russell, richard SEN

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</div><div></div><div>Richard Brevard Russell Jr. (November 2, 1897 – January 21, 1971) was an American politician. A member of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party(United_States)" title="Democratic Party (United States)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Democratic Party</a>, he served as the 66th <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Governors_of_Georgia" title="List of Governors of Georgia" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Governor of Georgia</a> from 1931 to 1933 before serving in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate" title="United States Senate" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">United States Senate</a> for almost 40 years, from 1933 to 1971. Russell was a founder and leader of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_coalition" title="Conservative coalition" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">conservative coalition</a> that dominated Congress from 1937 to 1963, and at his death was the most senior member of the Senate.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[1]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[2]</a> He was for decades a leader of Southern opposition to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_rights_movement" title="" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">civil rights movement</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-3" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[3]</a></div>Born in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winder,Georgia" title="Winder, Georgia" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Winder, Georgia</a>, Russell established a legal practice in Winder after graduating from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Georgia_School_of_Law" title="University of Georgia School of Law" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">University of Georgia School of Law</a>. He served in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_House_of_Representatives" title="Georgia House of Representatives" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Georgia House of Representatives</a> from 1921 to 1931 before becoming Governor of Georgia. Russell won a special election to succeed Senator <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J.Harris" title="William J. Harris" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">William J. Harris</a> and joined the Senate in 1933.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-4" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[4]</a> He supported the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Deal" title="New Deal" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">New Deal</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-5" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[5]</a> early in his Senate career but helped establish the conservative coalition of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party(United_States)" title="Republican Party (United States)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Republicans</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_United_States" title="Southern United States" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Southern</a> Democrats. He was the chief sponsor of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_School_Lunch_Act" title="National School Lunch Act" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">National School Lunch Act</a>, which provided free or low-cost schools lunches to impoverished students.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-6" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[6]</a>During his long tenure in the Senate, Russell served as chairman of several committees, and was the Chairman of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Armed_Services" title="United States Senate Committee on Armed Services" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Senate Committee on Armed Services</a> for most of the period between 1951 and 1969. He was a candidate for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">President of the United States</a> at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Democratic_National_Convention" title="1948 Democratic National Convention" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1948 Democratic National Convention</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1952_Democratic_National_Convention" title="1952 Democratic National Convention" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1952 Democratic National Convention</a>. He was also a member of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Commission" title="Warren Commission" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Warren Commission</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-7" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[7]</a>Russell supported <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_segregation_in_the_United_States" title="Racial segregation in the United States" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">racial segregation</a> and co-authored the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Manifesto" title="Southern Manifesto" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">Southern Manifesto</a> with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond" title="Strom Thurmond" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">Strom Thurmond</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-8" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[8]</a> Russell and 17 fellow Democratic and one Republican Senators blocked the passage of civil rights legislation via the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster_in_the_United_States_Senate" title="Filibuster in the United States Senate" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">filibuster</a>. After Russell's protege, President <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_B.Johnson" title="Lyndon B. Johnson" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Lyndon B. Johnson</a>, signed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964" title="Civil Rights Act of 1964" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Civil Rights Act of 1964</a> into law,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-9" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[9]</a> Russell led a Southern boycott of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Democratic_National_Convention" title="1964 Democratic National Convention" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">1964 Democratic National Convention</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-10" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[10]</a> Russell served in the Senate until his death from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emphysema" class="mw-redirect" title="Emphysema" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">emphysema</a> in 1971.<div id="toc" class="toc" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); padding: 7px; display: table; zoom: 1;"><input type="checkbox" role="button" id="toctogglecheckbox" class="toctogglecheckbox" style="direction: ltr; position: absolute; opacity: 0; display: none;" /><div class="toctitle" lang="en" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center;">
</div><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0.3em 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#Early_life" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1Early life</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#Governor_of_Georgia" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">2Governor of Georgia</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#Senate_career" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">3Senate career</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#Personal_life" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">4Personal life</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#Legacy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">5Legacy</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#See_also" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">6See also</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#References" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">7References</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#Further_sources" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">8Further sources</a><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#Primary_sources" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">8.1Primary sources</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-10" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#Scholarly_secondary_sources" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">8.2Scholarly secondary sources</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#External_links" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">9External links</a></li></ul></div><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Early life[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Russell_Jr.&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Early life" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">edit</a>]</h2>Russell was born in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winder,Georgia" title="Winder, Georgia" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Winder, Georgia</a>, the fourth child (and first son) of 15 children of Ina (Dillard) and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Sr." title="Richard Russell Sr." style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Richard Brevard Russell</a>, a prominent lawyer and later chief justice of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Georgia(U.S.state)" title="Supreme Court of Georgia (U.S. state)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Supreme Court of Georgia</a>. The younger Russell graduated in 1914 from the Seventh District Agricultural and Mechanical School in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powder_Springs,Georgia" title="Powder Springs, Georgia" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Powder Springs, Georgia</a>, and from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_College(Georgia)" class="mw-redirect" title="Gordon College (Georgia)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Gordon Institute</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnesville,Georgia" title="Barnesville, Georgia" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Barnesville, Georgia</a>, the following year. Russell then enrolled in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Georgia_School_of_Law" title="University of Georgia School of Law" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">University of Georgia School of Law</a> in 1915 and earned a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Laws" title="Bachelor of Laws" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Bachelor of Laws</a> (LL.B.) degree in 1918.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-congress-11" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[11]</a> While at UGA, he was a member of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phi_Kappa_Literary_Society" title="Phi Kappa Literary Society" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Phi Kappa Literary Society</a>.Russell served briefly in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy" title="United States Navy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">United States Navy</a> near the end of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I" title="World War I" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">World War I</a>, and was discharged after the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_of_11_November_1918" title="Armistice of 11 November 1918" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Armistice</a>. In 1919, he set up a law practice with his father in Winder.<h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Governor of Georgia[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Russell_Jr.&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Governor of Georgia" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">edit</a>]</h2>He was elected to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_House_of_Representatives" title="Georgia House of Representatives" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Georgia House of Representatives</a> (1921–31), serving as its speaker (1927–31). His meteoric rise was capped by election, at age 33, as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Governors_of_Georgia" title="List of Governors of Georgia" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Governor of Georgia</a>, serving from 1931 to 1933. He was sworn in by his father, who had become supreme court justice of Georgia nine years before. He was a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressivism" title="Progressivism" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">progressive</a> governor who reorganized the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureaucracy" title="Bureaucracy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">bureaucracy</a>, promoted economic development in the midst of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression" title="Great Depression" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Great Depression</a>, and balanced the budget.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-12" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[12]</a> He became embroiled in controversy, when in 1932 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Elliott_Burns" title="Robert Elliott Burns" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Robert Elliott Burns</a>, serving time on a Georgia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_gang" title="Chain gang" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">chain gang</a>, escaped to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey" title="New Jersey" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">New Jersey</a> and wrote a book entitled <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_a_Fugitive_from_a_Georgia_Chain_Gang!" title="I Am a Fugitive from a Georgia Chain Gang!" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">I Am a Fugitive from a Georgia Chain Gang!</a>, condemning the Georgia prison system as inhumane. It became a popular movie, but Russell demanded extradition. New Jersey refused, and Russell was attacked from all quarters.<h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Senate career[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Russell_Jr.&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Senate career" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">edit</a>]</h2>Following the death of U.S. Senator <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J.Harris" title="William J. Harris" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">William J. Harris</a> in 1932, Governor Russell defeated Congressman <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_R.Crisp" title="Charles R. Crisp" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Charles R. Crisp</a> to serve the remainder of Harris's term; he was elected on his own to serve a full term in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election,1936" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Senate election, 1936" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1936</a> and was subsequently re-elected in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election,1942" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Senate election, 1942" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1942</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election,1948" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Senate election, 1948" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1948</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election,1954" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Senate election, 1954" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1954</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election,1960" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Senate election, 1960" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1960</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election,1966" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Senate election, 1966" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1966</a>. During his long tenure in the Senate, Russell served as chairman of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Judiciary_Subcommittee_on_Immigration,Border_Security_and_Citizenship" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Committee on Immigration</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/75th_United_States_Congress" title="75th United States Congress" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">75th</a> through <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/79th_United_States_Congress" title="79th United States Congress" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">79th</a> Congresses), the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.Senate_Committee_on_Manufactures" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. Senate Committee on Manufactures" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Committee on Manufactures</a> (79th Congress), the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Armed_Services" title="United States Senate Committee on Armed Services" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Committee on Armed Services</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/82nd_United_States_Congress" title="82nd United States Congress" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">82nd</a>and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/84th_United_States_Congress" title="84th United States Congress" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">84th</a> through <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/90th_United_States_Congress" title="90th United States Congress" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">90th</a> Congresses), and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Appropriations" title="United States Senate Committee on Appropriations" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Committee on Appropriations</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/91st_United_States_Congress" title="91st United States Congress" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">91st</a> Congress). As the senior senator, he became <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_pro_tempore_of_the_United_States_Senate" title="President pro tempore of the United States Senate" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">President pro tempore of the Senate</a> during the 91st and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/92nd_United_States_Congress" title="92nd United States Congress" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">92nd</a> Congresses.Russell at first supported the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Deal" title="New Deal" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">New Deal</a> and in 1936, he defeated the demagogic Governor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Talmadge" title="Eugene Talmadge" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Eugene Talmadge</a> by defending the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Deal" title="New Deal" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">New Deal</a> as good for Georgia.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-13" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[13]</a> By 1937, however, Russell became a leader of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_coalition" title="Conservative coalition" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">conservative coalition</a>, and wielded significant influence within the Senate from 1937 to 1964. He proclaimed his faith in the "family farm" and supported most New Deal programs for parity, rural electrification, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farm" title="Farm" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">farm</a> loans, and supported promoting agricultural research, providing school lunches and giving surplus commodities to the poor. He was the chief sponsor of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_School_Lunch_Act" title="National School Lunch Act" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">National School Lunch Act</a> of 1946 with the dual goals of providing proper <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutrition" title="Nutrition" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">nutrition</a> for all children and of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farm_subsidies" class="mw-redirect" title="Farm subsidies" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">subsidizing agriculture</a>. He ran as a regional candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1952, winning widespread newspaper acclaim but few delegates.<div class="thumb tleft" style="float: left; clear: left; margin: 0.5em 1.4em 1.3em 0px; width: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="thumbinner" style="min-width: 100px; border: 1px solid rgb(200, 204, 209); padding: 3px; background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); text-align: center; overflow: hidden; width: 202px;">
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><div class="magnify" style="float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lyndon_Johnson_and_Richard_Russell.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent), url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 viewBox=%220 0 11 15%22 width=%2215%22 height=%2211%22%3E %3Cg id=%22magnify-clip%22 fill=%22%23fff%22 stroke=%22%23000%22%3E %3Cpath id=%22bigbox%22 d=%22M1.509 1.865h10.99v7.919h-10.99z%22/%3E %3Cpath id=%22smallbox%22 d=%22M-1.499 6.868h5.943v4.904h-5.943z%22/%3E %3C/g%3E %3C/svg%3E"); display: block; text-indent: 15px; white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; width: 15px; height: 11px; user-select: none;" /></div>Russell and President <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_B.Johnson" title="Lyndon B. Johnson" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Lyndon B. Johnson</a> in 1963.</div></div></div>During <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">World War II</a>, he was known for his uncompromising position towards Japan and its civilian casualties. He held that Japan should not be treated with more lenience than Germany, and that the United States should not encourage Japan to sue for peace.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-14" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[14]</a>Russell was a highly respected senatorial colleague and skilled legislator.[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">citation needed</a>] Russell chaired the Senate investigation into the firing of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Douglas_MacArthur" class="mw-redirect" title="General Douglas MacArthur" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">General Douglas MacArthur</a>. Conducted during a political firestorm over the firing, Russell's chairmanship prevented national rancor and layered political motivations surrounding the firing from interfering in a dignified and insightful investigation into the incident. Military historians have printed transcripts of the hearings to instruct on the proper relationship between civilian and military officials in a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy" title="Democracy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">democracy</a>.Russell competed in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party(United_States)presidential_primaries,1952" class="mw-redirect" title="Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1952" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1952 Democratic presidential primary</a>, but was shut out of serious consideration by northern Democratic leaders who saw his support for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segregation_in_the_United_States" class="mw-redirect" title="Segregation in the United States" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">segregation</a> as untenable outside of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow" class="mw-redirect" title="Jim Crow" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Jim Crow</a> South. When <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_Johnson" class="mw-redirect" title="Lyndon Johnson" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Lyndon Johnson</a> arrived in the Senate, he sought guidance from knowledgeable senate aide <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Baker" title="Bobby Baker" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Bobby Baker</a>, who advised that all senators were "equal" but Russell was the most "equal"—meaning the most powerful. Johnson assiduously cultivated Russell through all of their joint Senate years and beyond. Russell's support for first-term senator Lyndon Johnson paved the way for Johnson to become Senate Majority Leader. Russell often dined at Johnson's house during their Senate days. However, their 20-year friendship came to an end during Johnson's presidency, in a fight over the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Chief_Justice" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Chief Justice" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Chief Justice</a> nomination of Johnson's friend and Supreme Court justice <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_Fortas" title="Abe Fortas" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Abe Fortas</a> in 1968.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-abe_fortas-15" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[15]</a>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">page needed</a>]In early 1956, Russell's office was continually used as a meeting place by his fellow senators <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond" title="Strom Thurmond" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Strom Thurmond</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Eastland" title="James Eastland" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">James Eastland</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Ellender" class="mw-redirect" title="Allen Ellender" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Allen Ellender</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stennis" class="mw-redirect" title="John Stennis" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">John Stennis</a>, the four having a commonality of being dispirited with Brown v. Board of Education.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-16" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[16]</a>In May 1961, President <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F.Kennedy" title="John F. Kennedy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">John F. Kennedy</a> requested Russell place the Presidential wreath at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_the_Unknowns" class="mw-redirect" title="Tomb of the Unknowns" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Tomb of the Unknowns</a> during an appearance at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_National_Cemetery" title="Arlington National Cemetery" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Arlington National Cemetery</a> for a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day" title="Memorial Day" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Memorial Day</a> ceremony.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-17" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[17]</a>Russell scheduled a closed door meeting for the Senate Armed Services Committee for August 31, 1961 at the time of Senator <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond" title="Strom Thurmond" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Strom Thurmond</a> requesting the committee vote on whether to vote for "a conspiracy to muzzle military anti-Communist drives."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-18" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[18]</a>In late February 1963, the Senate Armed Services Committee was briefed by Defense Secretary <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_McNamara" title="Robert McNamara" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Robert McNamara</a>, Russell stating afterward that he was of the view that American airmen would strike down foreign jets in international waters and only inquire on the aircraft’s purpose there afterward.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-19" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[19]</a>In January 1964, President Johnson delivered the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_State_of_the_Union_Address" class="mw-redirect" title="1964 State of the Union Address" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1964 State of the Union Address</a>, calling for Congress to "lift by legislation the bars of discrimination against those who seek entry into our country, particularly those who have much needed skills and those joining their families."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-20" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[20]</a> Russell issued a statement afterward stating the commitment by Southern senators to oppose such a measure, which he called "shortsighted and disastrous", while admitting the high probability of it passing. He added that the civil rights bill's true intended effect was to intermingle races, eliminate states' rights as well as abolish the checks and balances system.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-21" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[21]</a>While a prime mentor of Johnson, Russell and the then-president Johnson also disagreed over <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Movement" class="mw-redirect" title="Civil Rights Movement" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">civil rights</a>. Russell, a segregationist, had repeatedly blocked and defeated civil rights legislation via use of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster" title="Filibuster" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">filibuster</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-22" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[22]</a>and had co-authored the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Manifesto" title="Southern Manifesto" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Southern Manifesto</a> in opposition to civil rights. He had not supported the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixiecrat" title="Dixiecrat" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">States Rights' Democratic Party</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond" title="Strom Thurmond" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Strom Thurmond</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,1948" title="United States presidential election, 1948" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1948</a>, but he opposed civil rights laws as unconstitutional and unwise. Unlike <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Bilbo" class="mw-redirect" title="Theodore Bilbo" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Theodore Bilbo</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellison_D.Smith" title="Ellison D. Smith" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">"Cotton Ed" Smith</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Eastland" title="James Eastland" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">James Eastland</a>, who had reputations as ruthless, tough-talking, heavy-handed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_baiting" class="mw-redirect" title="Race baiting" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">race baiters</a>, he never justified hatred or acts of violence to defend segregation. But he strongly defended white supremacy and apparently did not question it or ever apologize for his segregationist views, votes and speeches. Russell was key, for decades, in blocking meaningful civil rights legislation intended to protect African-Americans from lynching, disenfranchisement, and disparate treatment under the law.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-23" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[23]</a> After Johnson signed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964" title="Civil Rights Act of 1964" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Civil Rights Act of 1964</a>, Russell (along with more than a dozen other southern Senators, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Talmadge" title="Herman Talmadge" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Herman Talmadge</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Long" class="mw-redirect" title="Russell Long" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Russell Long</a>) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boycott" title="Boycott" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">boycotted</a> the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Democratic_National_Convention" title="1964 Democratic National Convention" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1964 Democratic National Convention</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_City,New_Jersey" title="Atlantic City, New Jersey" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Atlantic City</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-24" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[24]</a>From 1963 to 1964, Russell was one of the members of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Commission" title="Warren Commission" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Warren Commission</a>, which was charged to investigate the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_John_F.Kennedy" title="Assassination of John F. Kennedy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">assassination of President John F. Kennedy</a>. Russell's personal papers indicated that he was troubled by the Commission's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-bullet_theory" title="Single-bullet theory" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">single-bullet theory</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Soviet Union</a>'s failure to provide greater detail regarding <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Harvey_Oswald" title="Lee Harvey Oswald" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Lee Harvey Oswald</a>'s time in Russia, and the lack of information regarding his Cuba-related activities.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-Rome_News-Tribune;October_17,1993-25" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[25]</a>In June 1968, Chief Justice <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Warren" title="Earl Warren" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Earl Warren</a> announced his decision to retire, President Johnson afterward announcing the nomination of Associate Justice <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abe_Fortas" title="Abe Fortas" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Abe Fortas</a> for the position. David Greenburg wrote that when Russell "decided in early July to oppose Fortas, he brought most of his fellow Dixiecrats with him."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-26" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[26]</a>Russell was a prominent supporter of a strong national defense.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Russell_Jr.#cite_note-27" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[27]</a> He used his powers as chairman of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_Armed_Services_Committee" class="mw-redirect" title="Senate Armed Services Committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Senate Armed Services Committee</a> from 1951 to 1969 and then as chairman of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_Appropriations_Committee" class="mw-redirect" title="Senate Appropriations Committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Senate Appropriations Committee</a> as an institutional base to add defense installations and jobs for Georgia. He was dubious about the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War" title="Vietnam War" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Vietnam War</a>, privately warning President Johnson repeatedly against deeper involvement.<div class="thumb tright" style="clear: right; float: right; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.3em 1.4em; width: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="thumbinner" style="min-width: 100px; border: 1px solid rgb(200, 204, 209); padding: 3px; background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); text-align: center; overflow: hidden; width: 202px;">
<div class="thumbcaption" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><div class="magnify" style="float: right; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 0px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Russell_statue.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: linear-gradient(transparent, transparent), url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 viewBox=%220 0 11 15%22 width=%2215%22 height=%2211%22%3E %3Cg id=%22magnify-clip%22 fill=%22%23fff%22 stroke=%22%23000%22%3E %3Cpath id=%22bigbox%22 d=%22M1.509 1.865h10.99v7.919h-10.99z%22/%3E %3Cpath id=%22smallbox%22 d=%22M-1.499 6.868h5.943v4.904h-5.943z%22/%3E %3C/g%3E %3C/svg%3E"); display: block; text-indent: 15px; white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; width: 15px; height: 11px; user-select: none;" /></div>A statue of Russell by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Hart(sculptor)" title="Frederick Hart (sculptor)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Frederick Hart</a> is in the rotunda of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Senate_Office_Building" title="Russell Senate Office Building" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Russell Senate Office Building</a>.</div></div></div><h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Personal life[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Russell_Jr.&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Personal life" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">edit</a>]</h2>Russell died at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Reed_Army_Medical_Center" title="Walter Reed Army Medical Center" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Walter Reed Army Medical Center</a> due to complications from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emphysema" class="mw-redirect" title="Emphysema" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">emphysema</a>. He is buried in the Russell family cemetery behind the Russell home near Winder. This area was designated as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Russell_Homeplace_Historic_District&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Russell Homeplace Historic District (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Russell Homeplace Historic District</a> by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places" title="National Register of Historic Places" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">National Register of Historic Places</a> in 1984.His younger brother, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Lee_Russell" title="Robert Lee Russell" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Robert Lee Russell</a>, was a lawyer and served as a federal judge, appointed by President Roosevelt and later by President Truman. Brother-in-law <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Peterson" title="Hugh Peterson" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Hugh Peterson</a>served in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.House_of_Representatives" class="mw-redirect" title="U.S. House of Representatives" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">U.S. House of Representatives</a> from 1935 to 1947.Russell was the uncle of Betty Russell Vandiver, and his support aided the career of her husband, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Vandiver" title="Ernest Vandiver" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Ernest Vandiver</a>, who was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Georgia" title="Lieutenant Governor of Georgia" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">lieutenant governor of Georgia</a> from 1955 to 1959 and governor from 1959 to 1963. After Russell's death in 1971, Ernest Vandiver was disappointed at not being named as an interim replacement. He ran unsuccessfully for the seat in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election,1972" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Senate election, 1972" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">1972</a>.Russell was a lifelong bachelor.<h2 style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3;">Legacy[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Russell_Jr.&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Legacy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">edit</a>]</h2>Russell has been honored by having the following named for him:<ul style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 width=%225%22 height=%2213%22%3E %3Ccircle cx=%222.5%22 cy=%229.5%22 r=%222.5%22 fill=%22%2300528c%22/%3E %3C/svg%3E"); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The Russell Hall, one of the academic buildings of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_State_College" title="Gordon State College" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Gordon State College</a>.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Senate_Office_Building" title="Russell Senate Office Building" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Russell Senate Office Building</a>, oldest of the three U.S. Senate office buildings.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_B.Russell_Federal_Building" title="Richard B. Russell Federal Building" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Richard B. Russell Federal Building</a> in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta" title="Atlanta" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Atlanta</a>.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Hall(Georgia)" title="Russell Hall (Georgia)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Russell Hall</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dormitory" title="Dormitory" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">dormitory</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_B.Russell_Special_Collections_Building" title="Richard B. Russell Special Collections Building" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Richard B. Russell Special Collections Building</a> which houses the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_B.Russell_Library_for_Political_Research_and_Studies" title="Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies</a> at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Georgia" title="University of Georgia" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">University of Georgia</a> in Athens, Georgia.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Agriculture" title="United States Department of Agriculture" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">United States Department of Agriculture</a> (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Southern Center in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens,Georgia" title="Athens, Georgia" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Athens, Georgia</a>.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">...</li></ul><div>=</div>