Adam Clayton Powell Jr.: Difference between revisions

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"Mass action is the most powerful force on earth," Mr. Powell once said, adding, "As long as it is within the law, it's not wrong if the law is wrong, change the law." According to analysts, he landed in Washington as Congressman armed with a mandate from the grassroots to make a difference.

==Congressman==

[[Image: 0758201958.jpg|right|thumb|The autobiography of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.]]

== Headline text ==

In 1944 Powell was elected as a [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]] to the House of Representatives, representing the 22nd congressional district, which included [[Harlem]]. He was the first black Congressman from [[New York State|New York]], and the first from any [[Northern United States|Northern]] state other than [[Illinois]].

As one of only two black Congressmen, Powell challenged the informal ban on black representatives using Capitol facilities reserved for members only. He took black constituents to dine with him in the "whites only" House restaurant. He clashed with the many [[Racial segregation|segregationists]] in his own party.

In [[1956]] Powell broke party ranks and supported [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] for reelection, saying that the Democratic platform's civil rights plank was too weak.

Occupation Report

In [[1958]] he survived a determined effort by the [[Tammany Hall]] machine to oust him in the Democratic [[primary election]].

In 1944 Powell was elected as a [[ United States Democratic Party|Democrat]] to the House of Representatives, representing the 22nd congressional district, which included [[Harlem]] . He was the first black Congressman from [[ New York State|New York]], and the first from any [[Northern United States|Northern]] state other than [[Illinois]].

As one of only two black Congressmen, Powell challenged the informal ban on black representatives using Capitol facilities reserved for members only. He took black constituents to dine with him in the "whites only" House restaurant. He clashed with the many [[Racial segregation|segregationists]] in his own party.

In [[1960]], Powell forced [[Bayard Rustin]] to resign from the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference|SCLC]] by threatening to discuss Rustin's [[homosexuality]] charge in Congress.

In [[1956]] Powell broke party ranks and supported [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] for reelection, saying that the Democratic platform's civil rights plank was too weak.

In 1961, after 15 years in Congress, Powell became chairman of the powerful Education and Labor Committee. In this position he presided over federal programs for [[minimum wage]] increases, education and training for the deaf, vocational training and standards for wages and work hours, as well as aid to elementary and secondary education. He orchestrated passage of the backbone of President John Kennedy's "New Freedom" legislation. He would also become instrumental in the passage of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society" social programs.

In [[1958]] he survived a determined effort by the [[Tammany Hall]] machine to oust him in the Democratic [[primary election]].

In [[1960]], Powell forced [[Bayard Rustin]] to resign from the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference|SCLC]] by threatening to discuss Rustin's [[homosexuality]] charge in Congress.

In 1961, after 15 years in Congress, Powell became chairman of the powerful Education and Labor Committee. In this position he presided over federal programs for [[minimum wage]] increases, education and training for the deaf, vocational training and standards for wages and work hours, as well as aid to elementary and secondary education. He orchestrated passage of the backbone of President John Kennedy's "New Freedom" legislation. He would also become instrumental in the passage of President Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society" social programs.

Powell Jr.'s committee passed a record number of bills for a single session. That record still remains unbroken. As one of the great modern legislators, Powell Jr. would steer some 50 bills through Congress.

He passed legislation that made lynching a federal crime and bills that desegregated public schools and the U.S. military. He challenged the Southern practice of charging Blacks a [[poll tax]] to vote, and stopped racist congressmen from saying the word "nigger" in sessions of Congress.

By the mid-1960s Powell was being increasingly criticised for mismanagement of the committee budget, taking trips abroad at public expense, including travel to his retreat on the Bahamian isle of [[Bimini]], and missing sittings of his committee. He was also under fire in his district, where his refusal to pay a slander judgment made him subject to arrest. He spent increasing amounts of time in [[Florida]]inFlorida and displayed his wealth more than was wise for a Congressman representing a poor district.

In January of [[1967]], following allegations that Powell had misappropriated Committee funds for his personal use and other corruption allegations, the House Democratic Caucus stripped Powell of his committee chairmanship. The full House refused to seat him until completion of an investigation by the Judiciary Committee. In March the House voted 307 to 116 to exclude him. Powell won the special election in April to fill the vacancy caused by his exclusion, but did not take his seat.

Powell sued in ''[[Powell v. McCormack]]'' to retain his seat. In June of [[1969]] the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] ruled that the House had acted unconstitutionally when it excluded Powell, a duly elected member, and he returned to the House, but without his seniority. Again his absenteeism was increasingly noted.

In June of [[1970]] he was defeated in the Democratic primary by [[Charles B. Rangel]], who has represented the area ever since. Powell failed to get on the ballot for the November election as an independent. He resigned as minister at the Abyssinian Baptist Church and moved to [[Bimini]]. In April of [[1972]] he became gravely ill and was flown to a Miami hospital. He died there on April 4, at the age of 63. A few days later his ashes were carried aloft by a plane and scattered over his beloved Bimini.

==Personal==