July 25 marks the anniversary of one of the great speeches in American history. It was given by a freshman Congresswoman from Texas, Barbara Jordan, the first black woman from the South elected to Congress…It was also a defining moment in the national crisis known as Watergate. Within two weeks President Nixon would resign. Barbara Jordan would become an icon: a symbol for what is right about America, and the most sought-after public speaker until her death in 1996. Wayne Bell begins our tale, with Barbara Jordan’s own recollections.
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Piece Description
July 25 marks the anniversary of one of the great speeches in American history. It was given by a freshman Congresswoman from Texas, Barbara Jordan, the first black woman from the South elected to Congress…It was also a defining moment in the national crisis known as Watergate. Within two weeks President Nixon would resign. Barbara Jordan would become an icon: a symbol for what is right about America, and the most sought-after public speaker until her death in 1996. Wayne Bell begins our tale, with Barbara Jordan’s own recollections.
Broadcast History
KUT and Wayne Bell are creating an audio biography of Barbara Jordan. To find out more about Barbara Jordan and the project, or to hear this story again, visit our website at KUT-dot-org.
Transcript
Watergate Segment
Version 5 - 7/21/05 pm length: 8:45
Barbara Jordan, archival recording (1984)
I went to Congress in January of 1973. Now, I had always had the highest regard and respect possible for the Presidency and I could not imagine that I would be engaged in a process that would -- could lead to the end of the Presidency.
(WB) That is Barbara Jordan, recorded in 1984. The ‘rumbling’ she’s referring to was, of course, the Watergate scandal, which landed in her lap because she was a freshman member of the House Judiciary Committee. That Committee, 21 Democrats and 17 Republicans, was the nation’s point team in determining whether, or not, to impeach President Nixon. Barbara Jordan would play a crucial role.
John Doar
I’m John Doar. I was special counsel for the House Judiciary Committee.
There’s some indication that President Nixon believed that that Committee c...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
TAPE: Bell Jordan on Watergate
TIME: 8:44
O/C: This is Wayne Bell, KUT News
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Rene Flores
Posted on July 28, 2006 at 08:17 AM | Permalink
Review of Barbara Jordan Speech on Watergate and the Constitution
A well-researched, well-executed look back at Barbara Jordan's 'Watergate speech'. As someone who was too young to understand the hearings as they were aired on tv, but who wants to learn more about Ms. Jordan and her legacy, I appreciated the historical, political, and jouralistic context provided by contemporary sources. Like the words of Ms. Jordan herself, this piece was authoritative and inspiring.