Jorge Luis Córdova Díaz (April 20, 1907 – September 16, 1994) served as Puerto Rico's 11th Resident Commissioner from 1969 to 1973. His father, Félix Córdova Dávila, had served as Puerto Rico's fourth Resident Commissioner from 1917 to 1932.

Jorge Luis Córdova
Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
In office
January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1973
Preceded bySantiago Polanco Abreu
Succeeded byJaime Benítez
Personal details
Born
Jorge Luis Córdova Díaz

(1907-04-20)April 20, 1907
Manatí, Puerto Rico
DiedSeptember 16, 1994(1994-09-16) (aged 87)
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Political partyNew Progressive
Other political
affiliations
Republican (Before 1969, 1971–1994)
Democratic (1969–1971)
RelativesFélix Córdova Dávila (father)
EducationCatholic University of America (BA)
Harvard Law School (LLB)

Biography edit

Born in Manatí, Puerto Rico, Córdova was a 1924 graduate of St. John's College High School in Washington, DC.[1] He attained his B.A. in 1928 from Catholic University of America, and his LL.B. in 1931 from Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was a lawyer in private practice. He served as a Superior Court judge in San Juan from 1940 to 1945. He served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico from 1945 to 1946.

Congress edit

Córdova was unexpectedly elected, as the New Progressive Party candidate for Resident Commissioner, for a four-year term (1969–1973) that spanned the Ninety-First and Ninety-Second Congress. His victory as gubernatorial candidate Luis A. Ferré's running mate, was unexpected since the Popular Democratic Party had ruled Puerto Rico for 28 consecutive years. Although a Republican, he sat with the Democrats in caucus. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1972, and became a business executive.

Later career edit

Prior to Córdova's death, then-Senator Kenneth McClintock authored legislation, signed by Governor Pedro Rosselló, that created the Córdova Congressional Internship Program honoring Córdova Díaz and his father and Congressional predecessor, Félix Córdova Dávila. The program allows 40 college students to spend a semester-long internship in the United States Congress every year. Since its inception, over 600 students have participated in the program which is run by The Washington Center for Academic Internships and Scholarships and a joint committee of Puerto Rico's Legislative Assembly, chaired for many years by McClintock and currently chaired by senator Melinda Romero Donnelly.

Death edit

He died on September 16, 1994, at his home Guaynabo, Puerto Rico at the age of 87.

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Counsels Loyalty to St. John's Class". The Evening Star. The Evening Star Newspaper Company. 7 June 1924.

Sources edit

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
1969–1973
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Associate Justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court
1945–1946
Succeeded by