Barbara Jordan: “A President is Impeachable if He Attempts to Subvert the Constitution”

Barbara Jordan
Feb 21, 1936 – Jan 17, 1996
Photo source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Jordan

“A President is impeachable if he attempts to subvert the Constitution” are the famous words that rang across the nation during Nixon’s impeachment process.

Jordan is quite well-known for this speech, however, when taking a deeper look at her history, she has been a glass breaker beyond her great oratory skills. Her policy work centered the needs of the working class. This included supporting legislation so that financially disenfranchised communities could have access to bank resources and services.

Here’s a list of just a few of Jordan’s firsts:

1. African-American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction

2. Southern Black Woman elected to the United States House of Representatives

3. Black Woman to deliver a keynote address at the 1976 Democratic National Convention.

4. Help established a minimum wage in Texas which also covered farm workers

5. First freshman named to the Texas Legislative Council

6. African American to be buried among the politicians in the Texas State Cemetery

Jordan’s name is associated with sponsoring over 300 bills/resolutions.

I wanted to make this space for Barbara Jordan because in 2021, her words are still relevant. “A President is impeachable if he attempts to subvert the Constitution”.

Jordan’s full impeachment speech can be viewed in the second youtube video provided below.

Receipts aka Sources

Trigger Warning: ableist language of “confined to a wheelchair” https://youtu.be/XiYpD4wDfN8