Richard L. Neuberger
Encyclopedia
Richard Lewis Neuberger (December 26, 1912 March 9, 1960) was a U.S.
journalist, author, and politician during the middle of the 20th century. A native of Oregon
, he would write for The New York Times
before and after a stint in the United States Army
during World War II
. A Democrat, he entered politics in his home state by winning a seat in the Oregon House of Representatives
and later was elected to the United States Senate
. His widow, Maurine Brown Neuberger
, would win his Senate seat after his death.
, and grew up in nearby Portland, Oregon
. He graduated from the University of Oregon
in 1935, and served as editor of the student newspaper, the Oregon Daily Emerald
. Neuberger began writing for the New York Times as a college senior, and became the newspaper's Northwest correspondent in 1939. He also began writing books during these years.
, during which Neuberger served in the U.S. Army
as an officer from 1942 to 1945. Back in civilian life, Neuberger continued to work for the Times and write books, and was elected to the Oregon State Senate
in 1949.
In 1954, Neuberger was elected as a Democrat to one of Oregon's United States Senate
seats. He was the first Democrat to win a seat in the Senate from Oregon since 1914. On July 7, 1955, he introduced into the Congressional Record a call for the total abolishment of all motor racing in the United States.
A vigorous and outspoken liberal, he served in the Senate until his untimely death at the age of 47. Neuberger died at home of a stroke while back in Oregon campaigning for re-election. He was buried at Beth Israel Cemetery in Portland.
, the senior senator from Oregon, deteriorated and led to much public feuding. The two had known each other since 1931, when Morse was dean of the University of Oregon law school, and Neuberger was a 19-year-old freshman. Morse befriended Neuberger and often gave him advice, and he used his rhetorical skill to successfully defend Neuberger against charges of academic cheating. After the charges against him were dropped, Neuberger rejected Morse's advice to leave the university and start fresh elsewhere but instead enrolled in Morse's class in criminal law. Morse gave him a "D" in the course and, when Neuberger complained, changed the grade to an "F".
According to Mason Drukman, one of Morse's biographers, even after the two men had become senators, neither could get past what had happened in 1931. "Whatever his accomplishments," Drukman writes, "Neuberger was to Morse a man flawed in character" while Neuberger "could not forgive Morse either for propelling him out of law school ... or for having had to protect him in the honor proceedings." Morse later helped Neuberger, who won his Senate seat in 1954 by only 2,462 votes out of more than a half-million cast, but he also continued to give Neuberger advice that was not always appreciated. "I don't think you should scold me so much," said Neuberger, as quoted by Drukman, in a letter to Morse during the 1954 campaign.
By 1957, the relationship had deteriorated to the point where, rather than talking face-to-face, the senators exchanged angry letters delivered almost daily by messenger between offices in close proximity. Although the letters were private, the feud quickly became public through letters leaked to the press and comments made to colleagues and other third parties, who often had trouble deciding what the fight was about. Drukman describes the feud as a "classic struggle ... of dominating father and rebellious son locked in the age-old fight for supremacy." The feud ended only with Neuberger's death from a stroke
in 1960.
on the Pacific Coast of Oregon. A member of the Wilderness Society, he initially introduced a bill for creation of the Dunes Recreation Area in 1959. After being defeated 12 years in a row, the bill was finally signed into law in 1972. He was also responsible for sponsoring the initial version of the Alaska Mental Health Enabling Act
of 1956.
Neuberger was married in 1945 to the former Maurine Brown
, who was elected to Neuberger's U.S. Senate seat for a six-year term after his death. They had no children.
Portland State University
's Neuberger Hall is named after the senator and marked by a commemorative plaque in the lobby.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist, author, and politician during the middle of the 20th century. A native of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, he would write for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
before and after a stint in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A Democrat, he entered politics in his home state by winning a seat in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
and later was elected to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. His widow, Maurine Brown Neuberger
Maurine Brown Neuberger
Maurine Brown Neuberger was an United States senator for the State of Oregon from November 1960 to January 1967. She was the fourth woman elected to the United States Senate and the tenth woman to serve in the body. She and her husband, Richard L. Neuberger, are regarded as the Senate's first...
, would win his Senate seat after his death.
Early life
Neuberger was born on December 26, 1912, in the rural part of Multnomah County, OregonMultnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
, and grew up in nearby Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. He graduated from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in 1935, and served as editor of the student newspaper, the Oregon Daily Emerald
Oregon Daily Emerald
The Oregon Daily Emerald is an independent daily newspaper published at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, United States. The paper, which has been published for more than 100 years, has trained many now-prominent writers and journalists and has made important contributions to journalism...
. Neuberger began writing for the New York Times as a college senior, and became the newspaper's Northwest correspondent in 1939. He also began writing books during these years.
Political career
In 1941, Neuberger was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives. His political career was interrupted by World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during which Neuberger served in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as an officer from 1942 to 1945. Back in civilian life, Neuberger continued to work for the Times and write books, and was elected to the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
in 1949.
In 1954, Neuberger was elected as a Democrat to one of Oregon's United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seats. He was the first Democrat to win a seat in the Senate from Oregon since 1914. On July 7, 1955, he introduced into the Congressional Record a call for the total abolishment of all motor racing in the United States.
A vigorous and outspoken liberal, he served in the Senate until his untimely death at the age of 47. Neuberger died at home of a stroke while back in Oregon campaigning for re-election. He was buried at Beth Israel Cemetery in Portland.
Feud with Wayne Morse
Toward the end of 1950s, Neuberger's relationship with Wayne MorseWayne Morse
Wayne Lyman Morse was a politician and attorney from Oregon, United States, known for his proclivity for opposing his parties' leadership, and specifically for his opposition to the Vietnam War on constitutional grounds....
, the senior senator from Oregon, deteriorated and led to much public feuding. The two had known each other since 1931, when Morse was dean of the University of Oregon law school, and Neuberger was a 19-year-old freshman. Morse befriended Neuberger and often gave him advice, and he used his rhetorical skill to successfully defend Neuberger against charges of academic cheating. After the charges against him were dropped, Neuberger rejected Morse's advice to leave the university and start fresh elsewhere but instead enrolled in Morse's class in criminal law. Morse gave him a "D" in the course and, when Neuberger complained, changed the grade to an "F".
According to Mason Drukman, one of Morse's biographers, even after the two men had become senators, neither could get past what had happened in 1931. "Whatever his accomplishments," Drukman writes, "Neuberger was to Morse a man flawed in character" while Neuberger "could not forgive Morse either for propelling him out of law school ... or for having had to protect him in the honor proceedings." Morse later helped Neuberger, who won his Senate seat in 1954 by only 2,462 votes out of more than a half-million cast, but he also continued to give Neuberger advice that was not always appreciated. "I don't think you should scold me so much," said Neuberger, as quoted by Drukman, in a letter to Morse during the 1954 campaign.
By 1957, the relationship had deteriorated to the point where, rather than talking face-to-face, the senators exchanged angry letters delivered almost daily by messenger between offices in close proximity. Although the letters were private, the feud quickly became public through letters leaked to the press and comments made to colleagues and other third parties, who often had trouble deciding what the fight was about. Drukman describes the feud as a "classic struggle ... of dominating father and rebellious son locked in the age-old fight for supremacy." The feud ended only with Neuberger's death from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 1960.
Legacy and family
One lasting mark Neuberger left as a Senator was the creation of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation AreaOregon Dunes National Recreation Area
The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area is located on the Oregon Coast, stretching approximately 40 miles north from the Coos River in North Bend, to the Siuslaw River, in Florence. The NRA is part of Siuslaw National Forest and is administered by the United States Forest Service...
on the Pacific Coast of Oregon. A member of the Wilderness Society, he initially introduced a bill for creation of the Dunes Recreation Area in 1959. After being defeated 12 years in a row, the bill was finally signed into law in 1972. He was also responsible for sponsoring the initial version of the Alaska Mental Health Enabling Act
Alaska Mental Health Enabling Act
The Alaska Mental Health Enabling Act of 1956 was an Act of Congress passed to improve mental health care in the United States territory of Alaska. It became the focus of a major political controversy after opponents nicknamed it the "Siberia Bill" and denounced it as being part of a communist...
of 1956.
Neuberger was married in 1945 to the former Maurine Brown
Maurine Brown Neuberger
Maurine Brown Neuberger was an United States senator for the State of Oregon from November 1960 to January 1967. She was the fourth woman elected to the United States Senate and the tenth woman to serve in the body. She and her husband, Richard L. Neuberger, are regarded as the Senate's first...
, who was elected to Neuberger's U.S. Senate seat for a six-year term after his death. They had no children.
Portland State University
Portland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
's Neuberger Hall is named after the senator and marked by a commemorative plaque in the lobby.
Writings
- An Army of the Aged. Caldwell : Caxton Press, 1936. (Co-written by Kelley LoeKelley LoeKelley Loe was a U.S. labor activist, writer, and newspaper proprietor in the Pacific Northwest during the first half of the 20th century....
.) - Our Promised Land. New York : Macmillan, 1938.
- The Lewis and Clark Expedition. New York : Random House, 1951.
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police. New York : Random House, 1953.
- Adventures in Politics: We Go to the Legislature. New York : Oxford University, 1954.