And I began to just think about the rest of my life and try to live in the present and for the future. Hillary would add, That conversation was a milestone in Bills decision to stay in Arkansas, stay in politics, and ultimately to run for president. Shirley Yarbrough Jordan, the wife of Vernon E. Jordan Jr., the former president of the National Urban League, died yesterday after a short illness at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. Rockefeller, according to Jordan, said to him he was sure Clinton was going to lose the general election. THE WOMAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN - The Washington Post His father's name is Vernon E. Jordan Sr and his mother's name is Mary . His genius was his charm, observed ABC News veteran George Stephanopoulos, one of Clintons closest aides during the campaign and through the first term. He was awarded the Barnard Medal of Distinction which is the highest honor from Barnard College in 1983. He was accompanied by Martha Coleman at the time. Jordan asked the government to pay him $302,719, but he was paid only $1,215. March 2, 2021 at 9:40 a.m. EST. }); Expand 1 of 101 Betty. Jordan was shot with a hunters rifle outside his hotel after returning from dinner following a speaking engagement. Twenty years later, both men described the night as one of the most memorable of their lives. Every year, he traveled to Europe to attend the Bilderberg Meeting, a gathering of the worlds elite centered around issues affecting the U.S.-European alliance. The golf course, without any prying eyes and ears, was their private venue to share those stories. 2001 his memoir won the Best Nonfiction Book for 2001 from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. [27][28], Jordan died at his home in Washington, D.C. on March 1, 2021, at the age of 85, and was buried in Washington DC's Oak Hill Cemetery. Is Vernon Jordan Married? His Bio, Age, Wife, House and Net worth } We worked and played, laughed and cried, won and lost together. (I know because I served on the vetting staff, later joining Clintons White House Counsel office and the Department of Justice, before heading on to a career as a lawyer and communications strategist.). Clinton sized up his opponents and concluded he could beat them. From the early 1970s to late 1987, she worked as an associate professor at the School of Social Service Administration of the University of Chicago. On July 6, Clinton placed a call to Gore and offered him a place on the ticket. Feeling the sting of Clintons defeat, Jordan decided to pick up the phone, knowing the governor could use a sympathetic ear. pg.acq.push(function() { Several weeks before, the voters of Arkansas had rejected Clintons second gubernatorial run, making him the youngest ex-governor in American history. He was attempted to be murdered by Joseph Paul Franklin on May 29, 1980, where he was shot and seriously wounded. When out on the links, according to people who joined the ClintonJordan foursome, there was one special topic in which the president and his First Friend liked to indulge: women. Then Jordan appeared as the lone voice in the wilderness. That year, she got hitched to Barry Monroe Adams, the son of Earl L Adams Jr of Maplewood, NJ and Oak Bluffs, Mass. 'John Lewis: Good Trouble': A true American hero, the civil rights leader continues to fight racism today, Bill Clinton sleeps during Joe Biden's inauguration speech, Internet lauds former POTUS for 'keeping it real', "Today, the world lost an influential figure in the fight for civil rights and American politics, Vernon Jordan. She was formerly known as Ann Cook. I could see that he was aggressive, sure of himself and genuine, Jordan noted, when describing that first encounter. I think it was worth $10,000.. Rejected for a summer internship with an insurance company after his sophomore year in college because of his race, he earned money for college for a few summers by working as a chauffeur to former city mayor Robert Maddox, then a banker. Ronald Reagan and his conservative coalition had swept the nation, winning the White House, flipping the Senate, and ushering in a generational realignment of American politics. When Jordan played the friend card, Clinton knew he had lost the argument. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. Vernon Jordan, activist who advised former President Clinton, has died Vernon Jordan dead: Civil rights activist advised President Clinton Lisa Boothe Bio, Age, Height, Dad, Husband, Fox News, Salary, Instagram, Vickee Jordan Adams (Vernon Jordans Daughter) Bio, Age, Parents, Husband, Children, Career, Net Worth, Wrabel Bio, Age, Husband, Gay, Music, Achievements, Instagram, Jake Paltrow Bio, Age, Wife, Family, Career, Films, TV Shows, Net Worth, Ree Drummond Bio, Age, Husband, Net Worth, Film, Television, and Food Community. Vernon Jordan, civil rights activist and former President Clinton ga('ads.send', { There was nothing we didnt talk aboutwhat happened in that house over the last eight years, all the fun we had together, what it meant to us, Jordan said. Remember this guy had had a fascinating life, Clinton said, but also a tough one. Jordan, in fact, had followed the Arkansan's career because of his long friendship with Clinton's wife, Hillary, whom he had met at a conference in Colorado in 1969. At DePauw, Jordan participated in the student senate . Vernon Jordan, a civil rights leader and close adviser to former President Bill Clinton, died Monday evening. "The Vernon Jordan's Gala For Democrats Raises $3 Million", "Jordan's 10 Board Positions Worth $1.1 Million", "White House Picks Top Inauguration Planners", "William J. Clinton Foundation Annual Report 2004", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ann_Jordan&oldid=1143173324, American business biography, 1930s birth stubs, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 6 March 2023, at 08:23. (2001) was able to the Best Nonfiction Book for 2001 and an Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in the following year. Jordan asked for some wine; Clinton directed the only person there from the upstairs staff to fetch a bottle. The next question facing him: whom to pick as his running mate? The committee operated off two lists: the official roster of 40 or so candidates that would be considered by the committee (chaired by future secretary of state Warren Christopher)and a private list, known only to a handful of Clinton intimates. Her husband, Vernon had previously been married to Shirley Yarbrough who died in 1985. Jordan survived the shooting and continued his work. His smile, his voice, his size, his looks, his capacity to pay attention to you, all of it in combination could just get you to do anything without realizing it was really him that was pushing it. [21], From January 2000 on, Jordan was a senior managing director with Lazard Freres & Co. LLC, an investment banking firm. Information about her family will be provided as soon as it is available. All products featured on Vanity Fair are independently selected by our editors. [4] In an oral history interview archived at the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, an interview conducted in 1964 with Robert Penn Warren for the book Who Speaks for the Negro?, Jordan described his difficulties at DePauw as the only black student in a class of 400. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Vernon Jordan, Civil Rights Activist And Power Broker, Dies At 85 He was depressed, convinced his career as an elected official was over. Twenty of the previous 30 years he had worked as a civil rights activist, at relatively little pay. Jordan enjoyed his favorite dinner and dessert, chocolate chip ice cream, before going to bed, as Walker said. He knew that I had just become the youngest former governor in the history of the country. Jordan "passed away peacefully last evening . Ann has four children, Antoinette Bush, Mercer Cook, Janice Roberts, and Jacqueline Cook. And that my epitaph had been written, Clinton recalled. ga('ads.send', { "She's smart, independent, caring, loyal," he . His friendship with Clinton, which began in the 1970s, evolved into a partnership and a political alliance. } And then, in January 2001, the presidents storiesat least while he was serving as commander in chiefwould come to an end. It also broadened its focus to include voter registration drives and conflict resolution between Black people and law enforcement. Is Vernon Jordan married? degree by being enrolled at Howard University School of Law. Although he never held political office, Jordan served as a key adviser in the 1990s to U.S. Pres. She just keeps her own counsel. His first wife died in 1985. [11] He was president of the National Urban League from 1971 to 1981. Who is Vernon Jordan's wife Ann and daughter Vickee? Civil rights Hillary answered, only to hear a booming baritone, asking, You got any grits down there? Hillary responded, I dont know how to make grits, but you come on down. A few weeks later, Jordan, in a three-piece suit, was standing in the tiny kitchen of the Clintons small yellow-framed house; they had just vacated the governors mansion. [10], In 2004, she was one of the five-member board of directors of the Clinton Foundation. He told me: You and Hillary, you got a lot of talent, and your hearts in the right place; its going to come out all right. , Nobody else was saying that to me, Clinton remembered 40 years later. He and his late wife had a child together, a daughter named Vickee Jordan Adams. With Bradley and Rockefeller nixed, Clinton directed Jordan to make one last call: to his friend Colin Powell, Bushs chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a hero of the Gulf War. [29][30], Jordan married Shirley (ne Yarbrough), who died in 1985. "In 2001, Jordan received the NAACP's Spingarn Medal for a lifetime of social justice activism. The History Makers - Biography of Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. New Georgia Encyclopedia - Biography of Vernon Jordan, Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He worked as Bill Clinton's close adviser. It was what Clinton always said to Jordan when they parted. Vernon has one daughter, Vickee Jordan Adams with his first wife Shirley (ne Yarbrough) who died in 1985. She also has nine grandchildren. }) Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. "My last meeting with the Great Vernon Jordan in his DC office to get advice and counsel on a difficult issue facing UNCF," he captioned a photo of them together. (Jordan would testify twice about this and other matters, emerging relatively unblemished after Clintons second-term scandal and impeachment.) He left his private law practice and started getting involved in activism in the field. It was one of the most wonderful times of my life, Clinton said, because I realized that he realized that I did not intentionally get him in the middle of all that impeachment stuff. A few hours later, Jordan pulled up to the South Portico in his red Cadillac convertible and went to the second-floor kitchen, where the president was waiting. Clinton and Jordan in Wyoming, August 25, 1995. By 1966 Jordans political influence was evident through his participation in Pres. After that, he made himself move to the Southern Regional Council and finally to the Voter Education Project. [10] From the NAACP, he moved to the Southern Regional Council and then to the Voter Education Project.[10]. Ill be way more good to you being there, 24 hours a day, to tell you what I think and not have to worry about running some department and the latest controversy. Jordan is secretary of the board for Sasha Bruce Youthwork. Although Jordan held no official role in the Clinton White House, he was highly influential and had such labels as the first friend. He approached Colin Powell about becoming secretary of state and encouraged Clinton to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993. Wasting little time, Clinton asked him to come to Little Rock to talk about the potential appointment. Whenever a key decision had to be made, aides would receive the same instruction: Call Vernon. And Vernon was indeed called, countless times, and asked to share his views on everything from the Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy, which allowed gay soldiers to serve in the military so long as their sexual identity remained hidden (Jordan supported the plan), to his reluctant endorsement of appointing of an independent counsel to investigate the Whitewater scandal (the worst decision of my presidency, Clinton rued 25 years later). Inside Jeffrey Epsteins Decades-Long Relationship With Leslie Wexner Trumps Deranged Replacement Theory Mightve Lost Him the Election Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk Want to Burn Their Cash in Space Three Texans Bust Myths About the Alamos Famous Last Stand The Guy Who Could Send Trump to Prison May Soon Cooperate With the Feds Bill and Melinda Gatess Epic Divorce Saga Enters Its Next Phase Juneteenth, Critical Race Theory, and the Winding Road Toward Reckoning Trump Is Now Urging People Not to Vaccinate Their Kids Against COVID From the Archive: Microsofts Odd Couple, in the Words of Paul Allen Not a subscriber? In 1970, Jordan became executive director of the United Negro College Fund. He was a personal mentor and dear friend. Jordan also secured a job at Revlon for Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern whose affair with Clinton spawned a scandal. Vernon Jordan: Biography, Career, Paths to Civil Rights leader and Jordan would later describe the announcement as one of the proudest moments of his life: being named the first person of color ever to serve in that position. Christopher made the pitch to the New Jersey senator and former New York Knick, but as both men later confirmed, he took his name out of consideration right from the beginning. Of all the roles Jordan would play throughout his friends presidency, though, the most important was helping him break through the clutter of opinions being offered by staffers, who sometimes didnt reveal or understand unseen agendas. She is 87 years old as of 2020. Said Clinton, I knew Vernon was respected enough, wise enough, and tough enough., Like the lawyer he was, Jordan had come ready with his rebuttal. [34], Jordan also served as the narrator for American composer Joseph Schwantner's New Morning for the World: "Daybreak of Freedom," a collection of quotations from various speeches by Martin Luther King Jr.[37][38], National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, "Vernon Jordan, civil rights icon and former Clinton adviser, dies at 85", "Vernon Jordan: More than a 'First Friend', "Oral History Interview with Vernon E. Jordan, Jr, March 17, 1964, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries", "Notable brothers of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Inc", "Donald Lee Hollowell - A heroic presence in the Civil Rights Movement", "Vernon Jordan, Lawyer Who Helped Integrate UGA, Has Died", "Vernon Jordan, civil rights leader and adviser to Bill Clinton, dies aged 85", An Historical Look At the Impact of the United Negro College Fund and its Member Institutions on American History, "Vernon Jordan, Civil Rights Activist And Power Broker, Dies At 85", "Martha Coleman, the Shadowy Figure in the Vernon Jordan Case, Has Led a Troubled Life", "Racist Admits Sniper Attack On Rights Chief Vernon Jordan Franklin Was Acquitted In Trial 14 Years Ago But Now Admits It", "THE PRESIDENT UNDER FIRE: THE POWER BROKER; Jordan Trades Stories With Clinton, and Offers Counsel", "Vernon Jordan, civil rights leader and close ally of Bill Clinton, dies", "Washington: Request For Legal Fees Rejected", "Extent of Jordan's Help to Ex-Intern Was Unusual", "A look back at how Clinton's impeachment trial unfolded", "Jordan's 10 Board Positions Worth $1.1 Million", Vernon Jordan '57 Named John Kerry's Lead Debate Negotiator & Elected President of Economic Club of Washington, "A quarter-century of big names in business", "Vernon E. Jordan Jr. to Deliver Syracuse University's 2017 Commencement Address", "Vernon Jordan draws parallels between current political climate and civil rights era in 2017 commencement speech", "Vernon Jordan, Civil Rights Leader and D.C. Power Broker, Dies at 85", "Vickee S. Jordan And B. M. Adams To Marry in June", "Finsbury hires Wells Fargo's Vickee Jordan Adams as partner", "Vernon Jordan on Politics, Obama and Civil Rights", "New Morning for the World", Joseph Schwantner Works List, "Former Steering Committee Members | Bilderberg Meetings", "BARNARD AWARD FOR MRS. KIRKPATRICK FOUGHT", "Vernon Jordan, civil rights leader and ex-Clinton advisor, dead at 85", "Annette Gordon-Reed '84 to join the Harvard faculty", "Barbara Tober to be Honored at 8 Over 80 Gala", "Howard University Names Law Library in Honor of Civil Rights Activist Vernon Jordan", Ubben Lecture/Presidential Inauguration Address at DePauw University; October 29, 2016, Oral History Interview with Vernon E. Jordan, March 17, 1964. [5] He earned a Juris Doctor at Howard University School of Law in 1960. This article about an American businessperson born in the 1930s is a stub. However, Franklin accepted the commitment of crime after being guilt in another murder case. Vernon Jordan is an African-American lawyer who makes a guest appearance as himself on The Good Wife. As Clinton recalled, The first person I was interested in was Bill Bradley because I had known him a long time. Sitting with Jordan, Clinton called Christopher to set up a clandestine meeting in Philadelphia. Vernon Jordan | Biography & Facts | Britannica He loved to reminisce abt [sic] Benjamin Mays, Albert Dent & great HBCU presidents he knew.". ga('ads.send', { eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), All rights reserved. Its best for you. Pitbull is a pal, Carbone is for dinner, and, Exclusive: Inside the S--tshow That Was the Trump-Biden Transition. He is most noted for his amazing role in the ClintonLewinsky scandal. New revelations about how one Trump staffer helped preserve the transfer of powerfrom the forthcoming book on the Biden White House, Monica Lewinsky: 25 Randoms on the 25th Anniversary of the Bill Clinton Calamity. }); Civil rights leader Vernon Jordan, who was also a close advisor to former President Bill Clinton, passed away on Monday evening at the age of 85. He published an autobiography, Vernon Can Read! As he saw the young couple with their one-year-old daughter, Chelsea, Jordan could feel his friends despondence. He was graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, in 1957. And you need me more as a friend than in the government. She was field work director of Citigroup from 1989 to 2007. From 1970 to 1985, she also served as the Director of Social Services of Chicago Lying-in Hospital. [8][9] The firm, including Constance Motley, sued the University of Georgia for racial discrimination in its admission policies. Corrections? He spoke in blunt, direct terms: Stop pitying yourself and appreciate what others see in you. That is, until Jordan came down from New York to talk some sense into him. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. He received more than 55 honorary degrees, including ones from both of his alma maters, and sat on several boards of directors. Required fields are marked *. We started talking and instantly I was struck by his intelligence, his charisma and mannerisms. Clinton quietly asked Jordan to determine who on that very short list was ready to run with him. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Omissions? Vernon Jordan, activist, former Clinton adviser, dies at 85 This means that the couple has already enjoyed over three decades of their conjugal life. At six foot two and six foot five, respectively, Clinton and Jordan, with broad shoulders and radiant smiles, lit up whatever room they occupied. Vernon Jordan paved the way for Black leaders in business and politics (written with Annette Gordon-Reed), in 2001. ET. Theres a lot of anxiety here. Vernon Jordan Wiki, Death, Age, Height, Wife, Family, Biography & More. American jurist, minister and government official. From civil rights to business, Mr. Jordan demonstrated the highest quality of leadership and created a path forward for African-Americans where there were none. In an excerpt from his new book, Inside Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushners Gilded Florida ParadiseFar From Donald Trump or 2024, Chaos lingers at the periphery, but the Trump-Kushner marriage is thriving in exile. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Jordan shakes Clintons hand during the inaugural parade, January 20, 1993. After studying law at Howard University (J.D., 1960), Jordan joined the effort to desegregate colleges and universities and helped lead Black student Charlayne Hunter through a group of whites protesting the University of Georgias integration policy in 1961. He was 85. Your email address will not be published. He is survived by his daughter and his second wife, Ann Jordan. Vernon Jordan is an American lawyer and civil rights activist who has sadly passed away today, March 2nd, at the age of 85. I never really thought hed do it because he was made a general under President Reagan and had a good relationship with President Bush, Clinton said. Jordan also worked as director of social services of Chicago Lying-in Hospital from 1970 to 1985, and director of the Department of Social Services for the University of Chicago Medical Center from 1986 to 1987. Jordan's first wife, Shirley Yarbrough, died in December 1985. He is now a father to four children and a grandfather to nine kids. Vernon Jordan and President Bill Clinton at the 2000 Presidents Cup at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va. President Barack Obama smiles as he speaks with Vernon Jordan before delivering the commencement address to the graduating class of Howard University in Washington on May 7, 2016. [32] He has nine grandchildren, seven from his second wife's children, Janice, Mercer, and Toni. He is considered for being one of the influential figures in American politics. Regarding his education and academic achievements, he went to David Tobias Howard High School from where he received his graduation. On November 3, 1992, Bill Clinton was in his jogging clothes when the first encouraging returns started trickling in at 6:30 p.m. Finally Jordan spoke. Vernon and I were sitting on either side of the lectern where she was speaking, and her back was visible to Vernon. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. #RestInPower https://t.co/toI7H3J1Aa. He didnt hold me responsible. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. IE 11 is not supported. Here I am, he remembered thinking, the son of a postman who grew up in the first public housing project in the country for African Americans, and Ive just spent the last six hours sharing everything with the most powerful man on the planet. Tears started to stream down his face. The president realized at some point early in his first term he didnt have enough adults in the room. ATLANTA Vernon Jordan, who rose from humble beginnings in the segregated South to become a champion of civil rights before reinventing himself as a Washington insider and corporate. On the day of his interview, Gore traveled in a Ford Bronco with tinted windows to secretly meet with Clinton at the Capitol Hilton. Vernon Kay shares meaning behind special ring from Tess Daly Join Vanity Fair to receive full access to VF.com and the complete online archive now. Its too bad they ran out of fabric before they finished it. And so began Bill Clintons closest adult friendshipfittingly, in laughter, and not surprisingly about women, which would become a frequent topic of conversation. Jordan was born in 1935 and his place of birth is in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States of America. CNN reported that Jordan, who worked as an adviser to former President Bill Clinton and as the. pg.acq.push(function() { [13], On May 29, 1980, Jordan was shot and seriously wounded outside the Marriott Inn in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was only 34. His vision of a grand political careerwhich many believed might someday carry him to the White Houseappeared to be in tatters. He and his late wife had a child together, a daughter named Vickee Jordan Adams. Now he was making real money. He reappears in "VIP Treatment" talking to the new State's . But beyond the pecuniary considerations, he thought he could be a more effective transition chair if he wasnt in contention for a job himself. In hindsight, Jordan viewed the experience as Clintons coming out party. And on the flight home, both men recognized that Clinton possessed the maturity and intellectual breadth to be president. [4][8] She is a member of The Links. ", Before leaving for the airport, Jordan offered one more piece of adviceto his friend Hillary Rodham: she needed to start using Clinton as her last name. Bio, Age, Real Name (Jorge Soriano), Nationality. She was 48 . There is no information available about his parents or siblings. You have too much commitment to the causes you care about, too much support to step off the stage. No one around Clinton could match Jordans Rolodex, his judgment of human character, or his ability to persuade. Vernon Jordan, the civil rights lawyer who built a career as a power broker in politics and business, has died at age 85. Jordan grew up in Georgia and studied political science at DePauw University (B.A., 1957), where he distinguished himself as a compelling public speaker. Updates? If that happened, Rockefeller planned to run for president himself in 1996. Vernon Jordan, who grew up in the segregated South to become an influential leader in the American civil rights movement, Washington politics and Wall Street, has died at age 85, his daughter said . Go-between (he told Mike Espy he had to go as secretary of agriculture, helped win Warren Christopher a larger role as secretary of state and sounded out Gen. Colin L. Powell for a Cabinet job). Jordan was born on August 15, 1935, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Mary Belle (Griggs) and Vernon E. Jordan Sr.[1] He had a brother, Windsor. In 1961, Jordan became Georgia field secretary for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Jordan, Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and her husband, Marc Mezvinsky, at Hillary Clintons first presidential debate with Donald Trump, at Hofstra University, September 26, 2016. Bio, Wife, Net worth, Is Luci Baines Johnson Married? And he said to me after we were walking out, Shes a very attractive lady and that was a beautiful dress. Ann married Jordan in 1986 in a private ceremony at their Northwest DC home. Vernon was an American business executive and civil rights activist in the United States. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), He met Clinton as a young politician in Arkansas, and the two connected over their Southern roots and poor upbringings. Clinton was then the state attorney general. Bill Clinton, having befriended him and his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, decades earlier.