Russell, Richard Brevard (1897-1971), a Georgia Democrat, was one of the most influential people ever to serve in the United States Senate. He served as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee in 1951 and 1952 and again from 1955 until 1969, when he became chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. In 1969, he also was elected president pro tempore of the Senate. As chairman of the appropriations group, Russell had great influence on the nation’s spending, especially in gaining Senate approval of military budgets.
Russell was born on Nov. 2, 1897, in Winder, Georgia, and graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law. He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1920 and became its speaker in 1927. In 1930, he was elected governor of Georgia. In 1932, he was elected to complete the term of U.S. Senator William J. Harris, who had died. Russell served in the Senate from 1933 until his death on Jan. 21, 1971. His firm defense of segregation and his opposition to civil rights legislation undercut his presidential ambitions.
