Roger Wilkins
Roger Wood Wilkins (January 29, 1932 – March 26, 2017) was an American lawyer, civil rights leader, professor of history, and journalist who served as the 15th United States Assistant Attorney General under President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1966 to 1969.
Roger Wilkins | |
|---|---|
Wilkins in 2009 | |
| 15th United States Assistant Attorney General | |
| In office 1966–1969 | |
| President | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | Mabel Walker Willebrandt (1929) |
| Succeeded by | Wesley Pomeroy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 29, 1932 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | March 26, 2017 (aged 85) Kensington, Maryland, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Complications from dementia |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Patricia A. King |
| Children | Elizabeth Wilkins |
| Residence(s) | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan (A.B., J.D.) |
| Occupation |
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A member of the Democratic party, Wilkins was mentored by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Thurgood Marshall early in his career. Throughout the 1960's, Wilkins campaigned for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Wilkins to be the administration's chief troubleshooter on urban racial issues, and later became assistant attorney general under the Johnson administration.
Wilkins' uncle, Roy Wilkins, was the former executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1964 to 1977.