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Miami Heat: Kefauver, Russell Face Off in ’52
In 1952, Estes Kefauver and Richard Russell had a furious faceoff on a Miami TV station. Was it the first televised Presidential debate? It’s complicated.
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And Justice for All: Kefauver’s Fight for Poor Defendants
Kefauver believed strongly in the rule of law and fighting for the poor and working class. So when Congress considered the question of providing lawyers for low-income defendants, Kefauver was all in.
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Campaign 1956: What Might Have Been
The 1956 election is remembered as an Eisenhower landslide, which it was. But if the election had taken place a few weeks earlier, it might have been a different story. A Newsweek article from that time offers a glimpse into an alternate universe where the Democrats did better… and Kefauver was the main reason why.
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All’s (Not) Fair in Politics and War: Kefauver Proposes a Congressional Code of Conduct
Kefauver used congressional investigations as a route to fame. But he also understood how they could be abused. And he tried to do something about it. But as usual, Congress couldn’t be bothered to act.
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Bread Winners: Kefauver Takes On the Baking Industry
Kefauver’s subcommittee on antitrust and monopoly found anti-competitive behavior in a variety of industries, including cars, steel, and… bread baking?
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Bye Bye, Shanghai: The Kefauvers’ Strangest Pet
The Kefauver family loved pets. At various times, the family had a veritable menagerie of animals around the home, including dogs, cats, birds, mice, and even… a skunk?
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“A Twentieth Century Congress”: Kefauver’s Call for Change
After the Great Depression and WWII, the federal government was bigger and more complex than ever. And Congress, wedded to archaic and inefficient traditions, was struggling to cope. Kefauver offered a way out of the wilderness. If only Congress had listened.
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On, Wisconsin: Kefauver’s Campaign Magic at Work
Kefauver’s popularity with the people made him a popular campaign speaker, especially in tough districts. In 1953, he helped Democrats flip a ruby-red seat in Wisconsin by connecting with farmers.
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Farewell, My Friend: An Ex-Staffer’s Kefauver Memories
When Kefauver died in 1963, former staffer and FTC Chairman Paul Rand Dixon spoke on the floor of the Senate about his old boss… and sketched a memorable portrait of a great man.
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Kefauver’s Unconventional Thoughts on Conventions
Ever the reformer, Estes Kefauver proposed a bold plan for reinventing the political convention during his 1952 Presidential campaign. His suggestions were ignored… but some of them were adopted eventually.
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Estes Kefauver for President 