Jefferson, William J. (William Jennings), 1947-

Hide Profile

William Jennings Jefferson (born March 14, 1947) is an American former politician from Louisiana whose career ended after his corruption scandal and conviction. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for nine terms from 1991 to 2009 as a member of the Democratic Party. He represented Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, which includes much of the greater New Orleans area. He was elected as the state's first black congressman since the end of Reconstruction.

In 1969, Jefferson received a bachelor's degree from Southern University, a historically black college in Baton Rouge, where he had participated in Army ROTC. On graduation from Southern University, Jefferson was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army; he served in a reserve capacity until 1975. In 1972, he earned a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. In 1996, he received a LLM in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.

In 1972 and 1973 Jefferson began the practice of law, having initially served as a clerk for Judge Alvin Benjamin Rubin of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. From 1973 to 1975, Jefferson was a legislative assistant to Democratic U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., of Louisiana. Jefferson moved to New Orleans in 1976 and was elected to the Louisiana Senate in 1979, where he served until 1990. In 1982 and 1986, he ran unsuccessfully for New Orleans mayor. Jefferson was considered a rising star in Louisiana politics, with some suggesting he would be his state's second African-American governor.

In 1990, midway through his third term in the state senate, Jefferson ran in the nonpartisan blanket primary for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district seat after 10-term incumbent Lindy Boggs announced her retirement. He finished first in the seven-candidate field with 24 percent of the vote. In the runoff, he received 52 percent of the vote. He would be reelected seven times, serving until January 2009.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Records of the Task Force on National Health Care (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 1994. Steven Edelstein's Files, 1993 - 1994 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Counsel to the President (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Meredith Cabe's Files, 1998 - 2001 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Records of the Office of Appointments and Scheduling (George W. Bush Administration), 1/20/2001 - 1/20/2009. Presidential Daily Diary, 1/20/2001 - 1/20/2009 George W. Bush Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief of Staff (Clinton Administration). 1993 - 2001. Leon Panetta's Files, ca. 1993 - ca. 2001 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Records of the Council on Environmental Quality (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Kathleen McGinty's Files, 1993 - 1998 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Records of the First Lady's Office (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Melanne Verveer's Subject Files , ca. 1/20/1993 - ca. 1/20/2001 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Records of the White House Social Office (George W. Bush Administration), 1/20/2001 - 1/20/2009. Tanya Turner's Files, 1/20/2001 - 1/20/2009 George W. Bush Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Press Secretary (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Mike McCurry's Files, 1995 - 1998 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Records of the National AIDS Policy Office (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. General Files, 1993 - 2001 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn Records of the Task Force on National Health Care (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 1994. Robert Boorstin's Files, 1993 - 1994 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf The HistoryMakers Video Oral History with The Honorable William Jefferson The HistoryMakers
Relation Name
memberOf Congressional Black Caucus (United States) corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Georgetown University. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Harvard Law School corporateBody
memberOf Louisiana. Legislature. Senate corporateBody
subordinateOf Rubin, Alvin B. person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Southern University corporateBody
memberOf United States. Army corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. House person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Lake Providence LA US
District of Columbia DC US
Cambridge MA US
Baton Rouge LA US
New Orleans LA US
Subject
Occupation
Army officers
Law clerks
Lawyers
Legislative assistants
Representatives, U.S. Congress
State Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1947-03-14

Male

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6c649gt

Ark ID: w6c649gt

SNAC ID: 84650623