by Randall Morton, Founder, The Progressive Forum
Originally published September 19, 2025
My deep impressions of Robert Redford flooded back when we lost him on Tuesday, including his Texas-based political idea we can use today. He insisted on carrying his own bags when I met him at baggage claim, arriving for our Progressive Forum event in 2008. With leather bags in both hands, he generously went still when a fan requested a photo. His curiosity impressed me the most. The first thing he said, lifting a soft pondering voice, "Houston, I've never been here before."
Redford came to The Progressive Forum to introduce a film he commissioned and narrated called Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars, a half hour documentary of how 38 Texas cities banded together to defeat 18 proposed coal plants. The New York Times covered our event with a feature entitled "Texans Beat Big Coal, and a Film Shows How.”
Redford provided us a powerful political model. His film shows how unlikely collaborators banding together, in this case, ranchers, businessmen, and environmentalists, can defeat anything. Video clips of our Wortham event are here.
His inspiring documentary demonstrates the model to defeat tyrants: banding together! Cities, states, universities, media outlets, law firms, and corporations. Introducing his film at the Wortham, he modeled what good collaborators look like, self-effacing and funny. He recounted the story of a couple approaching him at a café, saying, “Thank you for your great film work–and your Newman’s Salad Dressing!”
Redford lifted people up. He is the only speaker who sent a hand written thank you note which said, “You truly launched us to the next level.” His package included a bottle of Sundance Pinot Noir. The fine wine is aging on my book shelf.
Thank you, evermore, Robert Redford.
View videos of Redford's Progressive Forum appearance on his speaker page.