The BEA was introduced in 1967 by Texas senator Ralph Yarborough and was later signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on January 2, 1968.
Yarbrough defeated a well-respected judge, Charles Barrow, in the Democratic Party primary, mainly because most voters confused him with either Don Yarborough (who had run for Governor before) or Senator Ralph Yarborough.
Supporters and former aides that have since risen to prominence include Jim Hightower, Ann Richards, and Garry Mauro.
Ralph Waldo Emerson | Ralph Lauren | Ralph Nader | Ralph Vaughan Williams | Ralph Fiennes | Ralph Steadman | Ralph Macchio | Ralph Bunche | Ralph Bakshi | Ralph Richardson | Ralph Stanley | Ralph McTell | Ralph Ellison | Ralph Jordan | Ralph | Ralph Abercromby | Ralph Molnar | Ralph Records | Ralph Peterson, Jr. | Ralph Klein | Ralph H. Fowler | Ralph Tresvant | Ralph Moore | Ralph Wilson | Ralph Terry | Ralph "Shug" Jordan | Ralph Peterson | Ralph Percy, 12th Duke of Northumberland | Ralph Inzunza | Ralph Darling |
Early shows included long-form interviews with Senator Ralph Yarborough, a Texas progressive responsible for legislation like the National Defense Education Act, and former CIA officials like John Stockwell and Philip Agee, who both presented arguments for shuttering the CIA.