Vernon Jordan

This 2005 portrait of Vernon Jordan by Bradley Stevens hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.

"In his early career, Vernon Jordan played an important role in the civil rights movement, heading the United Negro College Fund in the 1960s and serving as president of the National Urban League (1972-81). His contributions were primarily in the building of organizational strength and infrastructure. After being seriously wounded by a white supremacist sniper in 1980, Jordan changed his career direction from civil rights to law and politics. He became a partner in the Washington law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauser & Feld and led President Bill Clinton's transition team. During the Clinton years, Jordan not only played an important role in that administration but became a key adviser in the Democratic Party. He is also viewed as an influential spokesman in the business world, serving on the corporate boards of such institutions as American Express and Dow Jones." -- National Portrait Gallery