Roman Lee Hruska (August 16, 1904 April 25, 1999) was a
Republican U.S. Senator from the state of
Nebraska. Hruska was known as one of the most vocal
conservatives in the
United States Senate during the 1960s and 1970s.
Life and career
Hruska was born in
David City, Nebraska. His ancestors were
Czech immigrants, and he was proud of his Czech heritage.
Hruska's family moved to Omaha when he completed junior high school. He graduated from
Tech High in
North Omaha. He attended the
University of Omaha and the
University of Chicago and graduated from the
Creighton University law school. He settled in
Omaha, Nebraska and became a lawyer. He soon entered politics, becoming a member of the
Douglas County, Nebraska board of commissioners. He served as a regular member from 1944 to 1945 and as chairman from 1945 to 1952. He was vice-president of the National Association of County Officials from 1951 to 1952, and served for a time as a member of the Nebraska Board of control and the board of regents of the University of Omaha.
Hruska was elected to the
United States House of Representatives from the Omaha-dominated second district of Nebraska. He served only one term, as he ran for a
United States Senate seat in 1954, which was vacated by the death of
Hugh Butler. Hruska won, and 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.
Hruska...
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