Vernon Jordan: Clinton Pal Turned TV Star

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Vernon Jordan

Matthew Cavanaugh/epa/Corbis

D.C. lawyer, civil rights leader and Clinton confidante Vernon Jordan appeared on the TV series The Good Wife on Tuesday night, testing his acting chops (well, sorta) by playing himself. Characters on the show speculated he might want to join the show’s law firm as a partner, and Jordan appeared briefly in a speaking role.

Jordan is best-known for playing a central role in the Monica Lewinsky scandal after it was alleged he showed Lewinsky special favor in trying to secure her a post-White House job. After Clinton left office, Jordan joined Lazard Frères & Co. LLC, in 2001 and in 2006, served as part of the Iraq Study Group, an influential panel tasked with making improvements to U.S. policy in Iraq.

Jordan, now 74, was instrumental to the civil rights movement, helping to secure a legal order to desegregate the University of Georgia in 1961, later personally escorting the first two black student past a crowd of protesters.