John Raymond Jones (November 19, 1899 – June 9, 1991) was the last Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall, a New York City Councilman for Harlem, a district leader, ran the Carver Democratic Club, and was Adam Clayton Powell's campaign manager in 1958, opposing Tammany Hall, and Carmine DeSapio.
His focus was on registering and organizing African American voters in the Harlem area, and placing black officials in the court system.
Jones worked on the John Francis Hylan campaign for mayor in 1921 and was enthused by his proposal to keep the 5 cent fare.
Jones ran Powell's campaign, easily beating Brown and demonstrating to Tammany they had no power in Harlem.
[4] However, because of his relationship with Johnson, Jones was able to help Constance Baker Motley to become the first African American woman on the federal bench, and was also able to convince Johnson to create the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and make Robert Clifton Weaver its secretary.
In 1961, Jones supported the election of Robert F. Wagner Jr. as mayor of New York City for a third term, breaking with Tammany Hall.
Jones was also part of the coalition that helped make Bertram L. Baker the first African American majority whip of the New York State Assembly.
[6] New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins said about Jones, "Without his counsel and guidance, Percy Sutton, Constance Baker Motley, Fritz W. Alexander II, Edward R. Dudley, Charlie Rangel, Robert Clifton Weaver, and I might add, David N. Dinkins, would not have achieved as much.
He was a true political pioneer and a deeply committed individual who dedicated his life to serving the people of New York.