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|preceded=Lamartine Griffin Hardman

|preceded=Lamartine Griffin Hardman

|former=y

|former=y

|succeeded=Eugene Talmadge

|succeeded=[[Eugene Talmadge]]

}}

}}

{{Officeholder/misc

{{Officeholder/misc

|office=Member of the [[Georgia]] House of Representatives

|office=Member of the [[Georgia]] House of Representatives

|terms=1921 – 1931

|terms=1921–1931

|preceded=?

|preceded=?

|former=y

|former=y

|succeeded=?

|succeeded=?

}}

}}

}}

}}

'''Richard Brevard Russell, Jr.''' (November 2, 1897 – January 21, 1971) was a [[U.S. Senator]] from [[Georgia]] who served for thirty years in the position until his death.

'''Richard Brevard Russell, Jr.''' (November 2, 1897 – January 21, 1971) was a [[United States Senator]] from [[Georgia]] who served for almost four decades in the position until his death. A [[career politician]], he was the governor of the state for two years previously, and a state representative prior to that.

==State legislature==

 

 

===State legislature===

Elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1920 at age 23, Russell was a strong advocate of public schooling and the improvisation of highways.

Elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1920 at age 23, Russell was a strong advocate of public schooling and the improvisation of highways.

==Governor of Georgia==

===Governor of Georgia===

A [[fiscal conservative]], Russell's tenure as the governor of Georgia was marked with the re-organization of the state governments, the reduction of state expenditures, and a balanced budget. Accomplishing all of it in less than two years, he cut no salaries aside from his own, and would move on to be elected into the U.S. Senate.

A [[fiscal conservative]], Russell's tenure as the governor of Georgia was marked with the re-organization of the state governments, the reduction of state expenditures, and a balanced budget. Accomplishing all of it in less than two years, he cut no salaries aside from his own, and would move on to be elected into the U.S. Senate.

==Senate career==

===Senate career===

===Conservative Coalition===

While initially a strong supporter of FDR's policies and an advocate of the [[New Deal]], Russell later began to split with Roosevelt and became a leader in the [[Conservative Coalition]] in 1937.

====Conservative Coalition====

While initially a strong supporter of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s policies and an advocate of the [[New Deal]], Russell later began to split with Roosevelt and became a leader in the [[Conservative Coalition]] in 1937. However, he was mostly not a "[[conservative Democrat]]" despite what modern-day [[liberals]] may insinuate, as his opposition to some of Roosevelt's policies were part of bipartisan criticisms on an economic standpoint;<ref name="Was Senator Russell a ‘Conservative’ Democrat?">Williamson, Kevin (August 28, 2019). [https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/08/senator-richard-russell-history-of-racist-progressives/ Was Senator Russell a ‘Conservative’ Democrat?]. ''National Review''. Retrieved January 4, 2021.</ref> he was furthermore considered a "[[progressive]]" like many racists of his time.

 

===Warren Commission===

====Warren Commission====

After [[John F. Kennedy]] was assassinated, succeeding president [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] appointed Russell to the [[Warren Commission]], a body established to investigate he president's death. While most members concluded on the "single bullet theory," Russell, along with [[John Sherman Cooper]], a [[Moderate Republican]] from [[Kentucky]], were dissenters of the view, believing the theory was absurd.<ref>[http://22november1963.org.uk/richard-russell-warren-report Richard Russell and the Warren Report]</ref>

After [[John F. Kennedy]] was assassinated, succeeding president [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] appointed Russell to the [[Warren Commission]], a body established to investigate he president's death. While most members concluded on the "single bullet theory," Russell, along with [[John Sherman Cooper]], a [[Moderate Republican]] from [[Kentucky]], were dissenters of the view, believing the theory was absurd.<ref>[http://22november1963.org.uk/richard-russell-warren-report Richard Russell and the Warren Report]</ref>

===Civil rights opposition===

====Civil rights opposition====

Russell, a lifelong opponent of civil rights, had led racist Southern Democrats in opposition to civil rights legislation ever since the 1930s. Democrat filibusters led by Russell included blocking Republican anti-[[lynching]] bills during the presidency of [[FDR]], where he once managed to block a 1935 anti-lynching bill for six days to kill it.<ref>Little, Becky (January 31, 2019). [https://www.history.com/news/fdr-eleanor-roosevelt-anti-lynching-bill Why FDR Didn’t Support Eleanor Roosevelt’s Anti-Lynching Campaign]. ''History.com''. Retrieved January 4, 2021.</ref> Three decades during the 1960s, he tried to halt the [[1964 Civil Rights Act]] before the Senate was able to enact cloture.

Russell, a lifelong opponent of civil rights, had led racist Southern Democrats in opposition to civil rights legislation ever since the 1930s. Democrat filibusters led by Russell included blocking Republican [[anti-lynching bill]]s during the presidency of [[FDR]], where he utilized a mastery of Senate procedural matters to block a 1935 anti-lynching bill for six days, effectively killing it.<ref>Little, Becky (January 31, 2019). [https://www.history.com/news/fdr-eleanor-roosevelt-anti-lynching-bill Why FDR Didn’t Support Eleanor Roosevelt’s Anti-Lynching Campaign]. ''History.com''. Retrieved January 4, 2021.</ref> During the proceedings for the 1935 bill, Russell said that he was "willing to go as far and make as great a sacrifice to preserve and insure white supremacy in the social, economic, and political life of our state as any man who lives within her borders."<ref>Barber, Benjamin (March 24, 2021). [https://www.facingsouth.org/2021/03/confronting-anti-civil-rights-filibuster Confronting the anti-civil rights filibuster]. ''Facing South''. Retrieved June 10, 2023.</ref> Three decades during the 1960s, he tried to halt the [[1964 Civil Rights Act]] before the Senate was able to enact cloture.

An advocate and signatory of the [[Southern Manifesto]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150926013722/http://sti.clemson.edu/component/content/article/192-general-info/790-1956-qsouthern-manifestoq 1956 "Southern Manifesto"]. ''Clemson Strom Thurmond Institute''. Retrieved January 4, 2021.</ref> Sen. Russell in 1957 successfully helped water down the [[1957 Civil Rights Act]] legislation along with then-[[Senate Majority Leader]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], who removed the stringent protections from the original Herbert Brownell text in Title III and transforming it into a far weaker version of what it originally had been.<ref>DiEugenio, James (October 7, 2018). [https://kennedysandking.com/reviews/the-kennedys-and-civil-rights-how-the-msm-continues-to-distort-history-part-2 The Kennedys and Civil Rights: How the MSM Continues to Distort History, Part 2]. ''Kennedys and King''. Retrieved January 4, 2021.</ref> Johnson had previously hatched a deal with Russell (as well as [[Strom Thurmond]], who broke it) that had the important sections of the bill be removed, he wouldn't filibuster it when it came up on the Senate for a roll call vote. It should be furthermore noted that Russell had been a mentor to Johnson.<ref>[https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/lbj-and-richard-russell-on-vietnam LBJ and Richard Russell on Vietnam]. ''Miller Center''. Retrieved January 4, 2021.</ref>

An advocate and signatory of the [[Southern Manifesto]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150926013722/http://sti.clemson.edu/component/content/article/192-general-info/790-1956-qsouthern-manifestoq 1956 "Southern Manifesto"]. ''Clemson Strom Thurmond Institute''. Retrieved January 4, 2021.</ref> Sen. Russell in 1957 successfully helped water down the [[1957 Civil Rights Act]] legislation along with then-[[Senate Majority Leader]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], who removed the stringent protections from the original [[Herbert Brownell]] text in Title III and transforming it into a far weaker version of what it originally had been.<ref>DiEugenio, James (October 7, 2018). [https://kennedysandking.com/reviews/the-kennedys-and-civil-rights-how-the-msm-continues-to-distort-history-part-2 The Kennedys and Civil Rights: How the MSM Continues to Distort History, Part 2]. ''Kennedys and King''. Retrieved January 4, 2021.</ref> Johnson had previously hatched a deal with Russell (as well as [[Strom Thurmond]], who broke it) that had the important sections of the bill be removed, he wouldn't filibuster it when it came up on the Senate for a roll call vote. It should be furthermore noted that Russell had been a mentor to Johnson.<ref>[https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/lbj-and-richard-russell-on-vietnam LBJ and Richard Russell on Vietnam]. ''Miller Center''. Retrieved January 4, 2021.</ref>

Despite having been a [[white supremacist]] and fierce opponent of equal rights for blacks, which he never repudiated, his niece Sally Russell insisted that the senator had maintained decent relationships with blacks who worked for him,<ref name="The Daily 202: ‘Dick Russell was a racist. But he was much more than that,’ says niece">Hohmann, James (August 28, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2018/08/28/daily-202-dick-russell-was-a-racist-but-he-was-much-more-than-that-says-niece/5b84a7d91b326b3f31919dfb/ The Daily 202: ‘Dick Russell was a racist. But he was much more than that,’ says niece]. ''Washington Post''. Retrieved January 4, 2021.</ref> adding on that she thought he "had a very deep courteous attitude, which probably came from being raised in the South."

Despite having been a [[white supremacist]] and fierce opponent of equal rights for blacks, which he never repudiated, his niece Sally Russell insisted that the senator had maintained decent relationships with blacks who worked for him,<ref name="The Daily 202: ‘Dick Russell was a racist. But he was much more than that,’ says niece">Hohmann, James (August 28, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2018/08/28/daily-202-dick-russell-was-a-racist-but-he-was-much-more-than-that-says-niece/5b84a7d91b326b3f31919dfb/ The Daily 202: ‘Dick Russell was a racist. But he was much more than that,’ says niece]. ''Washington Post''. Retrieved January 4, 2021.</ref> adding on that she thought he "had a very deep courteous attitude, which probably came from being raised in the South."

==Legacy==

==Legacy==

Russell has the Russell Senate Office Building named after him.<ref>[https://www.aoc.gov/capitol-buildings/russell-senate-office-building Russell Senate Office Building]</ref> Over forty years after it had been named for Russell, liberals such as [[Chuck Schumer]] demanded that the building be renamed for [[RINO]] [[John McCain]].<ref>[https://dailycaller.com/2018/08/28/richard-russell-senate-building/ FLASHBACK: Who Was Richard Russell, And Why Does Chuck Schumer Want A Fellow Democrat’s Name Removed From A Building?]</ref> It should be noted that barely any controversy arose out of naming the building during the time, with the lone opposition in the Senate then coming from Philip Hart (D–MI).<ref name="The Daily 202: ‘Dick Russell was a racist. But he was much more than that,’ says niece"/>

Russell has the Russell Senate Office Building named after him.<ref>[https://www.aoc.gov/capitol-buildings/russell-senate-office-building Russell Senate Office Building]</ref> Over forty years after it had been named for Russell, liberals such as [[Chuck Schumer]] demanded that the building be renamed for [[RINO]] [[John McCain]].<ref>[https://dailycaller.com/2018/08/28/richard-russell-senate-building/ FLASHBACK: Who Was Richard Russell, And Why Does Chuck Schumer Want A Fellow Democrat’s Name Removed From A Building?]</ref> It should be noted that barely any controversy arose out of naming the building during the time, with the lone opposition in the Senate then coming from [[Philip Hart]] (D–MI).<ref name="The Daily 202: ‘Dick Russell was a racist. But he was much more than that,’ says niece"/>

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Hale Boggs]], liberal Democrat congressman from [[Louisiana]] who was also a member of the [[Warren Commission]]

*[[Hale Boggs]], liberal Democrat congressman from [[Louisiana]] who was also a member of the [[Warren Commission]]

*[[J. William Fulbright]], a segregationist senator from [[Arkansas]]

*[[J. William Fulbright]], a segregationist senator from [[Arkansas]]

==External links==

==External links==

*[https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/government-politics/richard-b-russell-jr-1897-1971 Richard B. Russell Jr. (1897-1971)]

*[https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/government-politics/richard-b-russell-jr-1897-1971 Richard B. Russell Jr. (1897-1971)]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell Jr., Richard}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell Jr., Richard}}

[[Category:Liberalism]]

[[Category:Liberalism]]

[[Category:Progressivism]]

[[Category:Progressivism]]

[[Category:Broke with FDR]]

[[Category:Broke with FDR]]

{{Democrat establishment}}

{{Democrat establishment}}

[[Category:Racism]]

[[Category:Racism]]

[[Category:Bigotry]]

[[Category:Segregationists]]

[[Category:Fiscal Conservatives]]

[[Category:Fiscal Conservatives]]