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Roman Lee Hruska (/ˈrʌskə/) (August 16, 1904 – April 25, 1999) was an American attorney and politician who served as a Republican U.S. senator from the state of Nebraska. Hruska was known as one of the most vocal conservatives in the Senate during the 1960s and 1970s.
Roman Hruska | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Hruska in 1969 | |
| United States Senator from Nebraska | |
| In office November 8, 1954 – December 27, 1976 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel W. Reynolds |
| Succeeded by | Edward Zorinsky |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nebraska's 2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1953 – November 8, 1954 | |
| Preceded by | Howard Buffett |
| Succeeded by | Jackson B. Chase |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Roman Lee Hruska August 16, 1904 David City, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | April 25, 1999 (aged 94) Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Victoria Kuncl Hruska |
| Children | Jana Hruska Quentin Hruska Roman Hruska, Jr. |
| Alma mater | University of Omaha University of Chicago Creighton University |
Hruska was also co-founder of the Douglas Theatre Company, based in Nebraska.
Life and career
editHruska was born in David City, Nebraska, one of 11 children of Czech immigrant parents. In 1917, his family moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he graduated from high school. He attended the University of Omaha (now University of Nebraska–Omaha) and the University of Chicago Law School and graduated from the Creighton University School of Law in 1929. He returned to Omaha to practice law.[1]
In 1944, Hruska first entered politics when he accepted a seat on the Douglas County, Nebraska, Board of Commissioners in place of a friend who recently resigned. He served as a regular member from 1944 to 1945 and as chair from 1945 to 1952.[1] During his time on the board of commissioners, Hruska also sat on the advisory committee of the Nebraska Board of Control from 1947 to 1952.[2] He was president of the Nebraska Association of County Officials from 1950 to 1951 and vice president of the National Association of County Officials from 1951 to 1952.[2]
Hruska was elected to the United States House of Representatives from the Omaha-dominated second district of Nebraska in 1952. He served only part of one term, as he ran for a United States Senate seat in 1954, which was vacated by the death of Hugh Butler.[1] Hruska won, was reelected in 1958, 1964 and 1970, and served in the Senate until his retirement in 1976. His opponent in 1958 and 1970 was Frank B. Morrison. Hruska did not run for reelection to a fourth full term.
Even after Nixon resigned, Hruska defended him and claimed Watergate only became a scandal as part of a partisan effort to attack Nixon.[3]
Hruska became an influential member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. Hruska voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957,[4] 1960,[5] 1964,[6] and 1968,[7] as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,[8] the Voting Rights Act of 1965,[9] and the confirmation of Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court.[9][10] Though Congress was controlled by Democrats for his entire tenure in the Senate, he was known as a skillful legislator and was said to have influenced many of the federal criminal justice system's changes during his era. He was ranking minority member of the Judiciary Committee at the time of his retirement.
On October 10, 1978, President Carter signed into law a bill that renamed the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC), located in Clay County, Nebraska, for Hruska. The Roman L. Hruska Federal Courthouse in Omaha is also named in his honor. Additionally, the Roman L. Hruska Law Center in Lincoln, Nebraska houses the Nebraska State Bar Association.
Mediocrity comments
editIn 1970, Hruska addressed the Senate, urging it to confirm Richard Nixon's nomination of G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court. Responding to criticism that Carswell had been a mediocre judge, Hruska argued:
Even if he were mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they, and a little chance? We can't have all Brandeises, Frankfurters and Cardozos.[11]
Democrats seized upon these remarks, and the Carswell nomination failed.[11]
Retirement and personal life
editHruska moved back to Omaha in 1976, and lived there until his death. On April 10, 1999, he fell and broke his hip. He died fifteen days later from complications during treatment. He was buried in Bohemian Cemetery in Omaha.
Hruska was married to Victoria Kuncl Hruska. They had three children: Jana, Quentin and Roman, Jr.
References
edit- ^ a b c Pearson, Richard (April 27, 1999). "Sen. Roman Hruska Dies at 94". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "Hruska, Roman Lee (1904-1999)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. U.S. Congress. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ "Hruska dead at 94". Columbus Telegram. April 26, 1999. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
- ^ "HR. 6127. Civil Rights Act of 1957". GovTrack.us.
- ^ "HR. 8601. Passage of Amended Bill".
- ^ "HR. 7152. PASSAGE".
- ^ "To Pass H.r. 2516, a Bill to Prohibit Discrimination in Sale or Rental of Housing, and to Prohibit Racially Motivated Interference with a Person Exercising His Civil Rights, and for Other Purposes".
- ^ "S.J. Res. 29. Approval of Resolution Banning the Poll Tax as Prerequisite for Voting in Federal Elections". GovTrack.us.
- ^ a b "To Pass S. 1564, the Voting Rights Act of 1965".
- ^ "Confirmation of Nomination of Thurgood Marshall, the First Negro Appointed to the Supreme Court". GovTrack.us.
- ^ a b William H. Hohan (April 27, 1999). "Roman L. Hruska Dies at 94; Leading Senate Conservative". The New York Times. p. B8. Retrieved April 22, 2018.