John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner, III, 32nd Vice President of the USA

John Nance Garner, III, 32nd Vice President of the United States and Speaker of the House

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LCRV-1SC

• Vice President Garner's Wikipedia Page
• John Garner - U.S. Senate
• Texas Historical Association
• Texas Monthly
• John Nance Garner Papers
• Find A Grave Memorial ID # 2896

What made John Nance Garner famous John Nance Garner IV was the 44th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1931–33) and the 32nd Vice President of the United States (1933–41) under FDR.

Garner was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1898 to 1902. While in the Texas Legislature, a bill came up to select a state flower for Texas. Garner fervently supported the prickly pear cactus for the honor and earned the nickname "Cactus Jack" for his effort. The bluebonnet eventually won out and was chosen as the state flower.

Prickley Pear cactus almost became the state flower of Texas thanks to James Nance Garner. Source(s):

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US Vice President, US Congressman. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 32nd Vice President of the United States under President Franklin Roosevelt from 1933 until 1941. From 1903 until 1933, he served Texas' 15th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives for which included serving as Minority Leader (1929 to 1931) and Speaker of the House (1931 to 1933). Born in a log cabin, one of thirteen off springs, he studied law at Vanderbilt University and was admitted to the bar in 1890. After moving to Uvalde, Texas he commenced practicing law and was elected to county judge (1893 to 1896). He entered the political arena, when he was elected to and served in the Texas State Legislation from 1898 until 1902. During this period a new Congressional District was formed and Garner was elected to serve Texas' 15th Congressional District in 1903. By the time Franklin Roosevelt entered the presidential race, Garner has established himself as a powerful figure in Washington. Garner was very popular among many and earned enough support to secure a nomination for president. Garner turned over his votes to Roosevelt who in turned rewarded him by adding him to the ticket. Highly respected by his colleague in Congress, Garner used his persuasive abilities to his advantage in regards to passing through bills. He was instrumental in the passing of "The New Deal" program. However by 1937, Garner voiced his disagreement with Roosevelt as the administration expanded programs and enlarged federal spending. The rift led to his exclusion on the ticket as Roosevelt sought his third term in 1940. Henry Wallace succeeded him as vice president when Roosevelt won reelection. Garner retired from politics and lived a quiet life in his native Texas. He died two weeks before his 99th birthday.

Bio by: C.S.

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GEDCOM Note

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REF: George Wolfskill, University of Texas at Arlington: John Nance Garner, (1868-1967), American political leader, who was elected VICE PRESIDENT after serving 30 years in the U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Born near Detroit, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1868, Garner read law in Clarksville, Texas, and began practice in Uvalde, Texas, in 1890. He acquired the Uvalde Leader in lieu of a legal fee and his reputation as a newspaper editor led to his appointment and reelection as county judge of Uvalde county. After two terms in the Texas House of Representatives, Garner moved to the U.S. House in 1903, serving until 1933. In 1931 he was elected Speaker. "Cactus Jack," as his friends called him, was an expert at backstage maneuvering to get legislation passed. He often invited colleagues to his office where he applied persuasion and good whiskey, a technique he called "striking a blow for liberty." Garner, the favorite son presidential candidate of Texas, made possible the nomination of Franklin D. ROOSEVELT in 1932 by releasing his Texas and California delegates. Garner then accepted the vice presidential nomination reluctantly. Though elected vice president with Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936, Garner was never comfortable in the NEW DEAL, which he regarded as too liberal. He finally broke with Roosevelt over the latter's plan to "pack" the Supreme Courtin 1937. In 1940, Garner ran unsuccessfully against Roosevelt for the presidential nomination. Garner might have been a serious presidential candidate had he not been so vigorously opposed by representatives of organized labor. Labor leader John L. Lewis once characterized Garner as "a labor-baiting, poker-playing, whiskey-drinking, evil old man." When he left Washington in 1941, Garner retiredto Uvalde. He made and kept a vow never to go east of the Potomac River again. He died in Uvalde on Nov. 7, 1967.

REF: "Garners of Texas A Personal History" by Bascom N. Timmons, Harper & Bros. Publishers, New York, avail. at San Augustine (TX?) Public Library & Houston, Harris Co, TX library: John Nance Garner was only one of two men (the other being President U.S. Grant's Vice President Schuyler Colfax) to serve as both Speaker of the House & as Vice President.