Clifford Alexander Jr.
Cliff Alexander | |
---|---|
Martin R. Hoffmann | |
Succeeded by | Percy A. Pierre (acting) |
Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | |
In office August 4, 1967 – May 1, 1969 | |
President | |
Preceded by | Stephen N. Shulman |
Succeeded by | William H. Brown III |
Personal details | |
Born | Clifford Leopold Alexander Jr. September 21, 1933 New York City, U.S. |
Died | July 3, 2022 New York City, U.S. | (aged 88)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | |
Children | Elizabeth Mark |
Education | |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1958 |
Unit | New York National Guard • 369th Infantry Regiment |
Clifford Leopold Alexander Jr. (September 21, 1933 – July 3, 2022) was an American lawyer, businessman and
Early life and background
Alexander was born in
Career
Early years and National Security Council
After being admitted to the bar, Alexander served as an assistant
Alexander was first called to
Throughout Johnson's presidency, Alexander continued to act as his go-between with the African American community, notably in the aftermath of the
Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Alexander was appointed as the chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 1967.[5] During his tenure he elevated the agency to play a significant role in fighting workplace discrimination. He resigned from the agency in 1969, after President Richard Nixon demoted him from chairman to commissioner.[a]
Private practice
Alexander practiced law with the Washington firm of
Secretary of the Army
Alexander returned to public service as Secretary of the Army under the Carter Administration, serving from 1977 to 1981.[b][6] He was the first African American appointed to this Cabinet position.[a][b] During this time, he concentrated upon improving the all-volunteer Army, stressing programs to enhance professionalism, and emphasizing the award of contracts to minority businesses to fulfill the federal commitment to encourage diversity.[b][6] He also sought to eliminate barriers to women and racial minorities being promoted to the rank of general.[b][8] One of the beneficiaries of Alexander's efforts was Colin Powell, who finished second in his class at the Army Command and General Staff College.[b] Alexander also endorsed the increases in salary for military personnel and military budget at the end of the Vietnam War, stating that it was "a quality Army" with members who "work hard [and] take their training and their missions seriously".[b]
Later life
After his tenure as Secretary of the Army ended in 1981, Alexander formed the consulting firm of Alexander and Associates with his wife.
During an interview for the Koeppel report in the 1980, Alexander confessed that he expected to die before seeing an African-American Senator, President or head of a Fortune 500 company.[10]
Alexander was outspoken in his opposition to the "
Personal life and death
Alexander married Adele Logan in 1959.[a] She became a history professor at George Washington University.[b] They remained married until his death. Together, they had two children: Elizabeth Alexander and Mark C. Alexander. Elizabeth wrote and recited the poem "Praise Song for the Day" at the first inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009.[a] Mark is the first African American dean of the Villanova University School of Law.[b]
Alexander was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.[15] He relocated to Manhattan in 2013.[b] He died on July 3, 2022, at his home in Manhattan. He was 88, and suffered from heart failure prior to his death.[a][b]
Notes
- Risen, Clay (July 4, 2022). "Clifford L. Alexander, Adviser to Presidents, Is Dead at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
- Mills, Alexa (July 4, 2022). "Clifford Alexander Jr., first Black secretary of Army, dies at 88". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
References
- ^ "Boss Man". Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. June 1977. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
- ^ "Clifford Leopold Alexander Jr". Secretaries of War and Secretaries of the Army. 1992. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014..
- ^ a b c d "Alexander Sworn In as Secretary of the Army". Army Research and Development. United States Army Materiel Command. 1976. p. 30.
- ^ Reinhold, Robert (July 11, 1979). "Army Weighing City Plea to Help Demolition Plan". The New York Times. p. B1. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ BSB is a fanboy
- ^ ISBN 9781438107752.
- ^ Hornblower, Margot (September 24, 1863). "Hand Check Of 93,473 Ballots Ends: Mayor's Win Verified by Hand Count". The Washington Post. p. C1.
- ^ "Yale Law School Mourns the Loss of Clifford L. Alexander Jr. '58". Yale Law School. July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ Ezell, Jennifer. "Biographies – Clifford L. Alexander Jr". National Museum of the United States Army. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
- ^ "D.C. /Divided City". ABC News Special – via youtube.
- ^ "Admirals, generals: Let gays serve openly". NBC News. Associated Press. November 17, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ "'The Rachel Maddow Show' for Thursday, April 3, 2009". NBC News. April 3, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ "'The Rachel Maddow Show' for Monday, May 11, 2009". NBC News. May 15, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ "'The Rachel Maddow Show' for Friday, June 28th, 2013". NBC News. July 1, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ISBN 9780813138725.
External links
- Clifford Alexander's oral history video excerpts at The National Visionary Leadership Project
- Clifford Alexander Jr. on Charlie Rose