Richard Neuberger: Oregon Politics and the Making of a US Senator

Richard L. Neuberger is a consequential but often forgotten figure in Oregon history, largely due to his early death at forty—seven, near the end of his only term in the United States Senate. But his life and legacy continue to inspire Oregonians and influence politicians.

In 1954, Neuberger was the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Oregon in forty years. His election moved Oregon from a solidly Republican state to one where liberal Democrats could control the legislature as well a...