Clifford-Alexander-Jr" (September 21,1933)

Is an American lawyer, businessman and public servant from New York City. He was the first African- American Secretary of the Army.

Clifford was born in New York in to Clifford Alexander and his wife.He attended the private Ethical Culture and Fieldston Schools.Clifford graduated from Harvard College in 1955 and from Yale Law School in 1958 and served brIefly with the 369th Field Artillery Battalion at Fort Dix,New Jersey.

He married Adele Logan in 1959.She became a professor at George Washington University after earning her doctorate in history and has specialized in African-American history.They have a daughter,Elizabeth Alexander (born in 1962)  and  Mark C.Alexander  (born in 1965).

After being admitted to the bar,Clifford served as an assistant district attorney for New York City,1959-1961.He became executive director of the Manhattanville Hamilton Grange Neighborhood Conservation Project.He next served as program and executive director of  Harlem Youth Opportunities.He also practiced law in New York City.

In 1963 during the John F. Kennedy administration,Clifford was called to Washington to serve as a foreign affairs officer on the National Security Council  staff.He served next as deputy assistant to President Lyndon B.Johnson,associate special council,and dupty special counsel on the White House staff,1964-1967.He appointed as chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment  Opportunity Commission,1967-1969.Acting as a special representative of the President,he headed the U.S. delegation to ceremonies marking the independence of the Kingdom of Swaziland in 1968.

Leaving government service after Republican Richard M.Nixon was elected to the presidency,Clifford practiced law with the Washington firm of Arnold & Porter between 1969 & 1975.He was a television news commentator in Washington, D.C.,1972-1976; and also taught as a professor of law at Howard University,1973-1974.
In 1974 he ran unsuccessfully as a candidate for mayor of the District of Columbia.

He returned to law,becoming a partner in the law firm of  Verner,Lipfert,Bernard,Mcpherson and Hand. In 1975.

Clifford returned to public service as Secretary of the Army under the Carter Administration,serving from February 14, 1977- January 20,1981.He was the first African American appointed to this cabinet position.During this time he concentrated upon improving the all-volunteer Army,stressing programs to enhance professionalism,and emphasizing the reward of contracts to minority businesses to fulfill the federal commitment to encourage diversity.

In the early 21st century,Clifford has outspoken in his opposition to the "Don't Ask,Don't Tell policy of the military.He called for its repeal by Congress.Rachel Madow interviewed him on her MSNBC TV shows on May 11, 2009 & June 28, 2013.

In 1981 Clifford formed the consulting firm of Alexander and Associates.In addition,he serve on the boards of directors of several national corportions and is a member of the board of Governors of the American Stock Exchange.He is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

His and Adele's daughter Elizabeth Alexander became a poet professor of English at Yale University.She was commissioned to write and present a poem for President Barack Hussein Obama II, presidential inauguration.Elizabeth recited the poem " Praise Song for the Day" on January 20,2009.

Their son Mar C.Alexander is dean at the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law.He has serve as a political and campaign advisor to Bill Bradley,and Ted Kennedy,and President Obama.