#4565 - (44¢) Barbara Jordan

Staunchly determined to help extend social justice and federal protection of equal rights to all American citizens, Barbara Jordan (1936-1996) dedicated her life to working for the benefit of others. She was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction, as well as the first Southern African-American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives. While giving a statement on the Articles of Impeachment against then President Richard Nixon, she said, “I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the destruction of the Constitution.” This speech is considered to be one of the most powerful and influential speeches of the 20th century. Scott 4565 Barbara Jordan