Ralph Yarborough

Ralph Yarborough on the day of JFK's assassination. Ralph Webster Yarborough (June 8, 1903 – January 27, 1996) was an American politician and lawyer. He was a Texas Democratic politician who served in the United States Senate from 1957 to 1971 and was a leader of the progressive wing of his party. Along with Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson and Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, but unlike most Southern congressmen, Yarborough refused to support the 1956 Southern Manifesto, which called for resistance to the racial integration of schools and other public places. Yarborough voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968, as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the confirmation of Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court. Yarborough was the only senator from a state that was part of the Confederacy to vote for all five bills.

Born in Chandler, Texas, Yarborough practiced law in El Paso after graduating from the University of Texas School of Law. He became an assistant to Texas Attorney General James Burr V Allred in 1931 and specialized in prosecuting major oil companies. Allred was later elected governor of Texas and appointed Yarborough to a judgeship in Travis County. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, Yarborough repeatedly ran for governor, opposing the conservative faction of Democrats led by Allan Shivers. Price Daniel resigned from the Senate after winning the 1956 gubernatorial election, and Yarborough won the special election to serve the remainder of Daniel's term. He won election to a full term in 1958 and was reelected again in 1964, defeating Harris County Republican Party Chairman George H. W. Bush in the latter race.

Yarborough was known as "Smilin' Ralph" and used the slogan "Let's put the jam on the lower shelf so the little people can reach it" in his campaigns. He staunchly supported the "Great Society" legislation that encompassed Medicare and Medicaid, the War on Poverty, federal support for higher education and veterans, and other programs. He also co-wrote the Endangered Species Act and was the most powerful proponent of the Big Thicket National Preserve. Yarborough criticized the Vietnam War and supported Robert F. Kennedy in the 1968 presidential election until the latter's assassination.

In 1970, Yarborough lost re-nomination to fellow Democrat Lloyd Bentsen, who campaigned as relatively more conservative. Yarborough attempted to win the 1972 Democratic primary for Texas's other Senate seat, but lost the primary to Barefoot Sanders. Yarborough did not seek public office after 1972. Provided by Wikipedia
Showing 1 - 20 results of 138 for search 'Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996', query time: 0.05s Refine Results
  1. 1

    Modification of the Whitten amendment. July 26, 1965. -- Ordered to be printed

    Published 1965
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
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  2. 2

    For the relief of Casa Angelica Mental Retardation Facility. August 11, 1970. -- Ordered to be printed

    Published 1970
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
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  3. 3

    Outpatient care of Indian war veterans. September 12, 1961. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1961
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  4. 4

    Increasing rates of subsistence under war orphans' educational assistance program. August 10, 1965. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1965
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  5. 5

    Health services improvement act of 1970. August 11, 1970. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1970
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  6. 6

    Administrative changes in the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the Veterans Administration. July 10, 1962. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1962
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  7. 7

    Readers for blind government employees. August 9, 1962. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1962
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  8. 8

    Extension of vocational rehabilitation training. June 22, 1960. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1960
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  9. 9

    Relating to documentation and inspection of fishing vessels. May 18, 1961. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1961
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  10. 10

    Drug abuse control amendments of 1965. June 21, 1965. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1965
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  11. 11

    Authorizing the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to convey certain lands situated in the State of Oregon to the City of Roseburg, Oreg. September 17, 1965. -- Ordered to be print...

    Published 1965
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  12. 12

    Airlift of mail for members of the U.S. armed forces overseas. August 19, 1965. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1966
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  13. 13

    Increase bed capacity of Veterans Administration hospitals. June 1, 1965. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1965
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  14. 14

    Modification of the Whitten amendment. July 26, 1965. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1965
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  15. 15

    War orphan benefits for children of those who served prior to September 1940. August 10, 1965. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1965
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  16. 16

    Training of seriously disabled veterans under the vocational rehabilitation program. August 10, 1965. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1965
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  17. 17

    Increasing rates of subsistence for service-connected trainees under vocational rehabilitation. August 10, 1965. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1965
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  18. 18

    Designation of the Veterans Administration Hospital in the District of Columbia as the Melvin J. Maas Memorial Hospital. August 10, 1965. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1965
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  19. 19

    Civil service retirement annuity increases. August 30, 1965. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1965
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
  20. 20

    Star route contracts. June 21, 1966. -- Ordered to be printed.

    Published 1966
    Other Authors: “…Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903-1996…”
    Online Access
    Government Document Electronic eBook
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