Andrew Young (born 12 March 1932) was a member of the US House of Representatives (D) from Georgia's 5th district from 3 January 1973 to 29 January 1977, succeeding Fletcher Thompson and preceding Wyche Fowler, US Ambassador to the United Nations from 30 January 1977 to 23 September 1979, succeeding William Scranton and preceding Donald McHenry; and Mayor of Atlanta from 4 January 1982 to 2 January 1990, interrupting Maynard Jackson's two terms.
Biography[]
Andrew Young was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1932, growing up in a well-to-do household. He became a pastor in Marion, Alabama, and he became interested in Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolence campaigns and the Civil Rights movement. Young pushed local African-Americans to register to vote, and he later became a preacher in Atlanta, Georgia and a radio show guest. In 1964, he became executive director of the SCLC, making him one of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s lieutenants, and he took part in several civil rights campaigns and was arrested many times. In 1972, he was elected to the US House of Representatives from Georgia's 5th congressional district as a Democratic Party member, serving until President Jimmy Carter appointed him Ambassador to the United Nations in 1977. Young became controversial for his claim that the USA was holding political prisoners, for his support for Robert Mugabe, and for meeting with a PLO representative, leading to Carter demanding his resignation. Young later won the mayoral election in Atlanta, serving from 1982 to 1990. Since leaving office, he became involved with political lobbying and public policy organizations.