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HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF VERNON E. JORDAN, JR.
______
HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS
of florida
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of the distinguished civil rights leader and my dear friend, Mr. Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. For decades, Mr. Jordan pursued public service as a lawyer, presidential advisor, and civil rights advocate. We have lost a prominent figure of the American civil rights movement, a tremendous leader, and a dear friend.
Mr. Jordan dedicated his life to social justice and civil rights activism. Born on August 15, 1935, he grew up in the segregated South and graduated from DePauw University in Indiana in 1957, where he was the only African American in his class. Jordan then attended Howard University School of Law, where he began his legal career working in the civil rights movement. In 1961, he joined the firm of Donald Hollowell and won a lawsuit against the University of Georgia on behalf of the first two Black students to attend the University.
Throughout his lifetime of social justice activism, he assumed leadership positions to improve the lives of those around him. Mr. Jordan served as field secretary for the Georgia chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), director of the Voter Education Project for the Southern Regional Council (SRC), and head of the United Negro College Fund. Later in 1971, he was appointed president of the National Urban League.
Upon his recovery from an assassination attempt on his life in 1980, Jordan stepped down from the Urban League and took a position as legal counsel for the Washington, D.C. firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer, and Feld. While there, he represented many prominent clients, including Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton. In 1992, Mr. Jordan was chosen by President-elect Clinton to lead his transition team and then served as his advisor. He was the first Black person to be assigned such a role.
Jordan knew what it meant to serve his community and our nation. His dedication for civil rights and ability to move society toward justice will always leave a mark in history. Mr. Jordan dedicated his life to transforming society and his hard work will always be remembered.
Madam Speaker, I extend my deepest condolences to Vernon's wife, Ann; his daughter, Vickee; and his entire family during this extremely difficult time. His life and legacy will always live on and he will be dearly missed.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 40
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