Clifton B. Batchelder (1909–2001) was an American politician. Batchelder served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and was awarded a

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

while affiliated with the 2nd Armored Division. During his

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

military service, Batchelder met his future wife, Anne Stuart, who was working for the

American Red Cross The American Red Cross (ARC), also known as the American National Red Cross, is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. It is the desi ...

at the time. She was the daughter of

R. Douglas Stuart Robert Douglas Stuart (January 20, 1886 – January 5, 1975) was a United States businessman who served as United States Ambassador to Canada from 1953 to 1956. Early life Stuart was born in Chicago in 1886, the son of Robert Stuart and his wi ...

. The Batchelders married in Germany shortly after the war and moved to

Lake Forest, Illinois Lake Forest is a city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 19,367. The city is along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore. Lake Forest ...

, then

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest cit ...

. Clifton Batchelder was subsequently named to the board of the Near North Side's YMCA. Batchelder's business interests included ranching and printing. After serving his local

YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams in London, originally ...

, Batchelder was elected to the Nebraska Legislature. In April 1965, he proposed a reduction to a general appropriation bill that targeted higher education. His June 1965 motion to kill the incorporation of the

Civil Rights Act of 1964 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 () is a landmark civil rights and United States labor law, labor law in the United States that outlaws discrimination based on Race (human categorization), race, Person of color, color, religion, sex, and nationa ...

into Nebraskan employment law failed. In 1967, he opposed LB 358, regarding

open housing Housing discrimination in the United States refers to the historical and current barriers, policies, and biases that prevent equitable access to housing. Housing discrimination became more pronounced after the abolition of slavery in 1865, typical ...

. As legislators representing Omaha, Henry Pedersen and Batchelder voted against the 1968 integration of the Municipal University of Omaha into the University of Nebraska system as the University of Nebraska Omaha. Batchelder later helped pass a 1969 law that permitted anyone responding to a perceived threat to use any means necessary in self-defense. He was a candidate for the Republican nomination during the

1970 Nebraska gubernatorial election The 1970 Nebraska gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970, and featured businessman James Exon, a Democrat, defeating incumbent Republican Governor Norbert Tiemann. Democratic primary Candidates * Julius W. Burbach, member of the ...

. Batchelder's campaign was critical of incumbent governor and fellow Republican

Norbert Tiemann Norbert Theodore "Nobby" Tiemann (July 18, 1924 – June 19, 2012) was an American Republican politician from Wausa, Nebraska, and was the 32nd Governor of Nebraska, serving from 1967 to 1971. Biography Tiemann was born in Minden, Nebraska. He a ...

for increased spending and taxes during his tenure. Following Clifton Batchelder's unsuccessful run for the governorship in 1970, Anne Stuart Batchelder was the running mate of

1974 Major events in 1974 include the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. In the Middle East, the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War determined politics; f ...

Republican gubernatorial candidate Richard D. Marvel. She subsequently chaired the

Nebraska Republican Party The Nebraska Republican Party (NEGOP) is the affiliate of the Republican Party in Nebraska. The party is led by chair Dan Welch. Its headquarters is located in Lincoln. It is currently the dominant party in the state, controlling all of Nebrask ...

from 1975 to 1979. Clifton Batchelder died in 2001, and his wife died in 2009. The couple were inducted into the Omaha Business Hall of Fame in 2008. There is a foundation named after them.

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* 1909 births 2001 deaths Republican Party Nebraska state senators 20th-century American legislators Ranchers from Nebraska Politicians from Omaha, Nebraska People from Lake Forest, Illinois United States Army personnel of World War II {{Nebraska-politician-stub