Neuberger, Richard L. (Richard Lewis), 1912-1960

Richard Lewis Neuberger (December 26, 1912 – March 9, 1960) was an American journalist, author, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he notably served as a U.S. Senator from Oregon from 1955 until his death.

Born in rural Multnomah County, Oregon, he grew up in nearby Portland where he attended public schools. Neuberger graduated from the University of Oregon in 1935, where he had 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.

In 1940, 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 1948, after losing in 1946. Neuberger and State Senator and future Governor Robert Holmes were two of the leading liberals in the Oregon legislature at a time of Republican dominance. During the 1949 legislative session, Democrats succeeded in forcing a vote in favor of one of the nation's first fair employment practices laws, though watered down by the Republican majority.

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 abolition of all motor racing in the United States. A vigorous and outspoken liberal, he served in the Senate until his death of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 47. Diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1958 that became terminal by 1960— but was kept from the public— Neuberger remained at his northwest Portland home in early 1960, reportedly battling the flu. Neuberger died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland on March 9, 1960. A delegation of senators, led by Democratic Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson, attended Neuberger's funeral. He was buried at Beth Israel Cemetery in Portland.

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.