Richberg, Donald

Richberg, Donald (Randall)

(1881–1960) lawyer, government official; born in Knoxville, Tenn. A progressive lawyer, he handled Chicago's litigation to reduce gas rates (1915–27) and served as counsel to the Railway Labor Executive's Association (1926–33). A supporter of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, he served as general counsel of the National Recovery Administration in 1933, eventually becoming director of the National Emergency Council (1934–36). He moved on to practice law and teach at the University of Virginia's Law School and turned against Roosevelt's social welfare programs.