A prominent figure in American politics who championed populist ideals and served on a pivotal civil rights commission has left behind a lasting legacy.
According to Fox News, Fred Harris, the former Democratic senator from Oklahoma who later pursued a presidential bid in 1976, passed away peacefully from natural causes at a hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as confirmed by his wife, Margaret Elliston.
Harris's political journey began in the Oklahoma State Senate in 1956, where he served for eight years before ascending to national politics. His entry into the U.S. Senate came in 1964 when he won a special election to fill the vacancy left by Senator Robert S. Kerr's death. Throughout his career, Harris maintained a steadfast commitment to progressive values and fought against concentrated power structures.
Harris's most significant contribution came through his participation in the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, known as the Kerner Commission. Appointed by President Lyndon Johnson, Harris played a crucial role in investigating the urban riots of the late 1960s. The commission's findings were groundbreaking and highlighted the growing racial divide in America.
Harris reflected on his political ideology throughout his career, describing himself as a champion of working-class Americans. As shared by Harris:
I've always called myself a populist or progressive. I'm against concentrated power. I don't like the power of money in politics. I think we ought to have programs for the middle class and working class.
Three decades after the original Kerner Commission report, Harris co-authored a follow-up study that revealed the persistence of social and economic disparities. The report concluded that the commission's earlier warnings about racial inequality had materialized, with wealth disparities continuing to grow and minorities facing disproportionate challenges.
Harris's humble beginnings on a farm near Walters, Oklahoma, shaped his political perspective and drive for success. Born on November 13, 1930, he grew up in a two-room farmhouse without modern amenities, earning just ten cents a day for operating farm equipment.
His determination to succeed led him to the University of Oklahoma, where he worked part-time jobs as a janitor and printer's assistant to fund his education. After earning his law degree in 1954, Harris practiced law in Lawton before embarking on his political career.
The former senator's personal life included two marriages. His first marriage to high school sweetheart LaDonna Vita Crawford in 1949 produced three children: Kathryn, Byron, and Laura. Following their divorce, Harris married Margaret Elliston in 1983.
After his unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1976, Harris relocated to New Mexico and began a new chapter as a political science professor at the University of New Mexico. His academic career proved equally impactful as his political one.
Harris's intellectual contributions extended beyond the classroom through his authorship of more than a dozen books focusing on politics and Congress. In 1999, he showcased his versatility by publishing a mystery novel set in Depression-era Oklahoma. His work on the Kerner Commission remains particularly relevant today, as many of the issues he helped identify continue to challenge American society.
Fred Harris, who passed away at 94 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, leaves behind a legacy that spans from his early days in Oklahoma politics to his tenure as a U.S. Senator and his contributions to civil rights reform through the Kerner Commission. His dedication to populist ideals and social justice, coupled with his transition to academia and authorship, demonstrates a lifetime commitment to public service and educational advancement.
His passing marks the end of an era in American progressive politics, with his work on the Kerner Commission and subsequent analysis continuing to resonate in contemporary discussions about racial and economic inequality in America.
