Roman Lee Hruska (/ˈrʌskə/) (August 16, 1904 – April 25, 1999) was an American attorney and politician who served as a RepublicanU.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.
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]
In 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]
Hruska 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.
Referencesedit
^ abcPearson, Richard (April 27, 1999). "Sen. Roman Hruska Dies at 94". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
^ ab"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.
^"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.
^ ab"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.
^ abWilliam H. Hohan (April 27, 1999). "Roman L. Hruska Dies at 94; Leading Senate Conservative". The New York Times. p. B8. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Roman Hruska news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Roman Lee Hruska ˈ r ʌ s k e 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 HruskaHruska in 1969United States Senatorfrom NebraskaIn office November 8 1954 December 27 1976Preceded bySamuel W ReynoldsSucceeded byEdward ZorinskyMember of the U S House of Representatives from Nebraska s 2nd districtIn office January 3 1953 November 8 1954Preceded byHoward BuffettSucceeded byJackson B ChasePersonal detailsBornRoman Lee Hruska 1904 08 16 August 16 1904David City Nebraska U S DiedApril 25 1999 1999 04 25 aged 94 Omaha Nebraska U S Political partyRepublicanSpouseVictoria Kuncl HruskaChildrenJana HruskaQuentin HruskaRoman Hruska Jr Alma materUniversity of OmahaUniversity of ChicagoCreighton UniversityHruska was also co founder of the Douglas Theatre Company based in Nebraska Contents 1 Life and career 1 1 Mediocrity comments 2 Retirement and personal life 3 ReferencesLife 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 edit In 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 editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed July 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Hruska 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 Party political officesPreceded byHugh A Butler Republican nominee for U S Senator from Nebraska Class 1 1954 1958 1964 1970 Succeeded byJohn Y McCollisterU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byHoward Buffett Member of the U S House of Representatives from Nebraska s 2nd congressional district1953 1954 Succeeded byJackson B ChaseU S SenatePreceded bySamuel W Reynolds U S senator Class 1 from Nebraska1954 1976 Served alongside Hazel Abel Carl T Curtis Succeeded byEdward Zorinsky Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Roman Hruska amp oldid 1183788294, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
