Changes

He served in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War I]] as it neared its end, and started a law practice with his father after being discharged from the military.

He served in the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War I]] as it neared its end, and started a law practice with his father after being discharged from the military.

==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===

====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>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.

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>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 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> 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]] bills 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> Three decades during the 1960s, he tried to halt the [[1964 Civil Rights Act]] before the Senate was able to enact cloture.