Difference between revisions of "Richard Russell, Jr."
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Revision as of 22:53, January 23, 2020
| Richard Russell Jr. | |
|---|---|
| U.S. Senator from Georgia From: January 12, 1933 - January 21, 1971 | |
| Predecessor | John S. Cohen |
| Successor | David H. Gambrell |
| Information | |
| Party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | None (lifelong bachelor) |
Richard Brevard Russell Jr. (November 2, 1897 - January 21, 1971) was a U.S. senator from Georgia, serving for over thirty years.
Senate career
Conservative Coalition
While initially a strong supporter of FDR's policies, Russell later began to split with Roosevelt and became a leader in the Conservative Coalition in 1937.
Warren Commission
After John F. Kennedy was assassinated, succeeding president Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Russell to the Warren Commission as part of the investigation. While most members concluded on the "single bullet theory," Russell, along with John Sherman Cooper, were dissenters of the view, believing the theory was absurd.[1]
Civil rights opposition
Russell, a lifelong opponent of civil rights, has led racist Southern Democrats in opposition to civil rights legislations ever since the 1930s. Democrat filibusters led by Russell included blocking Republican anti-lynching bills and, eventually during the 1960's, trying to halt the 1964 Civil Rights Act before the Senate was able to enact cloture.
Legacy
Russell has the Russell Senate Office Building named after him.[2] Over forty years after it had been named for Russell, liberals such as Chuck Schumer demanded that the building be re-named for RINO John McCain.[3]