B. Everett Jordan

Categories: 1896 births | 1974 deaths | United States Senators from North Carolina | North Carolina politician stubs

Benjamin Everett Jordan (8 September 1896 - 15 March 1974) was a Democratic U.S. senator from the state of North Carolina between 1958 and 1973. He lived most of his life in Alamance County, North Carolina.

Born in Randolph County, North Carolina, Jordan served overseas in the United States Army during World War I. In the 1920s he entered the textile business and became increasingly active in the state Democratic Party. When Senator W. Kerr Scott died in office in 1958, Governor Luther Hodges appointed Jordan to the seat, to which he was elected by the people shortly thereafter. He was re-elected in 1960 and 1966, but was defeated in the 1972 Democratic primary by Congressman Nick Galifianakis. At the time, he was 76 and his health was beginning to fail; Jordan died in 1974.However, like most southern senators, He was a supporter of segregation.

Unusually for a southern senator, Jordan, who had supported the Gulf of Tonkin resolution in 1964, later joined a majority of senators in calling for American forces to be brought home. At this, his senior colleague, Sam Ervin, asked him, "Everett, have you lost your mind?"

B. Everett Jordan Lake, in Chatham County, North Carolina is named for Senator Jordan.

Preceded by: William Kerr Scott	Senators from North Carolina	Succeeded by: Jesse Helms
Served alongside: Sam Ervin