Barbara Charline Jordan famed as Barbara Jordan was an American lawyer, educator as well as politician. She was a leader of the Civil Rights Movement and she was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction and the first Southern African-American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives. She was best known for her eloquent opening statement at the House Judiciary Committee hearings during the impeachment process against Richard Nixon, and as the first African-American as well as the first woman to deliver a keynote address at a Democratic National Convention. Moreover, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among numerous other honors. She also worked as chair of the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform, which recommended reducing legal immigration by about one-third, which is frequently cited by American immigration restrictionists.
Famous For
- Being the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction.
- Being the first Southern African-American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives.
- For er eloquent opening statement at the House Judiciary Committee hearings during the impeachment process against Richard Nixon.
What was the Cause of Death of Barbara Jordan?
Jordan suffered from leukemia. On 31st July 1988, she was nearly drowned in her backyard swimming pool while doing physical therapy, but she was saved by Earl who found her floating in the pool and revived her. Later, she died at the age of 59 due to complications from pneumonia on January 17, 1996, in Austin, Texas.
Who are the Parents of Barbara Jordan?
Barbara Jordan was born to Benjamin Jordan and Arlyne Patten Jordan, her parents on 21st February 1936 in Houston, the USA. Her nationality was American whereas her ethnicity was Mixed. She is Christian by religion. Her mother was Arlyne Patten Jordan, a teacher in the church, and her father was Benjamin Jordan, a Baptist preacher. Barbara Jordan was the youngest of three children, with siblings Rose Mary Jordan McGowan and Bennie Jordan Creswell (1933-2000). She attended Roberson Elementary School and was graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School in 1952 with honors.
How was the Career of Barbara Jordan?
Source: @amazon.com
- Firstly, Barbara taught political science at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama for a year and then returned to Houston, and started a private law practice in 1960.
- Later, she campaigned unsuccessfully in 1962 and 1964 for the Texas House of Representatives and won a seat in the Texas Senate in 1966, becoming the first African-American state senator since 1883 and the first black woman to serve in that body.
- She was the first African-American female to serve as president pro tem of the state senate and served one day, June 10, 1972, as acting governor of Texas.
- In 1972, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, the first woman elected in her own right to represent Texas in the House.
- In 1974, she made an influential televised speech before the House Judiciary Committee supporting the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, Johnson's successor as President.
- In 1975, she was appointed by Carl Albert, then-Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
- She mentioned as a possible running mate to Jimmy Carter of Georgia in 1976.
- She later retired from politics in 1979 and became an adjunct professor teaching ethics at the University of Texas at Austin Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs.
- Clinton awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom and The NAACP presented her with the Spingarn Medal in 1994.
- In addition to this, she was honored many times and was given over 20 honorary degrees from institutions across the country, including Harvard and Princeton, and was elected to the Texas and National Women's Halls of Fame.
- Moreover, she delivered a 15-minute televised speech in front of the members of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee in 1974.
- She presented an opening speech during the hearings that were part of the impeachment process against Richard Nixon.
- From 1994 until her death, Jordan chaired the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform.
With whom Barbara Jordan was married to?
Barbara was marred to Nancy Earl who was an educational psychologist, whom she met on a camping trip in the late 1960s. Earl was an occasional speech writer for Jordan, and later was a caregiver when Jordan began to suffer from multiple sclerosis in 1973. There is no information about her childrens and her marital date and more.
What is the Net Worth of Barbara Jordan?
Barbara Jordan was a very successful politician. Prior to her death, her estimated net worth was believed to have $100K-$1M. Her major source of earning was from her politician career. There is no other information regarding her salary, endorsements and more but it will be added once we get information about it.
How tall is Barbara Jordan?
Barbara Jordan was a very pretty woman with a charming smile on her face attracting a lot of people towards her. But her exact body details such as height, weight, and other body measurements will be added soon once we get information about it.
