Marion Barry may be the single person Washington City Paper has written the most sentences about in the paper’s 33 years. Read some features on the mayor-for-life from the last few decades here.
The Resurrection of Marion Barry (Sept. 10, 1993)
How Barry began his comeback.
Visible Man (Jan. 6, 1995)
Can Marion Barry survive salvation?
Master of Ceremonies (Oct. 3, 1997)
Barry vs. the control board
Getting Over it for Good (May 22, 1998)
Should Barry seek re-election again?
Book Me a Room (Jan. 21, 2000)
Observing an anniversary in No. 727 at the Vista Hotel
The Last Hurrah (Sept. 17, 2004)
How do you score a landslide victory in Ward 8? Hang out in your apartment. Sleep in. Drive around a bit.
He’s Still Marion Barry (Feb. 3, 2006)
One year into his latest political comeback, Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry finds that drug use is his most reliable way back into the headlines.
It’s Not Easy Bein’ Greene (June 9, 2006)
Marion Barry’s inbox, as seen by his right-hand woman
Post No Bills (Dec. 27, 2007)
Marion Barry’s legislative chops might need some work
Singled Out (March 21, 2008)
Barry & Co. take aim at an east-of-the-river tradition
The Old Gray Mayor (Nov. 28, 2008)
Marion Barry isn’t taking too well to his young successor
Opposition Figure (Jan. 23, 2009)
Marion Barry breaks his LL ban to talk schools
All The Garnishes (April 3, 2009)
Did District tax officials let Marion Barry off easy?
The Barry Archives (July 10, 2009)
“You put me out in Denver because I wouldn’t suck your dick.”
Boss for Life (July 17, 2009)
How the Ward 8 councilmember commandeered $1 million for his patronage machine
The Answers Issue (January 26, 2012)
Marion Barry has this painting in his office of him riding a horse, while wearing a cowboy hat. Why?
The Barry in Winter (March 23, 2012)
Marion Barry is running for reelection. Is anyone paying attention?
The Man who Beat Marion Barry (April 13, 2012)
How did Gregory Cendana outmaneuver Barry at a D.C. Democratic Party election?
Dream On (May 9, 2014)
An oral history of Dream City, the book about the Barry era that Barry loved to hate
The Marion Barry Marion Barry Wants Us to See (June 19, 2014)
Barry’s memoir, reviewed
Did D.C. Taxpayers Help Write Marion Barry’s Book? (July 9, 2014)
Barry’s memoir, FOIAed
Photos by Darrow Montgomery except photo of Barry painting; painting by Horace Crenshaw