Richard Russell, Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Russell, Jr.
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
In office January 3, 1969 – January 21, 1971
Preceded by	Carl Hayden
Succeeded by	Allen J. Ellender
Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations
In office January 3, 1969 – January 21, 1971
Leader	Mike Mansfield
Preceded by	Carl Hayden
Succeeded by	Allen Ellender
Chair of the Senate Committee on Armed Services
In office January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1969
Leader	Lyndon B. Johnson Mike Mansfield
Preceded by	Leverett Saltonstall
Succeeded by	John C. Stennis
In office January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953
Leader	Ernest McFarland
Preceded by	Millard Tydings
Succeeded by	Leverett Saltonstall
United States Senator from Georgia
In office January 12, 1933 – January 21, 1971
Preceded by	John S. Cohen
Succeeded by	David H. Gambrell
66th Governor of Georgia
In office June 27, 1931 – January 10, 1933
Preceded by	Lamartine Griffin Hardman
Succeeded by	Eugene Talmadge
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
In office 1921–1931
Personal details
Born	Richard Brevard Russell Jr. (1897-11-02)November 2, 1897 Winder, Georgia, U.S.
Died	January 21, 1971(1971-01-21) (aged 73) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Parents	Richard Russell Sr. Ina Dillard
Relatives	Robert Lee Russell (brother)
Alma mater	Gordon State College University of Georgia School of Law
Profession	Attorney
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Unit	Reserves
Battles/wars	World War I

Richard Brevard Russell Jr. (born November 2, 1897 – died January 21, 1971) was an important American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He served as the 66th Governor of Georgia from 1931 to 1933. After that, he spent almost 40 years in the United States Senate, from 1933 until his death in 1971.

Russell was a key leader of a group called the conservative coalition in Congress. This group was made up of conservative Democrats and Republicans. It was very powerful from 1937 to 1963. When he died, he was the longest-serving member of the Senate. For many years, he was a main leader in the Southern states who opposed the civil rights movement.

Russell was born in Winder, Georgia. After studying law at the University of Georgia School of Law, he became a lawyer in Winder. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1921 to 1931 before becoming Governor of Georgia. In 1933, he won a special election to become a U.S. Senator.

Early in his Senate career, Russell supported the New Deal. The New Deal was a series of programs by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to help the country recover from the Great Depression. Russell was also the main supporter of the National School Lunch Act. This law helped provide free or low-cost school lunches for students who needed them.

Early Life and Education

Richard Russell Jr. was born on November 2, 1897, in Winder, Georgia. He went to the University of Georgia School of Law in 1915. He earned his law degree in 1918. While at the university, he was part of the Phi Kappa Literary Society.

Political Career Highlights

Russell had a long and impactful career in politics. He started in his home state of Georgia before moving to national politics.

Serving Georgia

From 1921 to 1931, Russell was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives. He then became the Governor of Georgia in 1931. He was governor for about two years.

Years in the Senate

Russell joined the United States Senate in 1933 and served there for almost 40 years. During his time, he led several important committees. He was the Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services for most of the years between 1951 and 1969. This committee deals with military matters.

Russell also ran for President of the United States twice. He sought the Democratic Party's nomination in 1948 and 1952. He was also a member of the Warren Commission. This commission investigated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Views on Civil Rights

Russell strongly supported racial segregation. This was a system where people of different races were kept separate. He helped write the Southern Manifesto with Senator Strom Thurmond. This document was signed by many Southern politicians. It opposed the Supreme Court's decision to end segregation in schools.

Russell and 17 other Democratic Senators, along with one Republican, tried to stop civil rights laws from passing. They used a tactic called a filibuster. A filibuster is when a group of senators tries to delay or block a vote on a bill by speaking for a very long time.

Despite their efforts, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. This law banned segregation. Russell, who had been a mentor to Johnson, then led a boycott by Southern politicians at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.

Russell openly stated his belief that America was "a white man’s country." He was against "political and social equality with the Negro." He also supported poll taxes in the South. Poll taxes were fees people had to pay to vote, which often prevented African Americans from voting.

Legacy and Honors

Richard Russell served in the Senate until he died in 1971 from emphysema. He was never married and had no children.

While Russell was a very skilled and influential politician, his legacy is complicated. His lifelong support for white supremacy and segregation is a significant part of his history.

Many places and things have been named in his honor:

• The Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. This is one of the buildings where U.S. Senators have their offices.
• The Russell Auditorium at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia.
• The Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake. This is on the Savannah River between Georgia and South Carolina. A state park on the lake is also named after him.
• The Richard B. Russell Airport in Rome, Georgia. This is a regional airport.
• A dish called "Senator Russell's Sweet Potatoes" is a popular Southern holiday food.

Images for kids

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  Russell as governor

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  Russell and President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1963

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  A statue of Russell by Frederick Hart is in the rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building.