By — Corinne Segal Corinne Segal Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/watch-live-mourners-remember-william-t-coleman-jr Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Mourners remember William T. Coleman Jr. Nation Oct 28, 2017 10:31 AM EDT Mourners gathered Saturday to remember William T. Coleman Jr., who broke racial barriers as a lawyer and member of President Gerald Ford’s cabinet. He died March 31 at the age of 96. You can watch the memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral live in the player above. Coleman was the first African-American law clerk at the Supreme Court. He served under the Committee on Government Employment Policy from 1959-1961 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and was also assistant counsel to the Warren Commission, which investigated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He served as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation from 1975 to 1977, making him the second African-American to serve in a White House Cabinet. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Corinne Segal Corinne Segal Corinne is the Senior Multimedia Web Editor for NewsHour Weekend. She serves on the advisory board for VIDA: Women in Literary Arts. @cesegal
Mourners gathered Saturday to remember William T. Coleman Jr., who broke racial barriers as a lawyer and member of President Gerald Ford’s cabinet. He died March 31 at the age of 96. You can watch the memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral live in the player above. Coleman was the first African-American law clerk at the Supreme Court. He served under the Committee on Government Employment Policy from 1959-1961 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and was also assistant counsel to the Warren Commission, which investigated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He served as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation from 1975 to 1977, making him the second African-American to serve in a White House Cabinet. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now