Elizabeth WILLIAMS FULBRIGHT

Elizabeth 1906 - 1985
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA on 21 Mar 1906. Elizabeth married James William Fulbright and had 2 children. She passed away on Oct 1985.

Bill
April 9, 1905 – February 9, 1995

James William Fulbright aka: Bill Fulbright, J. William Fulbright
April 9, 1905 – February 9, 1995
President of the University of Arkansas
Democratic Senator for State of Arkansas 1945 to 1975
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
Author and Rhodes Scholar

James William Fulbright was born in Sumner, Missouri on April 9, 1905 to Jay and Roberta Fulbright. Fulbright was married twice, first to Elizabeth Kremer Williams (1906 – 1985) in 1932; they had two daughters together, and in 1990 married Harriet Mayor.

Fulbright earned a political science degree from the University of Arkansas in 1925, where he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He was elected president of the student body and a star 4-year player for the Razorback football team from 1921-24. He then studied at Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar at Pembroke College. After graduating in 1928, he went on to receive his law degree from The George Washington University Law School in 1934. After being admitted to the bar, he became an attorney in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Fulbright was a lecturer in law at the University of Arkansas from 1936 until 1939 and was appointed president of the University in 1939 serving through 1941. The School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas is named in his honor.

Fulbright served one term in the House of Representatives 1942 and became a member of House Foreign Affairs Committee. The House adopted the Fulbright Resolution which supported international peace-keeping initiatives and encouraged the United States to participate in what became the United Nations in September 1942. He was elected to the Senate in 1944 where he served five six-year terms. In 1946, Fulbright introduced legislation establishing the Fulbright Program in 1946. The Fulbright Fellowships and Fulbright Scholarships are programs of educational grants, sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, governments in other countries, and the private sector. The program was established to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills. It is considered one of the most prestigious award Humanities programs in the World and operates in 155 countries.

Fulbright is also known for his opposition to the Vietnam War. In February 1966, under Fulbright’s leadership, the committee held televised hearings on the war. The misgivings expressed there began the national debate on the wisdom of U.S. policy toward Southeast Asia. Fulbright worked to dissuade support for the war. In 1967, he published “The Arrogance of Power”, a sweeping critique of American foreign policy that sold 400,000 copies.

Former President Bill Clinton deemed Fulbright a friend and mentor, and on May 5, 1993 presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Fulbright at the Fulbright Association's eighty-eighth birthday tribute.

James William Fulbright died on February 9, 1995 in Washington, D.C. at the age of 89.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._William_Fulbright
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=f000401
http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=1652
http://chancellor.uark.edu/15014.php

Contributed on 5/31/12 by c58moore80
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