U.S. Sen. Edward Long

As chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Administrative Practice and Procedure of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Edward Long, D-Mo., headed the committee that reported out to the Senate the bill that was to become the Freedom of Information Act.

Rep. John E. Moss’ committee had long been working on a bill, which was from the press perspective a better idea, but Moss decided not to risk unfriendly amendments and the House adopted the Senate bill without change. Thus it was Sen. Long’s version of the measure that became law in 1966.

Edward Long died in 1972.