[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 3, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         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.

                          ____________________