A longtime labor advocate, he became vice-president of the International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite, and Paper Mill Workers and its successor, the United Paperworkers International Union.
[2][3] Jackman was chairman of the West New York Housing Authority from 1952 to 1959.
He became majority leader in 1977 and speaker in 1978, serving in the latter position until 1982 when he was replaced by Alan Karcher.
[3] In 1983, Jackman was elected to the New Jersey Senate, following the conviction of William Musto on racketeering charges.
[2] Bob Menendez, then serving in the Assembly, was appointed to fill the vacant seat in March 1991 and was elected to a full term the following November.