Dark Victory

A big, loose-limbed man with an inbred love of the outdoors and a mustang liberalism, Oregon's U.S. Senator Richard Lewis Neuberger seemed to embody the brashness and youthful vigor of the Northwest. His precocity and eagerness did not make him popular with his fellow Senators, but two years ago Dick Neuberger fought a brave and desperate battle against cancer that changed their minds--and changed Dick Neuberger. He scoffed at the 1-20 odds his doctors gave him, underwent surgery and won the fight--along with the admiration and sympathy of his colleagues. His struggle left him a humbler, more mature humanitarian. Last week, when he died of a cerebral hemorrhage in a Portland hospital, Dick Neuberger, 47, left no legacy of distinguished legislation, but the U.S. Senate knew it had lost a distinguished member.

In his early years Neuberger became, through his many articles and books, a one-man Chamber of Commerce for the Northwest he loved so well. In 1950 he and his pretty wife Maurine became a political as well as a marital team--he as a state senator, she as a representative. In 1952 both Neubergers were reelected, the only candidates in Oregon to outrun Dwight Eisenhower. Two years later, Dick decided to try for the U.S. Senate and, with a warm assist from Senator Wayne Morse (an erstwhile Republican), Democrat Neuberger won by an eyelash 2,000 votes. In 1956 he returned the favor, campaigned vigorously for Morse (a Democrat by that time).

As a freshman Senator. Neuberger sometimes dared to differ with Wayne Morse. This violated the Morse Code, which decreed that junior partners must be obedient and silent. Inevitably, the Morse-berger team (TIME cover, Jan. 17, 1955) fell apart. After his apparent victory over cancer, Dick Neuberger was hailed on the Senate floor by his colleagues, and even irascible Senator Morse agreed to bury his feud. But not for long--within six months he was hacking away at his colleague once more. Dick Neuberger, wearied and mellowed by his fight for life, refused to strike back. Last January Morse announced that he would actively oppose Neuberger if he dared run again.

Despite Morse's threats, Dick Neuberger felt well enough (his doctors concurred) and bold enough to file for reelection, just six days before his sudden death. With all other serious Democratic hopefuls stepping aside, Maurine Neuberger filed last week as a candidate to succeed her husband for a full term in the Senate.

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