Vernon Jordan, Jr.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vernon Eulion Jordan, Jr. (born August 15, 1935) is an African American lawyer and business executive. Jordan served as a close advisor to President Bill Clinton, and become known as an influential figure in American politics. Jordan is highly reputed as the most interlocked corporate board member in the United States.
[edit] Early life and career
Living in Atlanta, Georgia during the 1950s, he worked as chauffeur to former mayor Robert Maddox to save enough money for college. Vernon graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, in 1957[1]. He later received his J.D. from Howard University Law School in 1960. After graduating from law school, Jordan returned to Atlanta and joined the law office of Donald L. Hollowell, a civil rights activist. Jordan entered the battle for civil rights as the junior member of a legal team led by Hollowell and Constance Motley. The team sued the University of Georgia, charging the institution with racist admission policies. The suit ended in 1961 with a federal court order demanding the admission of two African Americans, Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton E. Holmes. Jordan personally escorted Hunter past a group of angry white protestors and to the university admissions office.
After leaving private law practice in the early 1960s, Jordan served as the Georgia field director for the NAACP. From the NAACP he moved to the Southern Regional Council and then to the Voter Education Project. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and Sigma Pi Phi.
In 1970 he became executive director of the United Negro College Fund[2] and later president of the National Urban League between 1972 and 1981. In 1980 he was shot and wounded by Joseph Paul Franklin in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Then-president Jimmy Carter visited him while he was recovering.
After being asked to resign from the National Urban League, he took a position as legal counsel with the Washington, D.C. office of the Dallas law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. In 1981, Vernon Jordan of the National Urban League said, of the Reagan administration,
I do not challenge the conservatism of this Administration. I do challenge its failure to exhibit a compassionate conservatism that adapts itself to the realities of a society ridden by class and race distinction. (The New York Times, 23 July 1981, p 17)
In 1992-1993 he was part of the transition team for incoming president Bill Clinton as he was a friend and adviser to the President.
Vernon is Senior Managing Director with Lazard Freres & Co. LLC, an investment banking firm, from January 2000 to the present. He is also currently a member of the board of directors of multiple corporations, including American Express, J.C. Penny Corporation, Xerox, Asbury Automotive Group and the Dow Jones & Company. He is formerly a member of the board of directors of Revlon, Sara Lee, Corning and RJR Nabisco during 1989 leveraged buy-out fight between RJR Nabisco CEO F. Ross Johnson and Henry R. Kravis and his company KKR.
He was awarded the Springarn Medal in 2001[3].
In 2004, Jordan led debate preparation and negotiation efforts on behalf of John Kerry the Democratic nominee for President.[4]
Jordan is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations. In 2005, he attended the annual Bilderberg conference.[5]
In 2006, Jordan served as a member of the Iraq Study Group[6].
[edit] Trivia
- In 2001, his memoir Vernon Can Read! was published. ISBN 189162069X
- On an episode of Saturday Night Live which originally aired on February 6, 1999 there was a musical number about Vernon Jordan during the Weekend Update. Jordan was played by Tim Meadows.
- He has one daughter and two grandchildren.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ Vernon Jordan: More than a "First Friend", The Harbus Online, 12/03/2001
- ^ An Historical Look At the Impact of the United Negro College Fund and its Member Institutions on American History, UNCF
- ^ Springarn Medals Awarded, Lousville Free Public Library
- ^ Vernon Jordan '57 Named John Kerry's Lead Debate Negotiator & Elected President of Economic Club of Washington, DePauw University News, June 28, 2004
- ^ Bilderberg Conference 2005 - 5-8th May, Rottach-Egern, Munich, Germany, www.bilderberg.org
- ^ Iraq Study Group Members, United States Institute of Peace
- ^ Vernon Jordan, NNDB
| Members of the Iraq Study Group |
|---|
| James Baker (Co-chair) • Lee Hamilton (Co-chair) Lawrence Eagleburger • Vernon Jordan, Jr. • Edwin Meese • Sandra Day O'Connor • Leon Panetta • William Perry • Chuck Robb • Alan Simpson |
|
Corporate Directors: Robert Clark | Steven Heyer | Ellis Jones | Vernon Jordan, Jr. | Anthony Orsatelli | Bruce Wasserstein |
|
Annual Revenue: $1.33 billion USD ( |
