Herbert Brownell Jr.

Herbert Brownell Jr.
Herbert Brownell Jr.
Born	20 2, 1904
Birthplace	Nemaha County, Nebraska, U.S.
Died	Template:Death date and age New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Known for	62nd United States Attorney General; Chair of the Republican National Committee
Education	Yale Law School (J.D.)
Spouse(s)	Template:Plainlist
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom

Herbert Brownell Jr. (February 20, 1904 – May 1, 1996) was an American lawyer, Republican politician, and government official who served as the 62nd United States Attorney General from 1953 to 1957 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. A behind-the-scenes figure whose influence far exceeded his public profile, Brownell played a central role in shaping the Eisenhower administration's approach to civil rights, federal judicial appointments, and the enforcement of desegregation. Before his tenure as Attorney General, he served in the New York State Assembly from 1933 to 1937 and as chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1944 to 1946, where he managed Thomas E. Dewey's presidential campaigns. After leaving government, Brownell returned to private legal practice in New York City and became one of the most respected attorneys of his generation. His role in encouraging President Eisenhower to appoint federal judges sympathetic to civil rights, including Chief Justice Earl Warren, and his drafting of early civil rights legislation made him a consequential figure in the legal and political history of mid-twentieth-century America.

Early Life

Herbert Brownell Jr. was born on February 20, 1904, in Nemaha County, Nebraska. He grew up in a family with roots in the American Midwest. His father, Herbert Brownell Sr., was a professor, and the family valued education and public service. Brownell's upbringing in rural Nebraska shaped his character and instilled in him a strong work ethic and interest in civic affairs that would guide his later career in law and politics.

Brownell showed academic promise from an early age, and his intellectual curiosity led him to pursue higher education beyond Nebraska. Details of his childhood and adolescent years are limited in publicly available records, but his trajectory from a small Nebraska community to the highest levels of American government and law reflected a pattern common among ambitious young men of his era who sought opportunities in the eastern United States through academic achievement.

Education

Brownell attended the University of Nebraska, where he completed his undergraduate studies. He subsequently enrolled at Yale Law School, one of the most prestigious law schools in the United States, where he earned his law degree. His time at Yale exposed him to rigorous legal training and connected him with networks that would prove instrumental in his subsequent career in New York politics and law. After completing his legal education, Brownell moved to New York City to begin his career in the practice of law, a decision that placed him at the center of both Republican politics and the American legal profession.

Career

New York State Assembly

Brownell began his political career in New York, winning election to the New York State Assembly from the 10th district in 1932. He served in the Assembly from January 1, 1933, to December 31, 1937, succeeding Langdon W. Post and later being succeeded by MacNeil Mitchell. During his time in the state legislature, Brownell gained experience in the workings of government and developed relationships within the Republican Party that would shape his future roles. His tenure in the Assembly coincided with the early years of the New Deal, a period of intense political debate over the role of government in American life. Brownell's work in Albany established his reputation as a capable and effective legislator within Republican circles in New York.

Republican National Committee Chairman

Brownell's organizational talents and political acumen drew the attention of senior Republican leaders, and in 1944 he was selected to serve as chairman of the Republican National Committee, succeeding Harrison E. Spangler. In this role, Brownell managed the presidential campaign of New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey in the 1944 presidential election, in which Dewey challenged the incumbent Franklin D. Roosevelt. Although Dewey lost the election, Brownell's management of the campaign was recognized for its professionalism and efficiency.

Brownell continued to serve as Republican National Committee chairman through the end of the war years, holding the position until April 1, 1946, when he was succeeded by B. Carroll Reece. He remained a close adviser to Dewey and played a significant role in the 1948 presidential campaign, in which Dewey again sought the presidency but lost in an upset to Harry S. Truman. Despite these electoral defeats, Brownell's reputation as one of the most skilled political strategists in the Republican Party continued to grow.

Role in Eisenhower's Rise

Brownell's most consequential act as a political strategist may have been his role in helping to bring Dwight D. Eisenhower into presidential politics. By the early 1950s, Brownell had become convinced that Eisenhower, the celebrated World War II general, represented the Republican Party's best chance at recapturing the White House. Brownell was instrumental in persuading Eisenhower to seek the Republican nomination in 1952 and played a key role in organizing his successful campaign for the presidency.

According to an account by Brownell's daughter, Ann Brownell Sloane, the relationship between Eisenhower and Brownell was one of deep mutual trust and respect. Brownell served as a principal adviser during the campaign and was among the small circle of confidants who helped shape the Eisenhower candidacy from its inception. His political expertise complemented Eisenhower's military background and public appeal, creating a partnership that proved effective in both the primary and general elections of 1952.

United States Attorney General (1953–1957)

Following Eisenhower's victory in the 1952 presidential election, Brownell was appointed as the 62nd United States Attorney General, taking office on January 21, 1953. He succeeded James P. McGranery, who had served under President Truman. Brownell's deputy attorney general was William P. Rogers, who would later succeed Brownell as Attorney General and subsequently serve as Secretary of State under President Richard Nixon.

Civil Rights

Brownell's tenure as Attorney General was defined in large part by his work on civil rights, an area in which he exercised significant influence on the direction of the Eisenhower administration. He encouraged President Eisenhower to appoint federal judges who would be sympathetic to the cause of desegregation, a strategy that had far-reaching consequences for the federal judiciary and the enforcement of constitutional rights.

Most notably, Brownell played a role in the appointment of Earl Warren as Chief Justice of the United States in 1953. The Warren Court would go on to issue the landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. While the full extent of Brownell's influence on the Warren appointment has been the subject of historical discussion, his advocacy for judges committed to upholding civil rights was well documented.

Brownell was also instrumental in drafting the administration's civil rights legislation. He prepared what became the foundation for the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first major civil rights legislation enacted by the federal government since the Reconstruction era. The bill, as originally drafted by Brownell and the Department of Justice, contained provisions to strengthen federal authority to protect voting rights and to empower the Attorney General to bring civil suits on behalf of individuals whose civil rights had been violated. Although the legislation was significantly weakened during the congressional process, its passage represented an important step in the federal government's evolving commitment to civil rights enforcement.

During the crisis over school desegregation in the South, Brownell advised Eisenhower on the legal framework for federal intervention. His legal counsel helped shape the administration's response to resistance against desegregation orders, including the events that would culminate in the Little Rock Crisis of 1957, although Brownell had left office by the time the crisis reached its peak.

Other Work as Attorney General

Beyond civil rights, Brownell oversaw the operations of the United States Department of Justice during a period of significant Cold War tensions. The Department handled cases related to internal security and espionage, and Brownell navigated the complex political landscape of the era, which included the anti-communist investigations led by Senator Joseph McCarthy. Brownell's approach to these matters generally sought to balance concerns about national security with respect for legal procedures and civil liberties, though the political environment of the 1950s made such balance difficult to maintain.

Brownell also addressed issues related to federal water rights and tribal access to resources. During the 1950s, the Department of Justice under Brownell was involved in legal disputes concerning the Colorado River, including questions about Native American tribes' claims to water rights. These cases reflected broader tensions between state governments and tribal nations over the allocation of scarce natural resources in the American West.

Resignation

Brownell resigned as Attorney General on October 23, 1957. President Eisenhower accepted the resignation with expressions of deep personal regret. In his letter accepting Brownell's departure, Eisenhower praised his service and expressed that Brownell's leaving was "a matter of very deep regret." Brownell was succeeded as Attorney General by his former deputy, William P. Rogers.

Return to Private Practice

After leaving the Department of Justice, Brownell returned to the practice of law in New York City, where he became a senior partner at the prominent law firm of Lord, Day & Lord. He remained active in legal affairs for decades, serving as a counselor and adviser on a wide range of legal matters. His expertise and experience in government made him a sought-after figure in the legal profession, and he continued to be consulted on matters of public policy and legal reform.

Brownell also remained engaged in Republican politics after leaving government, though he did not seek elective office again. He served in advisory capacities and was respected as an elder statesman within the party. In his later years, he wrote a memoir, Advising Ike: The Memoirs of Attorney General Herbert Brownell, which provided his account of the Eisenhower years and his role in shaping the administration's policies.

Personal Life

Brownell married Doris McCarter in 1934, and the couple remained married until her death in 1979. They had children together, including a daughter, Ann Brownell Sloane, who later wrote about the relationship between her father and President Eisenhower. In 1987, Brownell married Marion Taylor; the marriage ended in divorce in 1989.

Brownell lived in New York City for much of his adult life and was a fixture of the city's legal and civic communities. He maintained a private demeanor despite his prominent roles in government and politics, and he was known among colleagues for his intellectual rigor, discretion, and quiet effectiveness.

Herbert Brownell Jr. died on May 1, 1996, in New York City, at the age of 92. His death was reported widely, with obituaries noting his contributions to civil rights, his role in Eisenhower's rise to the presidency, and his long career in law and public service.

Recognition

Brownell received recognition for his contributions to American law and government throughout his career. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States, in recognition of his service to the nation.

His role in advancing civil rights as Attorney General was acknowledged by legal scholars and historians as a significant contribution to the progress of desegregation and the protection of voting rights during a critical period in American history. The appointment of federal judges sympathetic to civil rights, the drafting of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, and the legal groundwork for federal enforcement of desegregation orders were cited as among his most important achievements.

Brownell's oral history interviews and papers have been preserved in various archival collections, including holdings at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, providing scholars with primary source material for the study of the Eisenhower administration and mid-twentieth-century American politics. An oral history interview with Brownell is also held in the collections of the American Archive of Public Broadcasting.

The C-SPAN video library maintains recordings of Brownell's public appearances, providing additional documentation of his views on government and the law.

Legacy

Herbert Brownell Jr.'s legacy rests primarily on his dual roles as a political strategist who helped bring Eisenhower to the presidency and as an Attorney General who advanced the cause of civil rights within a Republican administration. His work in drafting the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and in encouraging the appointment of federal judges committed to desegregation placed him at the center of one of the most important legal and social transformations in American history.

Historians have noted that Brownell's influence on the Eisenhower administration extended well beyond the typical scope of the Attorney General's office. His close relationship with the president and his role as a trusted adviser gave him influence over a wide range of policy decisions. Reassessments of the Eisenhower presidency have increasingly recognized Brownell's contributions, particularly in the area of civil rights, where the administration's record was once underestimated but has been the subject of more favorable scholarly evaluation in recent decades.

Brownell's career also illustrated the importance of the Attorney General's office in shaping federal policy on constitutional questions. His tenure demonstrated how a skilled lawyer in the position could use the levers of the Department of Justice—including judicial appointments, legislative drafting, and litigation strategy—to advance significant policy objectives. His approach to the office influenced subsequent attorneys general and contributed to the evolving understanding of the role's potential for shaping American law and society.

His memoir, Advising Ike, remains a primary source for scholars studying the Eisenhower era, providing an insider's perspective on the decision-making processes within the administration. The book, along with his archived papers and oral history interviews, ensures that Brownell's account of this pivotal period in American history is preserved for future generations of researchers and students.