Vernon Jordan, civil rights leader and close ally of Bill Clinton, dies
Source: CNN
Washington (CNN)Vernon Jordan, a civil rights leader and close adviser to former President Bill Clinton, died Monday evening, multiple sources close to the family tell CNN. He was 85. cause of death was not immediately released. Jordan died peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife and family, Jordan's niece Ann Walker confirmed to CNN. According to Walker, Jordan had his favorite dinner and dessert -- chocolate chip ice cream -- before he went to bed. "It was just the way he would have wanted it," Walker told CNN.
The former president of the National Urban League rose to prominence as a civil rights activist with close connections in all corners of American politics, though he was closest with Democrats, including presidents from Lyndon Johnson to Barack Obama. He also worked with Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Born on August 15, 1935, Jordan grew up in the segregated South and graduated from DePauw University in Indiana in 1957, the only Black student in his class. He then studied law at Howard University and began his career fighting segregation, starting with a lawsuit against University of Georgia's integration policy in 1961 on the behalf of two Black students, Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter. Jordan accompanied the two students to the UGA admissions office that year through an angry mob of White students.
He worked as a field director for the NAACP and as a director of the Southern Regional Council for the Voter Education Project before he became president of the National Urban League. In 1980, he survived an assassination attempt on his life. "Today, the world lost an influential figure in the fight for civil rights and American politics, Vernon Jordan. An icon to the world and a lifelong friend to the NAACP, his contribution to moving our society toward justice is unparalleled," NAACP President Derrick Johnson said in a statement Tuesday. "In 2001, Jordan received the NAACP's Spingarn Medal for a lifetime of social justice activism. His exemplary life will shine as a guiding light for all that seek truth and justice for all people."
Jordan's closest political friendship was with Bill and Hillary Clinton, advising the then-Arkansas governor during his 1992 presidential campaign and acting as an outside adviser to his friend. He remained close to the Clintons for the next decades, endorsing both of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaigns. ordan first met Clinton during a trip to Little Rock, Arkansas, when he was leading the Urban League and Clinton was Arkansas attorney general, and the two formed a friendship that spanned decades and withstood rocky times. "We have formed a bond that is indescribable," Clinton said at a 2019 event hosted by the Clinton Foundation.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/02/politics/vernon-jordan-dies/index.html
Breaking... Waiting to get a good link. Found one - CNN.
Original CNN article -
The former president of the National Urban League rose to prominence as a civil rights activist with close connections in all corners of American politics, working with presidents from Lyndon Johnson to Barack Obama.
Jordan, born on August 15, 1935, studied law at Howard University and began his career fighting segregation, beginning with a lawsuit against University of Georgia's integration policy in 1961. He worked as a field director for the NAACP and as a director of the Southern Regional Council for the Voter Education Project before he became president of the president of the National Urban League.
Jordan's closest political friendship was with Bill and Hillary Clinton, advising the former president during his 1992 presidential campaign and acting as an outside adviser to his friend. He remained close to the Clintons for the next decades, endorsing both of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaigns.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
Earlier article -
Civil Rights activist & former adviser to Pres. Clinton, Vernon Jordan has died at 85, @CBSMMiller confirms.
His daughter, Vickee Jordan Adams, tells @CBSNews: "My father passed away last night around 10p surrounded by loved ones his wife and daughter by his side."
Link to tweet
TEXT
@CBSThisMorning
#BREAKING: Civil Rights activist & former adviser to Pres. Clinton, Vernon Jordan has died at 85, @CBSMMiller confirms.
His daughter, Vickee Jordan Adams, tells @CBSNews: "My father passed away last night around 10p surrounded by loved ones his wife and daughter by his side."
8:38 AM · Mar 2, 2021
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Thank you for everything, Mr. Jordan.
JohnSJ
(92,116 posts)jimfields33
(15,760 posts)And now today we see another die. Very sad. Long life but still hard to see a generation dying off.
Arkansas Granny
(31,513 posts)Dennis Donovan
(18,770 posts)greatauntoftriplets
(175,730 posts)RIP, Mr. Jordan.
LetMyPeopleVote
(145,063 posts)wnylib
(21,417 posts)Martin68
(22,776 posts)Rhiannon12866
(205,074 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,733 posts)just about every summer for vacation and the Prez would hook up with Jordan out "on the links".
Rhiannon12866
(205,074 posts)Though I always wondered why President Obama bothered with golf, of all things, LOL. To me, that seemed like a rather non-athletic sport for him.
BumRushDaShow
(128,733 posts)I know a lot of guys, if they have friends who golf, end up getting "roped" into playing it, particularly if they weren't into some of the other sports like basketball or tennis/squash/racketball (that used to be a "thing" in the '80s). I think for politicians and business people, it ended up being a "must do" type of thing that allowed for the appearance of "physical activity" without having to do anything that was strenuous, but required some type of focus to not have a horrible score (and offered "bragging rights" if a low score or at least getting to par, was achieved). Plus it was assumed that "other discussions" would be happening out on the course (in a similar manner that one might see with the "business lunch" ). lol
Rhiannon12866
(205,074 posts)My mother liked playing golf, my Dad never did. He did belong to the local country club - which I gave him a very hard time about when I was in my teens - but I think he took guys to lunch there rather than forcing them to play golf. I teased him that he was a "beach member," he and my mother liked to go and sit on the beach, not sure how much swimming they did, though my Dad was a good swimmer. My mother couldn't get her hair wet.
BumRushDaShow
(128,733 posts)Both activities are a way to "get outdoors" and relax. That's what I do with my gardening.