Russell B. Long

Russell B. Long
United States Senator
from Louisiana
In office
December 31, 1948 – January 3, 1987
Preceded byWilliam C. Feazel
Succeeded byJohn Breaux
Chair of the Senate Finance Committee
In office
January 10, 1966 – January 3, 1981
Preceded byHarry F. Byrd
Succeeded byBob Dole
Senate Majority Whip
In office
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1969
LeaderMike Mansfield
Preceded byHubert Humphrey
Succeeded byTed Kennedy
Personal details
Born
Russell Billiu Long

(1918-11-03)November 3, 1918
Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedMay 9, 2003(2003-05-09) (aged 84)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Katherine Hattic
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1939; div. 1969)​
  • Carolyn Bason
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1969)​
Children2
Parents
RelativesLong family
EducationLouisiana State University (BA, LLB)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1942–1945
RankLieutenant
UnitUnited States Navy Reserve
Battles/warsWorld War II:
AwardsFour Battle stars for service in North Africa and Europe
Russell B. Long's voice
Long speaks in opposition to continuing televised coverage of Senate proceedings
Recorded July 29, 1986

Russell Billiu Long (November 3, 1918 – May 9, 2003) was an American Democratic politician and United States Senator from Louisiana from 1948 until 1987. Because of his seniority, he advanced to chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, serving for fifteen years, from 1966 to 1981, during the implementation of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society and War on Poverty programs.[1][2] Long also served as Assistant Majority Leader (Senate Majority Whip) from 1965 to 1969.

The son of Senators Rose McConnell Long and Huey Long, Russell Long served during the administrations of eight U.S. presidents, from Truman to Reagan. According to biographer Bob Mann, Long "became a leading voice for the plight of the elderly, the disabled, the working poor and the middle class."[3] Long quietly wielded enormous power in the Senate and shaped some of the most significant tax legislation of the twentieth century.[citation needed]

While a student at LSU, Long met and married Katherine Hattic. They had two daughters, Kay and Pamela. In 1969 they divorced and he married Carolyn Bason.[4]

As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Long held jurisdiction over 100 percent of all federal revenue and 40 percent of all government spending, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, welfare and food assistance programs, foreign trade, and tariffs. In 1980 he was voted the most effective chairman and most effective debater by his colleagues in a U.S. News & World Report survey.[5] In a 1982 survey, Long was voted the most influential Democrat by his Senate colleagues.[6] The Wall Street Journal once called him "the fourth branch of government."[7] Upon his retirement in 1987, Long had a 75 percent approval rating among Louisiana voters.[8]

  1. ^ Franklin, Ben A. (November 12, 1965). "Byrd of Virginia resigns after 32 years in Senate". The New York Times. p. 1.
  2. ^ Morris, John D. (November 12, 1965). "Byrd's move aids Long of Louisiana; Majority Whip in line for Senate Finance chairman". The New York Times. p. 32.
  3. ^ Mann, Robert (1992). Legacy to Power. Paragon House. p. 418. ISBN 1-55778-467-1.
  4. ^ "Carolyn Long Obituary (1922-2015)". The Advocate. July 28, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Mann, Robert (1992). Legacy to Power. Paragon House. p. 370. ISBN 1-55778-467-1.
  6. ^ Thorne, Pat (March 17, 1982). "Senators say Long most influential Democrat". The Shreveport Journal.
  7. ^ Cushman, John H. (May 11, 2003). "Russell B. Long, 84, Senator Who Influenced Tax Laws". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Polozola, Frank (1998). "Tribute to Senator Russell B. Long". Louisiana Law Review. 58 (3): 994.