Louis E. Martin; Ex-Democratic Party Official

Louis Emanuel Martin, 84, former deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a presidential advisor. Martin, known as the “godfather of black politics,” earned the party position in 1960 after working on John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign. He later became close to President Lyndon B. Johnson and in the late 1970s was named special advisor to President Jimmy Carter for minorities and women. A native of Shelbyville, Tenn., Martin was educated at the University of Michigan and worked as a journalist. In 1970, he helped found and was the first chairman of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, which sought to provide technical assistance to newly elected black officials throughout the country. After the Democrats lost the White House, Lewis served as vice president for communications at Howard University. On Jan. 27 in Orange.