Barbara Jordan (1936-1996) was a U.S. congressional representative from Texas and was the first African American congresswoman to come from the Deep South. She rocketed to fame and national attention as a member of the House Judiciary committee voting to impeach Richard Nixon. Considered a lioness in her stirring defense of the Constitution, Jordan’s speech on voting to impeach is considered one of the 100 most important political speeches of the 20th century.
In 1966, Jordan was the first woman ever elected to the Texas Senate. It was as a state Senator, Jordan captured the attention of President Lyndon Johnson, who invited her to the White House for a preview of his 1967 civil rights message. Jordan served in congress from 1972-1978.
At the 1976 Democratic National Convention, Jordan once again captured the public’s attention with her keynote address. She told the crowd, “My presence here is one additional bit of evidence that the American dream need not forever be deferred.” In 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed Jordan to head up the Commission on Immigration Reform. He also honored her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom that same year. Jordan was noted as a great pioneer who shaped the political landscape with her dedication to the Constitution, her commitment to ethics and her impressive oratory skills.
Find her plaque on the north side of Market St between Castro and Noe