October 4 - Barbara Jordan

Barbara Jordan

Barbara Jordan is probably best known for giving the opening speech at the 1974 impeachment hearings for President Nixon, during which she staunchly defended the Constitution and supported Nixon's impeachment. At the time, she was serving as Representative of Texas on the House Judiciary Committee. Prior to that, Jordan served as a Texas Senator from 1967-1973, the first Southern African American woman elected to do so, when she moved to the House. She was also the first African American woman to deliver a keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention. President Clinton awarded Jordan the Presidential Medal of Freedom and considered nominating her to the US Supreme Court (her health prevented her from being nominated). During her time in office, Jordan advocated for Texas's first minimum wage law and created the Texas Fair Employment Practices Commission, in addition to working on immigration reform and speaking on civil rights. Though not out at the time of her tenure, Jordan is still considered the first lesbian elected to Congress, in addition to her myriad other accomplishments.