Arthur Fletcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Fletcher
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| Chair of the United States Commission on Civil Rights | |
| In office 1990–1993 |
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| President | George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | William B. Allen |
| Succeeded by | Mary Frances Berry |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Arthur Allen Fletcher
December 22, 1924 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Died | July 12, 2005 (aged 80) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Washburn University (BA) La Salle Extension University (LLB) |
Arthur Allen Fletcher (born December 22, 1924 – died July 12, 2005) was an important American government official. Many people called him the "father of affirmative action". This is because he played a big part in creating a plan called the Revised Philadelphia Plan.
Contents
Arthur Fletcher: A Life of Service
Arthur Fletcher was a member of the Republican Party. He studied at Washburn University and also earned a degree from La Salle Extension University. This was a school where he could learn from a distance.
Early Life and Sports
In 1950, Arthur Fletcher played two games for the Baltimore Colts in the NFL. This was a big moment because he became the first Black professional player in any sport in Baltimore's history.
Later, Arthur Fletcher moved to Pasco, Washington, with his wife, Bernyce, and their two youngest children. He got a job at the Hanford Atomic Energy Project. He also helped start a program to improve the community in East Pasco. He even won a seat on the Pasco City Council.
Stepping into Politics
In 1968, Fletcher ran for Lieutenant Governor of Washington State. He almost won, but lost to the person who already held the job, John Cherberg. This made him the first African American in Washington and the Western United States to run for a statewide elected position.
His close race for Lieutenant Governor caught the attention of President Richard Nixon. President Nixon offered Fletcher a job as Assistant Secretary of Labor. Arthur Fletcher served in the governments of Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and George H. W. Bush.
In 1978, Fletcher ran for mayor of Washington, D.C.. However, he was defeated by the popular Democrat Marion Barry. In 1995, he briefly thought about running for president as a Republican.
Championing Civil Rights
From 1990 to 1993, Arthur Fletcher was the chairman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. In this role, he strongly supported affirmative action policies. Affirmative action is a set of policies that aim to help groups of people who have faced unfair treatment in the past, like in jobs or education. These policies try to make sure everyone has an equal chance.
Many of his fellow Republicans did not always agree with his views on affirmative action. However, Fletcher believed these policies were important for fairness.
The Famous Slogan
Arthur Fletcher was also the head of the United Negro College Fund. This organization helps students go to college. Many people thought he created the famous slogan, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." But actually, this motto was created by Forest Long from an advertising agency called Young & Rubicam, along with the Ad Council.
Military Service and Legacy
Arthur Fletcher was a veteran of the United States Army. He served during World War II. When he passed away in 2005, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
See Also
- Affirmative action in the United States
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Arthur Fletcher
