William Bankhead, 42nd Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Brockman_Bankhead

William Brockman Bankhead (April 12, 1874 – September 15, 1940) was an American politician from Alabama who served as U.S. Representative and Speaker of the House. He was a Democrat. Bankhead was a prominent supporter of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal of pro-labor union legislation, thus clashing with most other southern Democrats in Congress at the time. Bankhead described himself as proud to be a politician, by which he meant that he did not neglect matters that concerned his district or reelection. He is the father of noted actress Tallulah Bankhead.

Early life

Bankhead was born in Lamar County, Alabama. His father, John H. Bankhead, was a very active politician, who had served in the Alabama legislature, and later served as U.S. Representative and Senator. His mother was Tallulah James Brockman, daughter of South Carolina state Senator Thomas Patterson Brockman and he was raised as a Methodist. Bankhead's brother, John H. Bankhead II, also served in the Senate.

William Bankhead attended the University of Alabama, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and played on the university's first football team, organized in 1892. He studied law at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC, graduating in 1895.

He was immediately admitted to the bar in Alabama, and practiced law in Huntsville.

Political career

In 1898, he became city attorney of Huntsville, serving until 1902. In 1900, he was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives for one term, serving through 1901.

In 1905, he moved to Jasper, Alabama. In 1910 he was appointed solicitor of the fourteenth judicial circuit of Alabama, serving until 1914.

In 1914, he sought the Democratic nomination for U.S. Representative, but did not get it. In 1916, he was elected Representative from the newly created 10th Congressional District. (Alabama was apportioned a tenth Congressional seat after the 1910 Census, but the seat was filled by at-large election in 1912 and 1914.) Bankhead held the 10th District until it was abolished after the 1930 Census, when Alabama lost a seat. He was the only person ever elected from the 10th District.

After reapportionment and redistricting following the 1930 Census, Bankhead was re-elected Representative from the 7th District in 1932, and was re-elected three times, serving until his death in 1940. In 1934, he was chosen House Majority Leader by his fellow Democrats. On June 4, 1936, he was chosen Speaker of the House to succeed Jo Byrns, who had died that morning. Bankhead served as Speaker until his own death in office on September 15, 1940.

As Speaker, Bankhead held the highest political office of any Alabamian save Vice President William R. King.

A notable family

Bankhead's father John H. Bankhead was a U.S. Representative and Senator. His elder brother John H. Bankhead II was also a U.S. Senator, and his nephew Walter Will Bankhead was a U.S. Representative. His daughter, Tallulah Bankhead, was a noted actress.

The William B. Bankhead National Forest and sections of old US Highway 78 in northern Alabama are named in his honor. His home in Jasper has been renovated to house the Walker Area Community Foundation's "Bankhead House and Heritage Center", a history museum and arts venue.

William B. Bankhead From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William B. Bankhead William Brockman Bankhead (Young).jpg 47th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives In office June 4, 1936 – September 15, 1940 President Franklin D. Roosevelt Preceded by Joseph W. Byrns, Sr. Succeeded by Sam Rayburn House Majority Leader In office 1935–1936 Preceded by Joseph Byrns Succeeded by Sam Rayburn Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 7th district In office March 4, 1933 – September 15, 1940 Preceded by Miles C. Allgood Succeeded by Zadoc L. Weatherford Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 10th district In office March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1933 Preceded by District created Succeeded by District eliminated Personal details Born William Brockman Bankhead April 12, 1874 Lamar County, Alabama Died September 15, 1940 (aged 66) Washington, D.C. Political party Democratic Alma mater University of Alabama Georgetown University Law School Profession Law William Brockman Bankhead (April 12, 1874 – September 15, 1940) was an American politician from Alabama who served as U.S. Representative and Speaker of the House.[1] Bankhead was a prominent supporter of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal of pro-labor union legislation, thus clashing with most other southern Democrats in Congress at the time.[2] Bankhead described himself as proud to be a politician, by which he meant that he did not neglect matters that concerned his district or reelection.[3] He was the father of noted actress Tallulah Bankhead.

Contents [hide] 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 A notable family 4 References 5 External links Early life[edit]

William Bankhead (#9) with the 1892 Alabama football team Bankhead was born at the Bankhead plantation in Lamar County, Alabama. His father, John H. Bankhead, was a very active politician, who had served in the Alabama legislature, and later served as U.S. Representative and Senator. His mother was Tallulah James Brockman, granddaughter of South Carolina state Senator Thomas Patterson Brockman and he was raised as a Methodist.[4] Bankhead's brother, John H. Bankhead II, also served in the Senate.

William Bankhead attended the University of Alabama, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and played on the university's first football team, organized in 1892. He studied law at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC, graduating in 1895.

He was immediately admitted to the bar in Alabama, and practiced law in Huntsville.

Political career[edit] In 1898, he became city attorney of Huntsville, serving until 1902. In 1900, he was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives for one term, serving through 1901.

In 1905, he moved to Jasper, Alabama. In 1910 he was appointed solicitor of the fourteenth judicial circuit of Alabama, serving until 1914.

Bankhead's former residence in Washington, D.C. In 1914, he sought the Democratic nomination for U.S. Representative, but did not get it. In 1916, he was elected Representative from the newly created 10th Congressional District. (Alabama was apportioned a tenth Congressional seat after the 1910 Census, but the seat was filled by at-large election in 1912 and 1914.) Bankhead held the 10th District until it was abolished after the 1930 Census, when Alabama lost a seat. He was the only person ever elected from the 10th District.

After reapportionment and redistricting following the 1930 Census, Bankhead was re-elected Representative from the 7th District in 1932, and was re-elected three times, serving until his death in 1940. In 1934, he was chosen House Majority Leader by his fellow Democrats. On June 4, 1936, he was chosen Speaker of the House to succeed Jo Byrns, who had died that morning. Bankhead served as Speaker until his own death in office on September 15, 1940. [5]

As Speaker, Bankhead held the highest political office of any Alabamian save Vice President William R. King.

A notable family[edit] Bankhead's father John H. Bankhead was a U.S. Representative and Senator. His elder brother John H. Bankhead II was also a U.S. Senator, and his nephew Walter Will Bankhead was a U.S. Representative. His daughter, Tallulah Bankhead, was a noted actress.[6]

The William B. Bankhead National Forest and sections of old US Highway 78 in northern Alabama are named in his honor. His home in Jasper has been renovated to house the Walker Area Community Foundation's "Bankhead House and Heritage Center", a history museum and arts venue.

References[edit] Grossman, Mark, "Speakers of the House of Representatives 1789-2009" (New York: Grey House Publishing, 2009).

Jump up ^ Obituary Variety, September 18, 1940. Jump up ^ Robert E. Dewhirst, John David Rausch, Encyclopedia of the United States Congress (2007), p. 35. Jump up ^ Walter J. Heacock, "William B. Bankhead and the New Deal", The Journal of Southern History, Vol. 21, No. 3 (Aug., 1955), pp. 347–359. Jump up ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tallulah_Bankhead&action=... Jump up ^ http://www.greyhouse.com/speakers.htm Jump up ^ Tallulah Bankhead - A passionate life, on Hiwaay.net External links[edit] Portal icon Biography portal William B. Bankhead at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress William B. Bankhead at Find a Grave United States House of Representatives New district Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 10th congressional district March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1933 District eliminated Preceded by Miles C. Allgood Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 7th congressional district March 4, 1933 – September 15, 1940 Succeeded by Zadoc L. Weatherford Party political offices Preceded by Jo Byrns House Majority Leader House Democratic Leader 1935–1937 Succeeded by Sam Rayburn Political offices Preceded by Jo Byrns Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives June 4, 1936 – January 3, 1937; January 5, 1937 – September 15, 1940 Succeeded by Sam Rayburn [hide] v t e Speakers of the United States House of Representatives 18th Century Muhlenberg Trumbull Muhlenberg Dayton Sedgwick Seal of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives 19th Century Macon Varnum Clay Cheves Clay Taylor Barbour Clay Taylor Stevenson Bell Polk Hunter White Jones Davis Winthrop Cobb Boyd Banks Orr Pennington Grow Colfax Pomeroy Blaine Kerr Randall Keifer Carlisle Reed Crisp Reed Henderson 20th Century Cannon Clark Gillett Longworth Garner Rainey Byrns Bankhead Rayburn Martin Rayburn Martin Rayburn McCormack Albert O'Neill Wright Foley Gingrich Hastert 21st Century Pelosi Boehner [hide] v t e Majority leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives Payne Underwood Kitchin Mondell Longworth Tilson Rainey Byrns Bankhead Rayburn McCormack Halleck McCormack Halleck McCormack Albert Boggs O'Neill Wright Foley Gephardt Armey DeLay Blunt (acting) Boehner Hoyer Cantor McCarthy Seal of the United States House of Representatives [hide] v t e Democratic party leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives Bailey Richardson Williams Clark Underwood Kitchin Clark Kitchin Garrett Garner Rainey Byrns Bankhead Rayburn McCormack Rayburn McCormack Rayburn McCormack Albert Boggs O'Neill Wright Foley Gephardt Pelosi Hoyer Pelosi Seal of the United States House of Representatives Authority control WorldCat VIAF: 31345027 LCCN: n2001078996 US Congress: B000113 Categories: American MethodistsBankhead familyGeorgetown University alumniMajority Leaders of the United States House of RepresentativesMembers of the United States House of Representatives from AlabamaPeople from Huntsville, AlabamaSpeakers of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States vice-presidential candidates, 19401874 births1940 deathsAlabama DemocratsAlabama Crimson Tide football playersUniversity of Alabama alumniDemocratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 12 2016, 16:10:15 UTC