BARABA JORDAN

Barbara Charline Jordan was born in Houston, Texas's Fourth Ward. Jordan's childhood was on church life. Her mother was Arlyne Patten Jordan, a teacher in the church, and her father was Benjamin Jordan, a Baptistpreacher. Barbara Jordan was the youngest of three children, with siblings Rose Mary Jordan McGowan and Bennie Jordan Creswell (1933–2000). Jordan attended Roberson Elementary School.She graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School in 1952 with honors.

Jordan credited a speech she heard in her high school years by Edith S. Sampson with inspiring her to become an attorney. Because of segregation, she could not attend The University of Texas at Austin and instead chose Texas Southern University, an historically-black institution, majoring in political science and history. At Texas Southern University, Jordan was a national champion debater, defeating opponents from Yale and Brown and tying Harvard University.She graduated magna cum laude in 1956.At Texas Southern University, she pledged Delta Sigma Theta sorority.She attendedBoston University School of Law, graduating in 1959.

In 1972, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, the first woman elected in her own right to represent Texas in the House. She received extensive support from former President Lyndon B. Johnson, who helped her secure a position on the House Judiciary Committee. In 1974, she made an influential televised speech before the House Judiciary Committee supporting the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, Johnson's successor as President. In 1975, she was appointed byCarl Albert, then Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.

In 1976, Jordan, mentioned as a possible running mate to Jimmy Carter of Georgia, became instead the first African-American woman to deliver a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.Despite not being a candidate, Jordan received one delegate vote (0.03%) for President at theConvention.

Jordan retired from politics in 1979 and became an adjunct professor teaching ethics at the University of Texas at Austin Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. She was again a keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention in 1992.

Jordan delivered a 15-minute televised speech in front of the members of theU.S. House Judiciary Committee.She presented an opening speech during the hearings that were part of the impeachment process against Richard Nixon.This speech is thought to be one of the best speeches of the 20th century. 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.Jordan never flat out said that she wanted Nixon impeached, but rather subtly and cleverly implied her thoughts. She simply stated facts that proved Nixon to be untrustworthy and heavily involved in illegal situations., and quoted the drafters of the Constitution in order to argue that actions like Nixon's during the scandal corresponded with their understanding of impeachable offenses.She protested that the Watergate scandal will forever ruin the trust American citizens have for their government.This powerful and influential statement earned Jordan national praise for her rhetoric, morals, and wisdom.