wright)

DJ

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Posted in April 2012 |

April 24, 2012: Ottawa

May 2nd, 2012

Yesterday I took a pilgrimage to a place in Ottawa I have revered for quite some time. No…not Parliament. Not the National Gallery. Not 24 Sussex.

I went to Sam Bats.

What? You never heard of it?

Sam Holman is to baseball bats what Michelangelo was to painting. What Stradivarius was to violins. What Shakespeare was to writing. Sam makes the best bats on the planet.

Sam Bat's logo

Sam Bat's logo

Sam Holman invented and patented the first maple bat that was approved for play in the Major Leagues. A friend of his who was a major league scout was complaining to Sam — an expert in wood and woodworking — that bats were breaking too easily. He asked if Sam could come up with something better. After much research Sam decided Canadian Maple was just the thing to replace American Ash. The rest — as they say — is history.

One of the first to use a Sam Bat was Joe Carter. But the most famous customer (besides my son of course) was Barry Bonds; it was Barry who made the bats famous. I got to see, and even to hold, one of the bats Barry Bonds used to hit his record-breaking 73 home runs in a season. While I learned a lot on my tour, the highlight was the explanation of why the Bonds bat has such an unusually large and flat knob on the end. It turns out Bonds used to lean on the bat with one hand while he was waiting to take batting practice, and a smaller rounder knob hurt his hand!!

A genuine Sam Bat.

A genuine Sam Bat.

Sam and company president Arlene Anderson showed me how the bats are made, from selecting the wood to hand-painting the colors. Each one is like a fine piece of furniture. And I’m really excited to now be the proud owner of my very own Sam Bat.

Ambassador Jacobson shows off his new Sam Bat.

Ambassador Jacobson shows off his new Sam Bat.

I get a lot of factory tours in my job. This one was special.

DJ

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Posted in April 2012 |

April 26, 2012: World Intellectual Property Day

April 26th, 2012

Guest blogger: Victoria Espinel, U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator. Read Victoria’s bio on WhiteHouse.gov!

Today is World Intellectual Property Day. Around the world, people will be celebrating the benefits and contributions of intellectual property to our societies. Intellectual property gives us art and entertainment. It drives the Internet and enables stunning advances in the fight against genetic and infectious disease. It stimulates our economy and creates well-paying jobs. It facilitates social networks and feeds the world.

Both the United States and Canada view the promotion and protection of intellectual property rights as a key component of their economic growth. President Obama and Prime Minister Harper have worked together to protect intellectual property, as they share the belief that the American and Canadian peoples deserve smart approaches to regulation that enhance economic competitiveness and public health. And when I think of intellectual property protection in the world market, my thoughts naturally turn to Canada: our largest trading partner and a world-renowned producer of intellectual property. That is why I visited Ottawa last year, and it is why I asked Ambassador Jacobson for the chance to reach out to the Canadian people on this very important day.

Protecting intellectual property is as important to Canada as it is to the United States. Research-based pharmaceutical companies employ thousands of people in Canada. The film and television industry employs thousands more in the production of movies and television series and contributes billions to the Canadian economy. Canada’s robust entertainment software industry has released some of the most popular video games in the industry.

Of course, protecting intellectual property is not just about new movies and better games. It is also a question of public safety. A key aspect of intellectual property protection is fighting the illicit trade of counterfeit goods. Although seizures of knock-off sneakers and hockey jerseys tend to garner the most media attention in Canada, the global market is home to a variety of dangerous counterfeit goods, such as ineffective or actively harmful fake medications, faulty car parts, and toys with choking hazards or poisonous content.

This World Intellectual Property Day, Americans and Canadians alike will reap the benefits of intellectual property in our everyday lives, from the smartphones in our pockets to the medicines in our pharmacies. We are surrounded by and prosper from our technology and our innovative ideas. And by celebrating and protecting these integral parts of our economies and societies, we will thrive in the 21st Century as partners and friends.

Posted in April 2012 |

March 27, 2012: Ottawa

March 29th, 2012

Yesterday I went to the opening of the exhibit in the Library of Parliament celebrating Winston Churchill’s famous “Some chicken!! Some neck!!” speech which he delivered to the Canadian Parliament on December 30, 1941.

It is quite famous in part for its content and in part because Churchill’s speeches in the British House were not filmed. So the Ottawa speech, and one delivered to a joint session of the United States Congress a few days before give a perspective on Churchill’s speaking style that is not available from other sources. It is also famous because right after he delivered the speech, Yousuf Karsh took the iconic photo of Churchill in the Speakers office.

I have read the text of the speech before.  And while it is good, to tell you the truth I was never moved.

But when I was watching the video yesterday, I understood why Churchill is Churchill. His voice is commanding. His timing is perfect. He moved the audience like the great orator that he was.

Part of the exhibit is the actual text used by Churchill when he delivered the speech with his hand written addition. It is in Churchill’s usual “blank verse” form which he used for emphasis.

Those of us who are called on to give speeches with some frequency can only marvel when watching one of the greatest who ever lived. The exhibit is a thrill. I recommend it to all of you.

DJ

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Posted in March 2012 |

March 6, 2012: Joffrey Ballet

March 9th, 2012

Guest Blog by Julie Jacobson

On Saturday night we enjoyed a wonderful cultural treat at the NAC when the Joffrey Ballet came to town.  Based in Chicago and currently led by Artistic Director Ashley Wheater, the company turned in a beautiful and energetic performance.

In the first two pieces  “In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated” (originally commissioned by Nureyev for the Paris Opera Ballet) and “After the Rain”, the dancers’ incredible athleticism and grace were highlighted by minimal costumes and moody lighting.

Ambassador Jacobson, Julie Jacobson, and Embassy Cultural Attaché Crystal Meriwether with NAC Dance Producer Cathy Levy and the Joffrey Ballet dancers. Photo courtesy of Temur Suluashvili.

My favorite was the final piece, “Age of Innocence”, which had its world premiere at the Joffrey in Chicago a few years ago.  Choreographed by Edwaard Liang, with music by Philip Glass and Thomas Newman, the ballet addresses the repression and resilience of women in the Victorian era.  The splendid costumes and stirring music were a perfect accompaniment to an exquisite ballet.

Along with members of our Public Affairs team, we went backstage after the performance to meet the lively young dancers.  They were excited that the U.S. Ambassador (from Chicago!) was there to greet them, but truly the thrill was all ours.

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Posted in March 2012 |

March 7, 2012: Ottawa

March 8th, 2012

Not everything I do as Ambassador is fancy. But most of it is fun. Yesterday was a great example.

A Washington institution came to Ottawa. And I had to celebrate it.

When I was working at the White House the hours were long. I often got home late. The good news is that around the corner from where I lived on 7th Street was a Five Guys that was open until 10 pm. I became a regular.

Ambassador Jacobson learns the ropes in the Five Guys Burgers and Fries kitchen

Five Guys Burgers and Fries is a chain of hamburger restaurants that started in Alexandria, Virginia (a Washington suburb) in 1986 and spread across the nation’s capital. They have since spread around the United States and now, thankfully, to Canada.

Five Guys has the best hamburgers and fries I have ever tasted. And I have tasted a lot.

I got the full treatment during my visit. I donned a Five Guys hat, T-shirt, and apron and learned how they make the burgers and fries. I formed the patties. I cut the potatoes. I grilled the burgers (learning how to tell when they were done). I added the toppings (my specialty is cheese, bacon, tomatoes, pickles, grilled onions, and ketchup). I fried the fries (twice in accordance with the Five Guys recipe). I served them up at the counter. And then – best of all – I ate them.

The Ambassador and Julie Jacobson share a laugh at Five Guys Burgers and Fries

I want to thank my host, the Area Manager Mark Bencze. He was a great teacher. And he runs a tight ship. There are few things I can say with more confidence than this. Go to Five Guys. You’ll love it. Can’t be beat.

Here’s a link to a video of my training.

To my U.S. Ambassador colleagues around the world … eat your hearts out!!!

Ambassador Jacobson tries out his Five Guys burger

On a totally unrelated – but important point – today is Julie’s and my 25th wedding anniversary. I am very lucky to have a partner like her. We have had quite a run. And it keeps getting better. As one friend said in a note: “We have the silver. Now we’re going for the gold.” Happy Anniversary Julie!!!!!!

DJ

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Posted in March 2012 |

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