During his fourth grade year, Holder was selected for the school district's gifted program, where he exceled. He graduated Stuyvesant High School in 1969 and then played basketball at Columbia College. He received is B.A. in American History and then attended Columbia, where he received his J.D. While there, he worked for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund as well as the U.S. Attorney, where he was able to leave an impression that virtually guaranteed a position after passing the Bar.
While many believe Holder's entrance into politics began with President Obama, he actually was appointed during the Clinton Administration in the role of the U.S. Attorney for D.C. He was the first African American to serve in that role. He also played a pivotal role in the Congressional Post Office scandal. With his impressive work ethic, dedication to his country and commitment to the political engine, Holder was then nominated by President Obama to serve as the next Deputy Attorney General. This office was led by Janet Reno at that time. He was a vocal proponent of the death penalty, but far more loyal to the laws of the land, saying at one time, ''I will enforce the law as this Congress gives it to us''.
After President Bush was elected, Holder found himself being replaced by John Ashcroft, but not before his controversial decisions in his final days in the Clinton Administration. According to reports, Marc Rich, who was pardoned by President Clinton before he left office, was advised by his attorneys, on the authority of Holder, to bypass traditional procedures and channels and instead, submit the request for Rich's pardon directly to President Clinton. Rich was pardoned during the last days of the Clinton Administration and Holder left the White House to pursue his legal career.
While he's gone on record as saying his passion is practicing law, his absence was felt by many in the now-Republican led White House. Following President Obama's win, Holder was chosen as President Obama's choice for Attorney General an on January 28, 2009, he was approved by the Senate, clearing the way for Holder to become the first ever African American United States Attorney General.
He's faced some tough problems since then and his stance has caused much controversy, including his insistence that Arizona's tough new immigration laws will lead to racial profiling. Later he admitted he had not even read the Arizona law and instead made his declarations on those reports from the media.
History has yet to reveal how AG Holder will be remembered; however, there is no denying his drive and commitment to both President Obama and politics as a whole. Combined with his passion for the law, and it's clear a formidable opponent exists for anyone who must square off with him - whether it's a courtroom or Senate rotunda.
