Richard L. Neuberger

Infobox Senator
name= Richard L. Neuberger


imagesize= 130px
office= United States Senator from Oregon
party= Democrat
term= January 3 1955–March 9 1960
preceded= Guy Cordon
succeeded= Hall S. Lusk
office2= Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
term2= 1941–1942
preceded2=
succeeded2=
constituency2= Multnomah County
date of birth= December 26 1912
place of birth= Multnomah County, Oregon
date of death= death date and age|1960|03|09|1912|12|26
place of death= Portland, Oregon
spouse=
profession= journalist
religion= Jewish
footnotes=

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.

Early life

Neuberger was born on December 26 1912, in the rural part of Multnomah County, Oregon, 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.

Political career

In 1941, Neuberger was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives. His political career was interrupted by World War II, 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.Swarthout, John M. [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0043-4078%28195703%2910%3A1%3C142%3AT1EIO%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Y The 1956 Election in Oregon.] "The Western Political Quarterly", Vol. 10, No. 1. (Mar., 1957), pp. 142-150.] 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.

Legacy and family

One lasting mark Neuberger left as a Senator was the creation of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area on the Pacific Coast of Oregon. He initially introduced a bill for its creation 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.

Writings

* "An Army of the Aged". Caldwell : Caxton Press, 1936. (Co-written by Kelley Loe.)
* "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.

References

* [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=N000053 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress: NEUBERGER, Richard Lewis.]
* "Neuberger, 47, Dies in Oregon; Was Seeking 2nd Term in Senate". "New York Times", 10 March 1960: 1, 31.

External links

* [http://nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu/findaid/ark:/80444/xv35233 Guide to the Richard Neuberger papers at the University of Oregon]