Fred Harris, former Democratic senator from Oklahoma and presidential candidate, dies at 94

Fred Harris, a self-described populist Democrat from Oklahoma who served 8 years successful the U.S. Senate earlier an unsuccessful run for president successful 1976, has died. He was 94.

Harris’ wife, Margaret Elliston, confirmed his decease to the Associated Press successful a substance connection connected Saturday, writing: "Fred Harris passed peacefully aboriginal this greeting of earthy causes. He was 94. He was a fantastic and beloved man. His representation is simply a blessing."

Harris, who was surviving successful New Mexico, died successful a infirmary successful Albuquerque, Elliston told The New York Times.

Harris archetypal served for 8 years successful the Oklahoma State Senate aft winning predetermination successful 1956. He past launched his vocation successful nationalist authorities successful 1964 erstwhile helium won a Senate contention to capable the vacancy near by Sen. Robert S. Kerr, who died successful January 1963.

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Sen. Fred R. Harris, D-Okla., holds a transcript of the study of the National Advisory Commission connected Civil Disorders arsenic helium and 2 different members of the committee sermon the survey connected the television-radio programme "Issues and Answers," successful Washington, March 3, 1968. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty, File)

"I’ve ever called myself a populist oregon progressive," Harris said successful a 1998 interview. "I’m against concentrated power. I don’t similar the powerfulness of wealth successful politics. I deliberation we ought to person programs for the mediate people and moving class."

As a U.S. senator, Harris was a subordinate of the National Advisory Commission connected Civil Disorders, the alleged Kerner Commission, appointed by then-President Lyndon Johnson to analyse the municipality riots of the precocious 1960s.

Sen. Fred Harris of Oklahoma served successful the U.S. Senate for 8 years. (AP Photo, File)

The committee released its study successful 1968, declaring, "our federation is moving toward 2 societies, 1 black, 1 achromatic — abstracted and unequal."

Thirty years later, Harris co-wrote a study that concluded the commission’s "prophecy has travel to pass," stating that "the affluent are getting richer, the mediocre are getting poorer and minorities are suffering disproportionately."

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In 1976, Harris ran a failed bid to gain the Democratic statesmanlike nomination, bowing retired of the contention aft mediocre showings successful aboriginal contests. The much moderate Jimmy Carter went connected to triumph the presidency.

Harris moved to New Mexico that twelvemonth and became a governmental subject prof astatine the University of New Mexico. He wrote and edited much than a twelve books, mostly connected authorities and Congress. In 1999, helium broadened his writings with a enigma acceptable successful Depression-era Oklahoma.

Former Oklahoma Sen. Fred Harris stands extracurricular his Corrales, N.M., home, Friday, July 23, 2004. Harris died Saturday astatine a infirmary successful Albuquerque, his woman said. He was 94. (AP Photo/Jake Schoellkopf, File)

Harris was calved Nov. 13, 1930, successful a two-room farmhouse adjacent Walters, successful southwestern Oklahoma. The location had nary electricity, indoor toilet oregon moving water. He worked connected the workplace starting astatine property 5, driving a equine successful circles to proviso a hay bailer with powerfulness – earning 10 cents a day.

He aboriginal worked part-time arsenic a janitor and printer’s adjunct to assistance wage for his acquisition astatine the University of Oklahoma, wherever helium earned a instrumentality grade successful 1954. He practiced instrumentality successful Lawton earlier opening his vocation successful politics.

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Harris joined his precocious schoolhouse sweetheart, LaDonna Vita Crawford, successful 1949, and had 3 children, Kathryn, Byron and Laura. After the mates divorced, Harris joined Margaret Elliston successful 1983. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.