Barbara Jordan speaking at the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta. Barbara Charline Jordan was an American lawyer, educator and politician who was a leader of the Civil Rights Movement. A Democrat, 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.
Barbara Charline Jordan (February 21, 1936 – January 17, 1996) was an American lawyer, educator and politician who was a leader of the Civil Rights Movement. A Democrat, 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 the 1976 Democratic National Convention. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among numerous other honors. She was a member of the Peabody Awards Board of Jurors from 1978 to 1980. She was the first African-American woman to be buried in the Texas State Cemetery. Jordan's work as chair of the Commission on Immigration Reform, which recommended reducing legal immigration by about one-third, is frequently cited by American immigration restrictionists. On July 25, 1974, Jordan delivered a 15-minute televised speech in front of the members of the House Judiciary Committee.[16] She presented an opening speech during the hearings that were part of the impeachment process against Richard Nixon.[16] This speech is thought to be one of the greatest speeches of the 20th-century American history.[17] Throughout her speech, Jordan strongly stood by the Constitution of the United States. She defended the checks and balances system, which was set in place to inhibit any politician from abusing their power.[16] Jordan never flat out said that she wanted Nixon impeached, but rather subtly and cleverly implied her thoughts.[18] She simply stated facts that proved Nixon to be untrustworthy and heavily involved in illegal situations,[18] and quoted the drafters of the Constitution to argue that actions like Nixon's during the scandal corresponded with their understanding.
Size: 4564px × 6898px
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Photo credit: © American Photo Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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