19 Facts About Walter Washington

1.

Walter Edward Washington was an American civil servant and politician.

2.

Walter Washington was the first African-American mayor of a major city in the United States, and in 1974 became the capital's first popularly elected mayor since 1871.

3.

Walter Washington won the first mayoral election in 1974, and served from 1975 until 1979.

4.

Walter Washington's family moved North in the Great Migration, and Washington was raised in Jamestown, New York, attending public schools.

5.

Walter Washington earned a bachelor's degree from Howard University and a law degree from Howard University School of Law.

6.

Walter Washington was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

7.

Walter Washington worked for the authority until 1961, when he was appointed by President John F Kennedy as the Executive Director of the National Capital Housing Authority.

8.

In 1966 Walter Washington moved to New York City to head the much larger Housing Authority there in the administration of Mayor John Lindsay.

9.

Walter Washington inherited a city that was torn by racial divisions, and had to deal with conservative congressional hostility following passage of major civil rights legislation.

10.

Walter Washington's actions are credited with helping prevent large-scale riots in the area.

11.

Republican President Richard Nixon retained Walter Washington after being elected as president in 1968.

12.

Walter Washington visited the White House, and he requested that President Nixon issue permits for the demonstration.

13.

In early 1974, Walter Washington began a vigorous campaign to win the Democratic nomination for the mayoral election.

14.

Walter Washington was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

15.

Walter Washington was black, but many blacks were suspicious that he was still too tied to the mostly white power structure that had run the city when he was a commissioner.

16.

Walter Washington fully retired at the end of the decade in his early eighties.

17.

Walter Washington remained a beloved public figure in the District and was much sought after for his political commentary and advice.

18.

Walter Washington's endorsement carried sufficient weight to be noted by all local news outlets.

19.

Walter Washington died at Howard University Hospital on October 27,2003.