Civil rights leader and Clinton adviser Vernon Jordan dies at 85

Civil rights leader Vernon Jordan, who served as a close confidant to former President Clinton, died Monday at 85, CNBC reported, citing Jordan’s daughter Vickee.

“Vernon E. Jordan Jr. passed away peacefully last evening surrounded by loved ones. We appreciate all of the outpouring of love and affection,” Vickee Jordan said in a statement, according to the network.

I have known Vernon for nearly 20 years. There was something almost magical about him. He was a towering presence when he entered a room and he always would make you smile.

— Andrew Ross Sorkin (@andrewrsorkin) March 2, 2021

Jordan, a native of Atlanta, studied law at Washington, D.C.’s  Howard University and in one of his first major cases sued the University of Georgia over its segregation policies in 1961. Jordan worked for various civil rights organizations throughout his career, and was president of the National Urban League from 1971 to 1981.

He was an adviser to numerous presidents from Lyndon Johnson to Barack Obama, but was most closely associated with Bill and Hillary Clinton. Jordan advised Bill Clinton during his 1992 presidential campaign and served on his presidential transition team. After Bill Clinton’s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, Jordan was tasked with finding her a job in New York City, according to the report prepared by special prosecutor Ken Starr.

“Vernon Jordan was a wonderful friend to Hillary, Chelsea, and me, in good times and bad,” Bill Clinton said in a tweet.

“We worked and played, laughed and cried, won and lost together,” he added.  “We loved him very much and always will.”

Vernon Jordan was a wonderful friend to Hillary, Chelsea, and me, in good times and bad. We worked and played, laughed and cried, won and lost together. We loved him very much and always will. pic.twitter.com/mZAsx1xETn

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) March 2, 2021

After Bill Clinton left office, Jordan’s activities included serving on the Iraq Study Group in 2006 and as point man for then-Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry’s debate preparations in 2004. He endorsed Hillary Clinton in both her 2008 and 2016 bids for the presidency.

He served as senior managing director at the investment firm Lazard Group LLC from 2000 until his death.

–Updated at 2:10 p.m.