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Today’s Political Birthday · August 16
Carol Moseley Braun
Born August 16, 1947. Turns 79 today.
Carol Elizabeth Moseley Braun (born August 16, 1947) is an American politician and lawyer who represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate from 1993 to 1999. She was the first African‑American woman elected to the Senate, the first African‑American Democratic U.S. senator, and the first female senator from Illinois.
After her Senate term she served as U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa (1999–2001). In 2024 she began serving on the board of the U.S. African Development Foundation after a 2023 nomination.
Earl Blumenauer (born 1948) represented Oregon's 3rd District in the U.S. House from 1996 to 2025; former Portland city commissioner, noted for bow ties and bike lapel pins.
Born August 16, 1894. Died January 10, 1980 at age 85.
William George Meany (1894–1980) was a leading American labor union administrator who helped create the AFL–CIO and served as its first president from 1955 to 1979.
Born August 16, 1928. Died January 23, 2018 at age 89.
Wyatt Tee Walker (1928–2018) was a pastor and national civil‑rights leader, chief of staff to Martin Luther King Jr., and SCLC executive director from 1960 to 1964.
