Longest-Serving African American Congressional Aide, Bertie Bowman, Dies at 92

Bowman's rise from teenage runaway to the U.S. Senate, contributing to notable civil rights changes, presidential ambitions, and stepping into complex international relations while serving as a key figure in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for more than six decades.

Bertie Bowman, who started his congressional career as a janitor, became the longest-serving African American congressional aide, serving for a near six-decade career in the Senate. His extraordinary life included working till he was 90 and coordinating sensitive hearings for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Born the son of South Carolina sharecroppers, Bowman arrived at the U.S. Capitol as a 13-year-old runaway and got a $2-a-week job sweeping the building’s steps before moving on to various clerical roles. This rise was facilitated by South Carolina Senator Burnet R. Maybank, who had encouraged him to visit if he ever made it to Washington, D.C.
Bowman had significant influence and formed relationships with numerous key figures, including Bill Clinton, whom he mentored when Clinton was a congressional clerk. Despite their significant age and race differences, their bond transcended these factors.
Bowman also had relationships with Senators known for their opposition to civil rights measures, such as Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms. Bowman viewed these relationships from a pragmatic standpoint, choosing to weigh their actions against their public stance.
In 2019, the United States Senate Federal Credit Union named their new headquarters after Bowman, acknowledging the critical role he played as a consultant even after his formal retirement in 1990. His passing has been widely mourned by senators and the wider Congressional community.