A–Z index
All 973 people, filed by surname.
50 people
Ayn Rand 1905–1982Arts & LettersNovelist and philosopher whose defense of individualism and capitalism deeply influenced American conservative and libertarian thought.
Paul Rand 1914–1996Arts & LettersGraphic designer who created corporate identities for IBM — UPS and ABC.
A. Philip Randolph 1889–1979Reform & RightsLabor and civil-rights leader who pressured presidents to desegregate defense work and the armed forces.
Dan Rather b. 1931Ideas & MediaCBS Evening News anchor known for his aggressive reporting and long career in broadcast journalism.
Robert Rauschenberg 1925–2008Arts & LettersMixed-media artist whose Combines broke down boundaries between painting and sculpture.
Diane Ravitch b. 1938Ideas & MediaHistorian of education and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education who shaped national education policy debates.
John Rawls 1921–2002Ideas & MediaPolitical philosopher whose A Theory of Justice became the most influential work of political philosophy in the 20th century.
Sam Rayburn 1882–1961Government & PoliticsLongest-serving Speaker of the House who steered New Deal and postwar legislation through Congress.
Ronald Reagan 1911–2004Government & Politics40th president whose conservative domestic program and assertive Cold War strategy reshaped American politics.
Red Cloud 1822–1909Reform & RightsOglala Lakota leader whose successful resistance forced the United States to abandon forts along the Bozeman Trail.
Walter Reed 1851–1902Science & MedicineArmy physician whose commission confirmed mosquito transmission of yellow fever and transformed disease control.
William Rehnquist 1924–2005Government & PoliticsChief justice who led the Court’s conservative shift toward federalism and limits on congressional power.
Frederic Remington 1861–1909Arts & LettersPainter and sculptor whose depictions of the American West defined the cowboy mythos.
Walter Reuther 1907–1970Business & LaborUnited Auto Workers leader who helped build organized labor into a major economic and political force.
Paul Revere 1735–1818Ideas & MediaSilversmith and engraver whose Boston Massacre print and 1775 ride carried Revolutionary messaging.
Michelle Rhee b. 1969Ideas & MediaFormer chancellor of D.C. public schools who became a polarizing figure in education reform debates.
Condoleezza Rice b. 1954Government & PoliticsFirst Black woman to serve as Secretary of State after directing national security policy under George W. Bush.
Jerry Rice b. 1962Frontier & SportWide receiver whose records, consistency, and postseason success made him a standard of NFL excellence.
Little Richard 1932–2020Arts & LettersSinger and pianist whose explosive performances and recordings helped establish the sound and visual style of rock and roll.
Hyman G. Rickover 1900–1986Government & PoliticsArchitect of the nuclear Navy who transformed submarine propulsion, naval engineering, and military management.
Sally Ride 1951–2012Frontier & SportFirst American woman in space and physicist who flew on the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983.
Matthew Ridgway 1895–1993Government & PoliticsArmy commander credited with restoring U.N. forces in Korea and later serving as NATO supreme commander and Army chief of staff.
Jacob Riis 1849–1914Ideas & MediaPhotographer and reporter whose documentation of New York tenements drove housing reform campaigns.
Faith Ringgold 1930–2024Arts & LettersArtist and author whose story quilts combine painting, quilting, and narrative to explore Black identity.
Dennis Ritchie 1941–2011Technology & BuildingCreated the C programming language and co-developed Unix at Bell Labs.
John Roberts b. 1955Government & PoliticsChief justice during major decisions on health care, elections, executive power, abortion, and administrative law.
Julia Roberts b. 1967Arts & LettersAcademy Award-winning actress whose smile and charm made her America's sweetheart of the 1990s.
Jackie Robinson 1919–1972Frontier & SportFirst African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era, breaking the color barrier.
Sugar Ray Robinson 1921–1989Frontier & SportBoxer widely regarded as a model of pound-for-pound excellence and a major figure in postwar sports culture.
David Rockefeller 1915–2017Business & LaborBanker and philanthropist who directed the Rockefeller Foundation's global development efforts.
John D. Rockefeller 1839–1937Business & LaborEstablished the Rockefeller Foundation and funded medical research, education, and public health initiatives.
Nelson Rockefeller 1908–1979Government & PoliticsGovernor and unelected vice president whose drug laws set the template for mass incarceration.
Norman Rockwell 1894–1978Arts & LettersIllustrator whose idealized depictions of American life graced magazine covers for nearly 50 years.
John Roebling 1806–1869Technology & BuildingCivil engineer who designed the Brooklyn Bridge, a landmark of 19th-century engineering.
John A. Roebling 1806–1869Technology & BuildingDeveloped wire-rope suspension bridge design and planned the Brooklyn Bridge.
Washington Roebling 1837–1926Technology & BuildingEngineer who oversaw the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge after his father's death.
Carl Rogers 1902–1987Ideas & MediaCreated client-centered therapy and shaped modern counseling practice and training.
Eleanor Roosevelt 1884–1962Reform & RightsFirst Lady and human rights advocate who chaired the UN committee that drafted the Universal Declaration.
Franklin D. Roosevelt 1882–1945Government & Politics32nd President who led the nation through the Great Depression and most of World War II.
Theodore Roosevelt 1858–1919Government & Politics26th President known for progressive reforms, conservation efforts, and assertive foreign policy.
Julius Rosenwald 1862–1932Business & LaborSears executive who funded thousands of schools for African American children in the segregated South.
Betsy Ross 1752–1836Reform & RightsPhiladelphia upholsterer traditionally credited with sewing the first American flag.
Philip Roth 1933–2018Arts & LettersNovelist whose explorations of Jewish American identity and sexuality earned him a Pulitzer Prize.
Mark Rothko 1903–1970Arts & LettersAbstract expressionist known for his large color-field paintings that evoke deep emotional responses.
Vera Rubin 1928–2016Science & MedicineMeasured galaxy rotation curves that provided the main observational evidence for dark matter.
Wilma Rudolph 1940–1994Frontier & SportSprinter who overcame childhood illness to win three Olympic gold medals and become an international symbol of Black women's athletic excellence.
Donald Rumsfeld 1932–2021Government & PoliticsTwice Secretary of Defense who directed the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and pushed military restructuring.
Bill Russell 1934–2022Frontier & SportEleven-time NBA champion, pioneering Black coach, and civil-rights advocate whose team-first leadership defined a dynasty.
Bayard Rustin 1912–1987Reform & RightsCivil rights strategist who organized the 1963 March on Washington and championed LGBTQ and labor rights.
Babe Ruth 1895–1948Frontier & SportBaseball legend whose home-run hitting transformed the sport and made him a national celebrity.