Vernon Jordan, the civil rights activist and power broker in Washington, whose private advice was sought by the powerful at the highest levels of government and those in the business world, died Monday at his home in Washington. He was 85.
His death was confirmed in a statement by Vickee Jordan, his daughter.
Mr. Jordan began his civil rights career after graduating from Howard University School of Law, and was elected head of the Urban League in 1971 while still in his thirties.
While there, he regularly began to associate with leading political figures and give advice.
His closest relationship was with Bill Clinton, with whom he had been friends for years before he was elected president in 1992. Mr. Jordan was elected co-chair of the transition effort and immediately became the confidant and golf partner of the president, a member of many corporate boards and a highly paid advocate lobbyist at one of Washington’s most politically involved law firms.
A full obituary will be published soon.