John Netherland Heiskell (November 2, 1872 – December 28, 1972) was a prominent American newspaper editor who served briefly in the United States Senate after being appointed to fill a vacancy.

[1] On January 6, Governor George Washington Donaghey appointed Heiskell to temporarily fill the vacancy until the Arkansas General Assembly could meet to choose a successor.

[1] On January 29, the Assembly chose William Marmaduke Kavanaugh to complete Davis' term, which was scheduled to end on March 3.

[1] The legislature also chose Governor Joseph Taylor Robinson for the full six year Senate term that began on March 4, 1913.

[1] As a result of this political maneuvering, Heiskell served as a Senator for 23 days, which remains one of the shortest period of service ever in the U.S.

[1] Heiskell continued to serve as editor of the Gazette, and produced editorials on a wide variety of issues.

[1] On the issue of race relations, Heskiell's editorials supported segregation with the argument that "separate but equal" was legal and would cause the least conflict.

[1] When the 1957 desegregation of Little Rock's Central High School became a contentious issue, Heiskell supported Ashmore's advocacy for obedience to the federal courts.

[1] Ashmore's editorials and the Gazette's news coverage of the events surrounding the school's desegregation resulted in the award of two Pulitzer Prizes.