Hamilton Jordan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hamilton Jordan
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Jordan in 1977
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| 8th White House Chief of Staff | |
| In office July 18, 1979 – June 11, 1980 |
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| President | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Dick Cheney (1977) |
| Succeeded by | Jack Watson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Hamilton McWhorter Jordan
September 21, 1944 Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | May 20, 2008 (aged 63) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Georgia (BA) |
William Hamilton McWhorter Jordan (born September 21, 1944 – died May 20, 2008) was an American politician. He was best known for being the White House Chief of Staff for President Jimmy Carter.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Hamilton Jordan was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He grew up in Albany, Georgia. He went to the University of Georgia and studied political science, graduating in 1967. After college, he volunteered in Vietnam during the war, helping people who had to leave their homes.
Political Career Highlights
In 1970, when he was only 26, Jordan helped Jimmy Carter win his campaign to become the governor of Georgia. Jordan then wrote a plan for Carter to win the 1976 presidential election. This plan became very important for Carter's success.
Jordan was a very important advisor and planner for President Carter. He became the White House Chief of Staff in 1979. This job meant he helped the President with many important decisions and strategies for the government. He was known for his relaxed style, which sometimes led to him being misunderstood by the media.
In 1986, Jordan tried to become a U.S. Senator for Georgia but did not win the primary election. Later, in 1992, he worked for independent presidential candidate Ross Perot. He also supported a group called Unity08, which wanted to change the American political system.
Hamilton Jordan was played by actor Kyle Chandler in the 2012 movie Argo.
Later Life and Interests
Later in his life, Jordan became the chief executive of the Association of Tennis Professionals. This group manages professional men's tennis around the world. He also wrote a book called No Such Thing as a Bad Day in 2000.
Family and Philanthropy
Hamilton Jordan and his wife, Dorothy, who was a nurse, cared deeply about helping children. They started two special camps in Georgia: Camp Sunshine for children with cancer and Camp Kudzu for children with diabetes. He also helped the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
Jordan had three children: Hamilton Jr., Kathleen, and Alex. His children helped him finish a book about his childhood called A Boy From Georgia.
Death
Hamilton Jordan passed away on May 20, 2008, at the age of 63. He died from a type of cancer called peritoneal mesothelioma. He believed this was caused by being around asbestos when he volunteered in Vietnam. He had also survived other types of cancer earlier in his life.
