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Barbara Jordan

Barbara Jordan
Usage Conditions Apply
Artist
Richard Avedon, 15 May 1923 - 1 Oct 2004
Sitter
Barbara Jordan, 21 Feb 1936 - 17 Jan 1996
Date
July 14, 1976
Type
Photograph
Medium
Gelatin silver print
Dimensions
Image: 25.3cm x 20.3cm (9 15/16" x 8")
Sheet: 35.3cm x 27.9cm (13 7/8" x 11")
Topic
Costume\Jewelry\Necklace\Pearl
Barbara Jordan: Female
Barbara Jordan: Law and Crime\Lawyer
Barbara Jordan: Education and Scholarship\Educator\Professor\University
Barbara Jordan: Politics and Government\US Congressman\Texas
Barbara Jordan: Politics and Government\State Senator\Texas
Barbara Jordan: Presidential Medal of Freedom
Portrait
Place
United States\New York\Kings\New York
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; this acquisition was made possible by generous contributions from Jeane W. Austin and the James Smithson Society
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© The Richard Avedon Foundation
Object number
NPG.89.83.31
Exhibition Label
On July 25, 1974, Barbara Jordan, a congressional representative from Texas, delivered the opening statement at President Richard Nixon’s impeachment hearings. Her speech, which was televised on primetime national television, reminded the House Judiciary Committee of their responsibility as part of the checks and balances on presidential power. She asked, “Has the president committed offenses and planned, and directed, and acquiesced in a course of conduct which the Constitution will not tolerate?” and then urged that they “proceed to answer the question.” Jordan emphasized that it was “reason, and not passion, which must guide our deliberations, guide our debate, and guide our decision.” That week, the House Judiciary Committee voted to impeach President Nixon for obstruction of justice, the abuse of power, and contempt of Congress.
This portrait of Jordan was published in Rolling Stone on October 21, 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration. “The Family 1976” featured the men and women “who constitute the political leadership of America.”
El 25 de julio de 1974, Barbara Jordan, una representante de Texas en el Congreso, pronunció la declaración inicial en las audiencias del juicio político al presidente Richard Nixon. Su discurso, que fue televisado a nivel nacional en el horario de máxima audiencia, recordaba a la Comisión Judicial del Congreso su responsabilidad como parte del mecanismo de equilibrio del poder presidencial.
Barbara Jordan lanzó la pregunta: “¿El presidente ha cometido delitos y planeado, dirigido y consentido una línea de conducta que la Constitución no tolera?”; luego, instó a la Comisión Judicial del Congreso a “proceder a responder a la pregunta”. Jordan resaltó que era “la razón, y no la pasión, lo que debía guiar nuestras deliberaciones, guiar nuestro debate y guiar nuestra decisión”. Aquella semana, la Comisión Judicial del Congreso votó en favor de destituir al presidente Nixon por obstrucción de la justicia, abuso de poder y desacato al Congreso.
Este retrato de Jordan se publicó en Rolling Stone el 21 de octubre de 1976, como parte de la celebración del bicentenario de la nación. “La familia 1976” incluía los hombres y mujeres “que constituyen el liderazgo político de Estados Unidos”.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Location
Currently not on view