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Carter Aide Hamilton Jordan Dead at 63

Architect of Carter's White House run succumbs to cancer

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted May 21, 2008 3:07 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Jimmy Carter's former chief of staff, Hamilton Jordan, has died at the age of 63 after battling cancer for more than 20 years, AP reports. Jordan was at the core of Carter's "Georgia Mafia," and helped propel the Democrat into the White House in 1976. "He was a great strategist," said Carter's former communications chief. "He just couldn't strategize his way out of this."

Carter called Hamilton "my closest political adviser, a trusted confidant and my friend—his judgment, insight, and wisdom were excelled only by his compassion and love of our country." Jordan devoted much of his energies in later years to raising cancer awareness. He and his wife, who survives him, founded a summer camp for kids with cancer in 1982.

Hamilton Jordan and his wife, Dorothy.
Hamilton Jordan and his wife, Dorothy.   (AP Photo/Joe Holloway, Jr.)
This 1976 file photo shows Hamilton Jordan, a political strategist from south Georgia who helped propel Jimmy Carter to the White House. Jordan, 63 died May 20, 2008 after a long battle with cancer.
This 1976 file photo shows Hamilton Jordan, a political strategist from south Georgia who helped propel Jimmy Carter to the White House. Jordan, 63 died May 20, 2008 after a long battle with cancer.   (AP Photo/File)
In this Aug. 9, 1980 file photo provided by ABC news, Hamilton Jordan smiles as photographers take his picture in the Democratic Convention site at Madison Square Garden in New York.
In this Aug. 9, 1980 file photo provided by ABC news, Hamilton Jordan smiles as photographers take his picture in the Democratic Convention site at Madison Square Garden in New York.   (AP Photo/ABC News)
In this undated file photo provided by the White House, President Jimmy Carter, right, walks the grounds of the White House with Hamilton Jordan.
In this undated file photo provided by the White House, President Jimmy Carter, right, walks the grounds of the White House with Hamilton Jordan.   (AP Photo/The White House)
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Washington Post obituary of Jordan
Washington Post

Jimmy Carter's 'Georgia Mafia'
PBS

Jordan campaigns for cancer research
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 
presidency • presidential campaign • Jimmy Carter • White House • Georgia • obituary • aide

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