In a discussion over whether to rename the Richard Russell Senate office building in favor of John McCain, CNN on Tuesday managed to blame the original honoring of the segregationist Democrat on... Republicans. Newsroom host Brooke Baldwin and historian Tim Naftali instead singled out Richard Nixon’s GOP.
The segment went through the long history of the Georgia Senator, his role on the Senate Armed Services Committee and as a “quiet critic” of Vietnam. After his death in 1971, the Senate named a building after him. Eventually, the host and guest got around to Russell's history of fighting civil rights legislation and opposing anti-lynching legislation.
Naftali blamed:
He died in 1971 and next year the office building was named after him. Why did Republicans — don't forget, this is the Nixon era — Why would Republicans have this Democratic legislator to have his name on a building?
He slimed:
Why would Republicans have this Democratic legislator to have his name on a building? Because in the 1970s, Republicans were competing for the votes of southern Democrats. This was the time of Richard Nixon’s Southern Strategy.
A few problems with this: It was DEMOCRAT Robert Byrd (a former KKK member) who in 1972 proposed renaming the building after Russell. In 1972, Democrats controlled the Senate 54-44.
Here’s a quote from Russell on race relations: “I am willing to go as far and make as great a sacrifice to preserve and insure white supremacy in the social, economic, and political life of our state as any man who lives within her borders.”
But somehow this is all the fault of Republicans?
UPDATE: When these facts were brought to his attention, Naftali responded on Twitter:
A transcript is below. Click “expand” to read more:
CNN Newsroom
8/28/18
3:39BROOKE BALDWIN: Senator McCain's name would replace that of senator Richard B. Russell, long time Georgia Senator and segregationist with a storied past. So, let’s talk about that past with CNN presidential historian Tim Naftali. He is also the former director of the Nixon Presidential Library. Tell me about Senator Russell.
TIM NAFTALI (CNN presidential historian): Senator Russell was a powerful legislator. He was, from the early 1950s until 1969, he was chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and he was chairman of the Armed Services subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee. So, in other words, he was the key person on spending money on the military. And he made the position of Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman even more powerful.Every new military system had get his approval before it could actually be paid for. The House plays an important role, but without the Senate it doesn't happen. So, he's very famous among student of national security state of that.
He's also well-known because he was a quiet critic of Vietnam but this is the key part. His greater loyalty was to Lyndon Baines Johnson. He was the mentor of younger — of younger Johnson. When Johnson got stuck in the morass of Vietnam, even though Russell said don't do it, he stood up for him and he kept pushing through military budgets that helped further the war in Vietnam.
...
NAFTALI: Well, but the's another side to Richard Russell that's very important to keep in mind. Richard Russell signed something called the Southern Manifesto in the late ‘50s. He supported Jim Crow laws. He supported the caste system, the apartheid system in the south. He was a racist. He was a great friend of Strom Thurmond. We wouldn’t want an office building named after Strom Thurmond in Washington. Richard Russell has an office building named after him. He died in 1971 and next year the office building was named after him. Why did Republicans — don't forget, this's the Nixon era — Why would Republicans have this Democratic legislator to have his name on a building? Because in the 1970s, Republicans were competing for the votes of southern Democrats. This was the time of Richard Nixon’s Southern Strategy.
BALDWIN: How about that?
NAFTALI: He wanted to embrace those who had been against civil rights legislation.
BALDWIN: Ergo, the naming of —
NAFTALI: Ergo the naming of the building.
BALDWIN: How difficult was it — Last question. How difficult is it to rename a building such as that?
NAFTALI: Well, we have seen a number of buildings renamed in the last few years.. Afterall, The old executive building is Dwight D. Eisenhower building. The Justice dDepartment's building is now the Robert F. Kennedy building.
Buildings can be named easily but it's up to the Congress to name it. Are members of Congress prepared to a building after a maverick? To name a building after someone whose value system reflects Reagan conservative values at a time when Reagan conservative values don't reflect those of the Republican Party? We’ll see.
BALDWIN: We will. Tim Naftali.
