Robert Rice Reynolds
Encyclopedia
Robert Rice Reynolds was a Democratic U.S. senator
from North Carolina
between 1932 and 1945. Almost from the outset of his Senate career, "Our Bob," as he was known among supporters back home, acquired distinction as a passionate isolationist and increasingly as an apologist for Nazi aggression in Europe. Even after America's entry into World War II, according to a contemporary study of subversive elements in America, he "publicly endorsed the propaganda efforts of Gerald L.K. Smith," whose scurilous publication The Cross and the Flag "violently assailed the United States war effort and America's allies." Reynolds and Smith, one of the nation's most virulent Fascists, likewise collaborated on The Defender, an anti-Semitic newspaper partly owned by Reynolds that portrayed Jews as the anti-Christ. Reynolds on occasion turned over his Senate office facilities to subversive propagandists and allowed them to use his franking privilege to mail their literature postage-free.
Originally from the town of Asheville
, Reynolds practiced law there and was elected to serve as solicitor
(prosecuting attorney) for the area (1910–1914). He ran for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
in 1924, losing to J. Elmer Long in the Democratic
primary
. Reynolds first ran for the United States Senate in 1926, but was not successful. He ran again in 1932 and defeated interim Senator Cameron Morrison in the Democratic primary runoff by nearly two to one after running a particularly nasty, populist campaign, which accused Morrison of being a Communist sympathizer. During one campaign speech, he proclaimed, "Cam likes fish eggs
, and Red
Russian fish eggs at that. Don't you want a Senator who likes North Carolina hen eggs?"
President Franklin Roosevelt recruited Franklin W. Hancock, Jr. to oppose Reynolds in the 1938 Democratic primary, but Reynolds won handily.
In 1941, Reynolds became chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs
.
By 1944, the Democratic Party had had enough of Reynolds and chose former governor Clyde R. Hoey
to seek Reynolds's seat in the primary. As a result, Reynolds did not seek reelection. Hoey won the primary and went on to win the general election in a landslide victory over a Republican opponent. Reynolds did seek to return to the Senate in 1950, but was hopelessly discredited by this time and won only 10% in the Democratic primary, behind Frank Porter Graham
and Willis Smith
.
, the former publisher/owner of the Washington Post, became the fifth wife of then 57-year-old Senator Reynolds.
After leaving public life, he practiced law and real estate until his death, in Asheville.
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...
from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
between 1932 and 1945. Almost from the outset of his Senate career, "Our Bob," as he was known among supporters back home, acquired distinction as a passionate isolationist and increasingly as an apologist for Nazi aggression in Europe. Even after America's entry into World War II, according to a contemporary study of subversive elements in America, he "publicly endorsed the propaganda efforts of Gerald L.K. Smith," whose scurilous publication The Cross and the Flag "violently assailed the United States war effort and America's allies." Reynolds and Smith, one of the nation's most virulent Fascists, likewise collaborated on The Defender, an anti-Semitic newspaper partly owned by Reynolds that portrayed Jews as the anti-Christ. Reynolds on occasion turned over his Senate office facilities to subversive propagandists and allowed them to use his franking privilege to mail their literature postage-free.
Originally from the town of Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
, Reynolds practiced law there and was elected to serve as solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
(prosecuting attorney) for the area (1910–1914). He ran for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
The Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina is the second highest elected official in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is the only elected official to have powers in both the legislative and executive branches of state government...
in 1924, losing to J. Elmer Long in the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. Reynolds first ran for the United States Senate in 1926, but was not successful. He ran again in 1932 and defeated interim Senator Cameron Morrison in the Democratic primary runoff by nearly two to one after running a particularly nasty, populist campaign, which accused Morrison of being a Communist sympathizer. During one campaign speech, he proclaimed, "Cam likes fish eggs
Caviar
Caviar, sometimes called black caviar, is a luxury delicacy, consisting of processed, salted, non-fertilized sturgeon roe. The roe can be "fresh" or pasteurized, the latter having much less culinary and economic value....
, and Red
Red flag
In politics, a red flag is a symbol of Socialism, or Communism, or sometimes left-wing politics in general. It has been associated with left-wing politics since the French Revolution. Socialists adopted the symbol during the Revolutions of 1848 and it became a symbol of communism as a result of its...
Russian fish eggs at that. Don't you want a Senator who likes North Carolina hen eggs?"
President Franklin Roosevelt recruited Franklin W. Hancock, Jr. to oppose Reynolds in the 1938 Democratic primary, but Reynolds won handily.
In 1941, Reynolds became chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs
United States Senate Committee on Armed Services
The Committee on Armed Services is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation's military, including the Department of Defense, military research and development, nuclear energy , benefits for members of the military, the Selective Service System and...
.
By 1944, the Democratic Party had had enough of Reynolds and chose former governor Clyde R. Hoey
Clyde R. Hoey
Clyde Roark Hoey was a Democratic politician from North Carolina. He served in both houses of the state legislature and served briefly in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1919 to 1921. He was North Carolina's governor from 1937 to 1941. He entered the U.S...
to seek Reynolds's seat in the primary. As a result, Reynolds did not seek reelection. Hoey won the primary and went on to win the general election in a landslide victory over a Republican opponent. Reynolds did seek to return to the Senate in 1950, but was hopelessly discredited by this time and won only 10% in the Democratic primary, behind Frank Porter Graham
Frank Porter Graham
Frank Porter Graham was a president of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and, for a brief period, United States Senator.-Early life:...
and Willis Smith
Willis Smith
Willis Smith was a Democratic U.S. senator from the state of North Carolina between 1950 and 1953.-Early life and education:Born in Virginia, he moved to North Carolina before age 2...
.
Personal life
On October 9, 1941, the then 19-year-old Evalyn McLean, daughter of Edward B. McLeanEdward Beale McLean
Edward Beale "Ned" McLean was the publisher and owner of the Washington Post newspaper from 1916 until 1933.Edward McLean was born into a publishing fortune founded by his paternal grandfather Washington McLean, who owned the Washington Post and the Cincinnati Enquirer...
, the former publisher/owner of the Washington Post, became the fifth wife of then 57-year-old Senator Reynolds.
After leaving public life, he practiced law and real estate until his death, in Asheville.