Roman Hruska
Encyclopedia
Roman Lee Hruska 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.
. 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 became an influential member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. He voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964
. Though Congress was controlled by Democrats for his entire time in the Senate, he was known as a skillful legislator, and was said to have influenced much of the federal criminal justice system's changes during his era. He was the ranking minority member of the Judiciary Committee at the time of his retirement.
On October 10, 1978, President Carter signed into law a bill which renamed the Federal Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) located in Clay County, Nebraska
after former Senator Roman L. Hruska. The Roman L. Hruska Federal Courthouse
in Omaha is also named in his honor.
This speech was criticized by many, and Carswell was eventually defeated.
included the line "One more time for Roman Hruska!" in their famous comedy recording "Dead Puppies".
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. Hruska was known as one of the most vocal conservatives
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
during the 1960s and 1970s.
Life and career
Hruska was born in David City, NebraskaDavid City, Nebraska
David City is a city in Butler County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 2,597 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Butler County.-Geography:David City is located at ....
. His ancestors were Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
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
Technical High School (Omaha, Nebraska)
Technical High School was a public high school that was located at 3215 Cuming Street in Omaha, Nebraska. Opened in 1923, the school was said to be the largest high school west of Chicago. It was the largest in the Omaha area before it was closed in 1984...
in North Omaha. He attended the University of Omaha and the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and graduated from the Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
law school. He settled in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
and became a lawyer. He soon entered politics, becoming a member of the Douglas County, Nebraska
Douglas County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 463,585 people, 182,194 households, and 115,146 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,401 people per square mile . There were 192,672 housing units at an average density of 582 per square mile...
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
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the Omaha-dominated second district of Nebraska. He served only one term, as he ran for a United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
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
Frank B. Morrison
Frank Brenner Morrison served as the 31st Governor of the U.S. state of Nebraska from 1961 to 1967, representing the Democratic Party. He also ran for United States Senate in 1958, 1966 and 1970 but lost all three elections. He lost to Roman L. Hruska in 1958 and 1970 while in 1966 he lost to Carl...
. Hruska did not run for reelection to a fourth full term.
Hruska became an influential member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. He voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
. Though Congress was controlled by Democrats for his entire time in the Senate, he was known as a skillful legislator, and was said to have influenced much of the federal criminal justice system's changes during his era. He was the ranking minority member of the Judiciary Committee at the time of his retirement.
On October 10, 1978, President Carter signed into law a bill which renamed the Federal Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) located in Clay County, Nebraska
Clay County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,039 people, 2,756 households, and 1,981 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile . There were 3,066 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...
after former Senator Roman L. Hruska. The Roman L. Hruska Federal Courthouse
Roman L. Hruska Federal Courthouse
The Roman L. Hruska Federal Courthouse is a Federal Courthouse located at 111 S. 18th Plz. in Downtown Omaha, Nebraska. Completed in 2000, the six story courthouse serves the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, and features nine courtrooms and a central atrium; built at a...
in Omaha is also named in his honor.
In Defense of Mediocrity
Hruska is best remembered in American political history for a 1970 speech he made to the Senate urging them to confirm the nomination of G. Harrold Carswell to the Supreme Court. Responding to criticism that Carswell had been a mediocre judge, Hruska claimed that:- "Even if he were mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they, and a little chance? We can't have all BrandeisesLouis BrandeisLouis Dembitz Brandeis ; November 13, 1856 – October 5, 1941) was an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States from 1916 to 1939.He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, to Jewish immigrant parents who raised him in a secular mode...
, FrankfurtersFelix FrankfurterFelix Frankfurter was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.-Early life:Frankfurter was born into a Jewish family on November 15, 1882, in Vienna, Austria, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in Europe. He was the third of six children of Leopold and Emma Frankfurter...
and Cardozos."
This speech was criticized by many, and Carswell was eventually defeated.
Retirement
Hruska moved back to Omaha in 1976, and lived there until his death. On April 10, 1999, he fell, broke his hip, and died from complications during treatment.Personal life
Hruska was married to Victoria Kuncl Hruska. They had three children: Jana, Quenton and Roman, Jr.In Culture
The Nebraska-based music and comedy group Ogden EdslOgden Edsl
Ogden Edsl was an American band, formed in 1970 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Bill Frenzer, Bill Carey and Otis XII. Their music was often darkly comedic and satirical, and was frequently featured on the weekly Dr...
included the line "One more time for Roman Hruska!" in their famous comedy recording "Dead Puppies".