J. Raymond Jones

Known as "The Fox," Jones was leader of Harlem's Carver Democratic Club. New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins said about Jones, "Without his counsel and guidance, Percy Sutton, Constance Baker Motley, Fritz W. Alexander II, Edward R. Dudley, Charlie Rangel, Robert Clifton Weaver, and I might add, David N. Dinkins, would not have achieved as much. He was a true political pioneer and a deeply committed individual who dedicated his life to serving the people of New York." He was living at the Greater Harlem Nursing Home. He died on June 9, 1991, at the North General Hospital in Manhattan at 91 years of age. In March 2008, David Paterson was elevated to the position of Governor of New York, becoming the first African American Governor. Yet, like Jones, Paterson was ousted by the Democrats in favor of white liberals.

Jones ran Tammany Hall from 1964 to 1967 but he had forces to contend with. Robert Kennedy had a grudge against him. During Kennedy's tenure as United States Senator from New York, he did everything he could to take down a prominent Black political leader. However, because of his relationship with Johnson, Jones was able to help Constance Baker Motley to become the first African American woman on the federal bench, and was also able to convince Johnson to create the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and make Robert Clifton Weaver its Secretary. Weaver, after LBJ appointed him, became the first Black Cabinet member. Jones shrewd political maneuvering paved the way for many judicial and legislative achievements. In 1961, Jones supported the election of Robert F. Wagner Jr. as mayor of New York City for a third term, breaking with Tammany Hall. In 1963, Jones became leader of the 21st Council District, and eventually took his place on the City Council when he foresaw the dissolution of Tammany Hall and the rise of Reformism. Jones supported Paul R. Screvane in the 1965 Democratic mayoral primary, and then endorsed John Lindsay in 1969. Jones was also part of the coalition that helped make Bertram L. Baker the first African American majority whip of the New York State Assembly. At that time, it was the highest elected office African Americans had obtained in New York State.

In 1944, Jones was elected as leader for Assembly District 13. He then worked closely with Mayor William O'Dwyer, eventually becoming deputy commissioner for Housing & Buildings. In 1956, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. endorsed Eisenhower over Stevenson. This was a break with Tammany and the Democratic machine. The machine put up a candidate in the primary, Earl Brown. Jones ran Powell's campaign, easily beating Brown and demonstrating to Tammany they had no power in Harlem. Jones and Powell took this relationship, which had been formed over years, to the 1960 Democratic convention. There, they supported Lyndon Johnson on the first ballot. This was a political deal with Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn. Rayburn would place Powell as chairman of the Education and Labor Committee. In this role, Powell passed some of the most landmark legislation during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. However, Jones paid a political price. He challenged Tammany leader Carmine DeSapio twice, succeeding in 1964 in becoming Tammany's first black leader, and its last leader after Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reformers came after him.

J. Raymond Jones was born on November 19, 1899 in Charlotte Amalie, US Virgin Islands.