Ralph Webster Yarborough was a Texas Democratic politician who served in the United States Senate from 1957 to 1971 and was a leader of the progressive or liberal wing of his party. He was the only Southern senator to vote for all civil rights bills from 1957 to 1970, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Yarborough was known as "Smilin' Ralph" and used the slogan "Let's put the jam on the lower shelf so the little people can reach it" in his campaigns.
Born in Chandler, Texas, he practiced law in El Paso after graduating from the University of Texas School of Law. He became an assistant to Texas Attorney General James Allred in 1931 and specialized in prosecuting major oil companies. Allred later won election as Governor of Texas and appointed Yarborough to a judgeship in Travis County. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, Yarborough repeatedly ran for governor, opposing the conservative faction of Democrats led by Allan Shivers. Price Daniel resigned from the Senate after winning the 1956 gubernatorial election, and Yarborough won the special election to serve the remainder of Daniel's term. He won election to a full term in 1958 and was re-elected again in 1964, prevailing over Chairman of the Harris County Republican Party George H. W. Bush in the latter race.
Unlike most Southern Congressmen, Yarborough refused to support the Southern Manifesto, which called for resistance to the racial integration of schools and other public places. He staunchly supported the "Great Society" legislation that encompassed Medicare and Medicaid, the War on Poverty, federal support for higher education and veterans, and other programs. He also co-wrote the Endangered Species Act and was the most powerful proponent of the Big Thicket National Preserve. Yarborough criticized the Vietnam War and supported Robert F. Kennedy in the 1968 presidential election until the latter's assassination.
In 1970, Yarborough lost re-nomination to Lloyd Bentsen, who campaigned to Yarborough's right. He attempted to win the 1972 Democratic primary for Texas's other Senate seat, but lost the primary to Barefoot Sanders. Yarborough did not seek public office after 1972 and died in Austin in 1996. Several Yarborough aides and supporters went on to hold high office in Texas, and Yarborough has been called the "patron saint of Texas liberals."
“It is the only case on record of a man swimming toward a sinking ship.”
On former Texas Governor John Connally's switch from Democratic to the Republican party in his bid for the Presidential nomination. Quoted in the Washington Post, 18 January 1988.
