today's overblown political rhetoric, Jordan made sure she knew what she was talking about.
With law degree in hand, Jordan returned to Houston and set up shop as an attorney, but her law career was short-lived. In 1960, she volunteered for Kennedy's presidential campaign and traveled extensively, rallying African American business and community leaders and speaking in black churches. Her popularity as a speaker led to her decision to run for a state legislative seat, for which she campaigned twice and lost. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act passed, and Texas was ordered to reapportion a number of legislative districts. Two years later, Jordan ran and won in a predominately minority district in Houston, becoming the first African American electedto the state senate since 1883. She served her constituents for eight years and in 1972 was elected to the US House of Representatives, becoming the first African American Texan to serve in Congress.
In Washington, DC, Jordan was soon heralded as a forceful voice for change, as someone who championed the rights of the oppressed and spoke out against bigotry, hatred, and ignorance. She gained national recognition as a member of the House Judiciary Committee when she spoke at the impeachment hearing of President Nixon. Millions of television viewers watched her impassioned speech on the fundamentals of democracy.
Earlier today, we heard the beginning of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States: âWe, the people.â It's a very eloquent beginning. But when that document was completed on the seventeenth of September in 1787, I was not included in that âWe, the people.â I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation, and court decision, I have finally been included in âWe, the people.â 11
In her distinctive cadence, Jordan explained how the president had put himself above the rule of law and why his misdeeds were crimes. The discipline she developed in law school was on full display as she logically laid out a convincing argument for impeachment while articulating her patriotism and love for country. When she finished, committee members had tears in their eyes, and within days Americans were calling for Barbara Jordan to be president. Jordan was no longer just 1 of 535 members of Congress. She was an inspirational leader who would speak for justice and equality for all.
All-Time Great Line
My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total. And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of the Constitution.
âRepresentative Jordan, 1974 Watergate hearings
FIVE Ps OF A VIBRANT VOICE
Some clients are reluctant to work on their voice because it brings them too close to the feeling that I'm trying to âchange who they are.â Those concerns are valid because the voice is an important part of individual personality. But consider the fact that you may not be using the full range of what is available. Small changes can help you discover the fullness of your sound and help you project more of your personality. This section introduces five essential ways to develop the voice as a power tool. The five Ps of a vibrant voice help you control the voice and use it more purposefully.
Step 1: Pleasing Pitch
What is your natural pitch? Is it high or low on the musical scale? There are two general pitch ranges: chest voice and head voice. The chest voice resonates in the top part of your chest. The head voice vibrates behind your eyes and in your nose. Men tend to use more chest voice, which produces lower tones. Lower tones can be advantageous because they are associated with qualities like authority, control, confidence, and expertise. Imagine the booming bass of James Earl Jones in the role of Darth Vader: âYou don't know the power of the dark
With law degree in hand, Jordan returned to Houston and set up shop as an attorney, but her law career was short-lived. In 1960, she volunteered for Kennedy's presidential campaign and traveled extensively, rallying African American business and community leaders and speaking in black churches. Her popularity as a speaker led to her decision to run for a state legislative seat, for which she campaigned twice and lost. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act passed, and Texas was ordered to reapportion a number of legislative districts. Two years later, Jordan ran and won in a predominately minority district in Houston, becoming the first African American electedto the state senate since 1883. She served her constituents for eight years and in 1972 was elected to the US House of Representatives, becoming the first African American Texan to serve in Congress.
In Washington, DC, Jordan was soon heralded as a forceful voice for change, as someone who championed the rights of the oppressed and spoke out against bigotry, hatred, and ignorance. She gained national recognition as a member of the House Judiciary Committee when she spoke at the impeachment hearing of President Nixon. Millions of television viewers watched her impassioned speech on the fundamentals of democracy.
Earlier today, we heard the beginning of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States: âWe, the people.â It's a very eloquent beginning. But when that document was completed on the seventeenth of September in 1787, I was not included in that âWe, the people.â I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation, and court decision, I have finally been included in âWe, the people.â 11
In her distinctive cadence, Jordan explained how the president had put himself above the rule of law and why his misdeeds were crimes. The discipline she developed in law school was on full display as she logically laid out a convincing argument for impeachment while articulating her patriotism and love for country. When she finished, committee members had tears in their eyes, and within days Americans were calling for Barbara Jordan to be president. Jordan was no longer just 1 of 535 members of Congress. She was an inspirational leader who would speak for justice and equality for all.
All-Time Great Line
My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total. And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of the Constitution.
âRepresentative Jordan, 1974 Watergate hearings
FIVE Ps OF A VIBRANT VOICE
Some clients are reluctant to work on their voice because it brings them too close to the feeling that I'm trying to âchange who they are.â Those concerns are valid because the voice is an important part of individual personality. But consider the fact that you may not be using the full range of what is available. Small changes can help you discover the fullness of your sound and help you project more of your personality. This section introduces five essential ways to develop the voice as a power tool. The five Ps of a vibrant voice help you control the voice and use it more purposefully.
Step 1: Pleasing Pitch
What is your natural pitch? Is it high or low on the musical scale? There are two general pitch ranges: chest voice and head voice. The chest voice resonates in the top part of your chest. The head voice vibrates behind your eyes and in your nose. Men tend to use more chest voice, which produces lower tones. Lower tones can be advantageous because they are associated with qualities like authority, control, confidence, and expertise. Imagine the booming bass of James Earl Jones in the role of Darth Vader: âYou don't know the power of the dark
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