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THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

WASHINGTON, D. C.

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SPEAKERS OF INFORMATION CONCERNING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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SPIER FREDERICK H. PAULS AND JILL Research Government and General Division

April 3, 1969

LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALiFORNIA SANTA PA R A FF B 6 1970

GOVT. PUBLICATIONS DEPT.

I a S.' t VS6 %.J, * WaTg INTRODUCTION

This report contains- statistieel information about the 45 man who have been elected Speaker of the House of Representatives since 1789. Included are each Speaker's birth date, the dates during which he served in the House (but not the Senate) and the Congresses in which he served, his length of service in the House, his length of service in the House prior to his election as Speaker, his length of service as Speaker (years, months, dates and Congresses), the dates upon which he was elected and re-elected to the Speakership, the number of ballots required for his election, his party affiliation, and the State from which he served. The footnotes should be read carefully. They indicate the methodology employed in calculating various statistical information given and also explain special circumstances about a Speaker's election.

Not included in this report are the names of Representatives appointed Speaker pro tempore.

Some of them are noted in the statistical information section of the Congressional Directory, but not all.

Rather than include a partial listing, we have left them out. To summarize the highlights of this report:

(1) Sam Rayburn holds the record both for service in the House (more than 48 years and 8 months) and service as Speaker (17 years, 2 months, 2 days). (2)Henry Clay holds second place in service as Speaker (8 years, 4 months plus, by our calculation) and is the only man to have been elected Speaker each time he returned to the House. I. (3) The present Speaker, John W. McCormack, upon completing his term as Speaker in the 91st

Congress, will move into second place in length of service as Speaker.

(4) Prior to the Twentieth Century previous service in the House before election as Speaker was much lower than is now true; the first 33 Speakers (Muhlenberg through Charles Crisp) averaged 7 years,

1 month of previous service. (This includes three men who had virtually no prior service before election- Muhlenberg, Clay, and Pennington.)* The 12 Speakers since the turn of the century (Henderson through McCormack) have averaged 24 years, 4 months of previous service. (The last three Speakers have served 27 years and 6 months plus, 21 years and 10 months, and 33 years and 2 months, respectively, prior to election as

Speaker.)**

(5) The last drawn-out battle for the Speakership occurred in 1860 when 44 ballots were required to elect William Pentington. Since then, party divisions and party loyalty have been sufficient to elect on the first ballot. The longest battle for the Speakership occurred in 1855-56 when 133 ballots and a confirming resolution were necessary before Nathaniel Banks was elected Speaker. Sixty-three ballots were required to elect Howell Cobb in 1849, 22 to elect John W. Taylor in 1820, 12 to elect Ihilip Barbour in 1821, 11 to elect Robert M.T. Hunter in 1839, and 10 to elect John Bell in 1834.

* We calculate 2,812 months of previous service for these 33 men. ** We calculate 3,513 months of previous service for these 12 men.

ii _1 INFORMATION CONCERNING SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

r _ - - ft-w- SPEAKER LENGTH OF SERVICE IN HOUSE LENGTH OF LENGTH OF SERVICE AS SPEAKER2/ DATES ON # OF PARTY STATE SERVICE WHICH BAL- AFFILIATION BEFORE SPEAKER WAS LOTS BECOMING ELECTED TO (DATE OF DATES AND SPEAKER DATES AND ELECT: BIRTH) CONGRESSES .~ YRS.. MflS. YRS. MOS COnrESSES YRS MOS 3, Frederick A.C, March 4, 1789-Mar, 3, 1797 8 0 None April 1, 1789-Mar. 3, 1791 2+ April 1, 17891 Unknown Pennsylvan ial Muhlenberg Ist-4th Congresses Dec. 2, 1793-Mar. 3, 1795 Dec. 2, 1793 11 (Jan. 1., 1st and 3rd Congresses 1750) 1 Jonathan Mar. 4, 1789-Mar. 3, 1795 6 0 2 7 Oct. 24, 1791-Mar. 3, 1793! 4+1 Oct. 24, 17911 Federalist Conn. Trumbull ist-3rd Congresses 2nd Congress (Mar. 26, 1740) 1 Jonathan Mar. 4, 1791-Mar. 3, 1799 8 0 4 9 Dec. 7, 1795-Mar. 3, 1799 3 3 Dec. 7, 1795 Federalist New Jersey Dayton 2nd-5th .Congresses 4th and 5th Congresses May 15, 1797 1 (Oct. 16, 1760)

Theodore Mar. 4, 1789-June, 17 96 9 3 8 0 Dec. 2, 1799-Mar. 3, 1801 1 3 Dec. 2, 1799 Federalist Mass. Sedgwick Mar. 4, 1799-Mar. 3, 1801 6th Congress 1 (May 9, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 1746) 6th Congresses

Nathaniel Mar. 4, 1791-Dec. 13, 1815 24 9 10 9 Dec. 7, 1801-Mar. 3, 1807 5 3 Dec. 7, 1801 Democrat !North Macon 2nd-14th Congresses 7th, 8th, and 9th Oct. 17, 1803 1 Carolina (Dec. 17, Congresses Nec. 2, 1805 1 1757) 1 Joseph B. Mar. 4, 1795-June 29, 1811 16 3 12 7 Oct. 26, 1807-Mar.3, 1811 3 4+ Oct. 26, 1807 Unknown Mass. Varnum 4th-12th Congresses 10th and llth (Ongresses May 22, 1809 2 (Jan. 29, 1750) LRS - 2 -

SPEAKER LENGTH OF SERVICE IN HOUSE LENGTH OF LENGTH OF SERVICE AS SPEAKER ' DATES ON # OF PARTY I STATE AFFILIATION SERVICE WHICH BAL- BEFORE SPEAKER WAS LOTS TO BECOMIN?, DATES AND ELECTED i(DATE OF DATES AND SPEAKER ELECT BIRTH) CONGRESSES YRS. MOS, YRS. MOS. CONGRESSES YRS. MOS. 4 Henry Mar. 4, 1811-Jan. 19, 1814; 10 10 None / Nov. 4, 1811-Jan. 19, 18141 4+ Nov. 4, 1811 1 Whig Kentucky Clay Mar. 4, 1815-Mar. 3, 1821; Dec. 4, 1815-Oct. 28, 1820 May 24, 1813 1 (April 12, Mar. 3, 1823-Mar. 6, 1825 Dec. 1, 1823-Mar. 3, 1825 Dec. 4, 1815 1 1777) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, IDec. 1, 1817 1 16th, 18th, and 19th 16th, and 18th Congresses Dec. 6, 1819 1 Congresses Dec. 1, 1823 1

Langdon Dec. 31, 1810-Mar. 3, 1815 4 24 3 1 Jan. 19, 1814-Mar. 3, 1815, 1+ Jan. 19 , 1814 Democrat South Cheves llth-13th Congresses 13th Congress Carolina (Sept. 17. 1776)

John W. Mar. 4, 1813-Mar.3, 1833 20 0 7 8 Nov. 15, 1820-Mar.3, 1821 6+ JNov. 15 , 1820 22 Democrat New York I ,Taylor 13th-22nd Congresses Dec. 5, 1825-Mar. 3, 1827 Dec. 5, 1825 2 (Mar. 26, 16th and 19th Congresses 1784)

Philip P. Sept. 19, 1814-Mar. 3, 1825 14 1 7 2+ Dec. 4, 1821-Mar. 3, 1823 3 Dec. 4, 1821 12 Democrat Virginia Barbour Mar. 4, 1827-Oct. 15, 1830 17th Congress (May 25, 13th-18th, 20th, 21st 1783) Congresses

Andrew Mar. 4, 1821-June 2, 1834 13 3 6 9 Dec. 3, 1827-June 2, 1834 6 Dec. 3, 1827 1 Democrat Virginia Stevenson 17th-23rd Congresses 20th-23rd Congresses Dec. 7, 1829 1 (Jan. 21, Dec. 5, 1831 1 1784), Dec. 2, 1833 1

2, 1834 10 Whig Tennessee John Mar. 4, 1827-Mar.3, 1841 14 0 7 3 June 2, 1834-Mar. 3, 1835 9 June Bell 20th-26th Congresses 23rd Congress (Feb. 15, 1797) 4 ~ I ______

-IJ LRS - 3 -

SPEAKER LENGTH OF SERVICE IN HOUSE LENGTH OF LENGTH OF SERVICE AS SPEAKERS DATES ON # OF PARTY STATE SERVICE WHICH BAL- AFFILIATION BEFORE SPEAKER WAS LOTS BECOMING ELECTED TO (DATE OF DATES AND SPEAKERS DATES AND ELECT BIRTH) CONGRESSES YRS. MOS. YRS. MOS, CONGRESSES YRS. MOS. .OGESE YRS. MOS. --I . IJames K. Mar. 4, 1825-Mar. 3, 1839 14 0 10 9 Dec. 7, 1835-Mar. 3, 1839 3 3 Dec. 7, 1835 1 Democrat Tennessee IPolk l9th-25th Congresses 24th-25th Congresses Sept. 5, 1837 1 (Nov. 2, 1795)

Robert M.T, Mar. 4, 1837-Mar.3, 1843 8 0 2 9 Dec. 16, 1839-Mar. 3, 1841 1 2+IDec. 16, 1839 11 Democrat Virginia Hunter Mar. 4, 1845-Mar. 3, 1847 26th Congress (April 21, 25th-27th, and 29th 1809) Congresses

John Mar. 4, 1835-Mar. 3, 1845 10 0 6 3 May 31, 1841-Mar. 3, 1843 1 9 IMay 31, 1841 if Whig Kentucky White 24th-28th Congresses 27th Congress (Feb. 14, 1802)

John W. 5 Mar. 4, 183 -Mar. 3, 1845 10 0 8 9 Dec. 4, 1843-Mar. 3, 1845 1 1 3 IDec. 4, 1843 1 Democrat Virginia Jones 24th-28th Congresses 28th Congress (Nov. 22, 1791)

-I John W. Mar. 4, 1835-Mar. 3, 1837 8 0 6 9 Dec. 1, 1845-Mar. 3, 1847 1 1 3 IDec. 1, 1845 1 Democrat Indiana Davis Mar. 4, 1839-Mar. 3, 1841 29th Congress (April 16, Mar. 4, 1843-Mar. 3, 1847 1799) 24th, 26th, 28th, and 29th Congresses

Robert C. Nov. 9, 1840-May 25, 1842 9 2 6 7 Dec. 6, 1847-Mar. 3 Dec. 6, 1847 Winthrop Nov. 29, 1842-July 30, 3, 1849 1 1 3 Whig Mass. 1850 30th Congress (May 12, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 1809) 30th, and 31st Congresses LRS - 4 - # OF PARTY #OF PARTY SPEAKER LENGTH OF SERVICE IN HOUSE LENGTH OF LENGTH OF SERVICE AS SPEAKER-2/ DATES ON STATE SERVICE WHICH BAL- !AFFILIATION BEFORE SPEAKER WAS LOTS I BECOMING ELECTED TO I (DATE OF DATES AND SPEAKER.! DATES AND ELECT I BIRTH) CONGRES SES YRS. MOS YRS. MOS. CONGRESSES YRS. MOS. Howell Mar. 4, 1843-Mar. 3, 1851 10 0 6 9+ Dec. 22, 1849-Mar. 3, 1851 1 2+ Dec. 22, 1849 63 Democrat Georgia Cobb Mar. 4, 1855-Mar. 3, 1857 31st Congress (Sept. 7, oth-31st. Congresses 1815) and 34th Congress

Linn Mar. 4, 1835-Mar. 3, 1837 18 0 14 9 Dec. 1, 1851-Mar. 3, 1855 3 3 Dec. 1, 1851 1 Democrat Kentucky Boyd Mar. 4, 1839-Mar. 3, 1855 32nd-33rd Congresses Dec. 5, 1853 (Nov. 22, 24th, 26th-33rd Congresses 1800)

Nathaniel ?, Mar. 4, 1853-Dec. 24, 1857 18. 1 2 11 Feb. 2, 1856-Mar. 3, 1857 1 Feb. 2, 1856 1335- American Mass. Banks Dec. 4, 1865-Mar. 3, 1873 34th Congress Party (Coalitten (Jan. 30, Mar. 4, 1875-Mar. 3, 1879 Dem, 33rd) 1816) Mar. 4, 1889-Mar. 3, 1891 33rd-35th, 39th-42nd, (Republican 44th-45th, and 51st 35th) Congresses

1 1857 1 Democrat South Mar. 4, 1849-Mar. 3, 1859 10 0 8 9 Dec. 7, 1857-Mar. 3, 1859 Dec, 7, James Carolina Orr 31st-35th Congresses 35th Congress (May 12, 1822)

1 ,, 1860 44 Whig New Jersey William Mar. 4, 1859-Mar. 3, 1861 2 0 0 261 Feb. 1, 1860-Mar. 3, 1861 Feb. 36th Congress Pennington 36th Congress (May 4, 1796) 4 LRS - 5 -

SPEAKER LENGTH OF SERVICE IN HOUSE LENGTH OF' LENGTH OF SERVICE AS SPEAK ER DATES ON # OF PARTY STATE SERVICE WHICH BAL- AFFILIATION BEFORE SPEAKER WAS LOTS BECOMING ELECTED TO (DATE OF DATES AND !SPEAKER./ DATES AND ELECT BIRTH) CONGRESSES YRS. MOS YRS. MOS4 CONGRESSES YRS .MOS.

Galusha A. Mar. 4, 1851-Mar. 3, 1863 21 0i 10 4 July 4, 1861-Mar. 3, 1863 1 8 IJuly 4, 1861 1 Republican 'Pennsylvania Grow Feb. 26, 1894-Mar. 3, 1903 37th Congress (Aug. 31, 32nd-37th, 54th-57th 1823) Congresses

Schuyler Mar. 4, 1855-Mar. 3, 1869 14 0 8 9 Dec. 7, 1863-Mar. 3, 1869 5 3 Dec. 7, 1863 1 Republican Indiana Colf ax 34th-40th Congressto 38th-40th Congresses Dec. 4, 1865 1 (Mar. 23, Mar. 4, 1867 1 1823)

ITheodore M. Mar. 4, 1861-Mar. 3, 1869 8 0 8 0 March 3, 1869 1 day Mar. 3, 1869 By Republican New York M Pomeroy 37th-40th Congresses 40th Congress mo- (Dec. 31, tion 1824)

James G. Mar. 4, 1863-July 10, 1876 13 4! 6 0 Mar. 4, 1869-Mar. 3, 1875 6 0 Mar. 4, 1869 1 Republican Maine Blaine 38th-44th Congresses 41st-43rd Congresses Mar. 4, 1871 1 (Jan. 31, Dec. 1, 1873 1 1830)

Michael C. Mar. 4, 1865-Mar. 3, 1873 9 5 8 9 Dec. 6, 1875-Aug. 15, 18761 0 8+ Dec. 6, 1875 1 Democrat Indiana Kerr Mar. 4, 1875-Aug. 19, 1876 44th Congress (Mar. 1 5, 39th-42nd, 44th Congresses 1827)

4 4, 1876 1 Democrat Pennsylvani Samuel J. Mar. 4, 1863-Apr. 13, 1890 27 lj 13 9 Dec. 4, 1876-Mar. 3, 1881 3 Dec. Oct. 15, 1877 1 Randall 38th-51st Congresses 44th-46th Congresses Mar. 18, 1879 1 (Oct. 10, 1828) -A.-- I I LRS - 6 -

SPEAKER LENGTH OF SERVICE IN HO USE LENGTH QF LENGTH OF SERVICE AS SPEAKER DATES ON # OF PARTY STATE SERVICE WHICH BAL- AFFILIATION I BEFORE SPEAKER WAS BECOMINqj, ELECTED TO (DATE OF DATES AND SPEAKER- DATES AND ELT BIRTH) CONGRESSES YRS. MOS_ YRS. MO - CONGRESSES YRS. MOS J. Warren Mar. 4, 1877-Mar. 3, 1885 14 0 4 9 Dec. 5, 1881-Mar. 3, 1883 1 3 Dec. 5, 1881 1 Republican Ohio Keifer Mar. 4, 1905-MAr. 3, 1911 47th Congress (Jan. 30, 45th-48th, 59th-61st 1836) Congresses

John G. Mar. 4, 1877-May 26, 1890 2+ 6 13 9 Dec. 3, 1883-Mar. 3, 1889 5 3 Democrat Carlisle 45th-51st Dec. 3, 1883 1 Kentucky Congresses 48th-50th Congresses Dec. 7, 1885 1 (Sept. 5, Dec. 5, 1887 1 1835)

Thomas B. Mar. 4, 1877-Sept. 4, 1899 22 6 12 9 Dec. 2, 1889-Mar. 3, 1891 4 6 Dec. 2, 1889 1 Reed 45th-56th Republican' Maine Congresses Dec. 2, 1895-Mar. Dec. 2, 1895 1 (Oct. 18, 3, 1899 54th-5Sth Mar. 1839) 51st, 15, 1897 1 Congresses

Charles F. Mar. 4, 1883-Oct. 23, 1896 13 7+ 8 9 Dec. 8, 1891-Mar. 3, 1895 3 3 Dec. 8, 1891 1 Democrat Crisp 48th-54th Georgia Congresses. 52nd-53rd Congresses Aug. 7, 1893 1 (Jan. 29, 1845)

David Mar. 4, 1883-Mar. 3, 1903 20 0 16 9 Dec. 4, 1899-Mar. 3, 1903 3 3 Dec. 4, 1899 1 Republican Iowa Henderson 48th-57th Congresses 56th, 57th Congresses Dec. 2, 1901 1 (Mar. 14, 1840)

Joseph G. Mar. 4, 1873-Mar. 3, 1891 46 0 28 8 Nov. 9, 1903-Mar. 3, 1911 7 4 Nov. 9, 1903 Cannon Mar. 4, 1893-Mar. 3, 1913 Republican Illinois 58th-61st Congresses Dec. 1 (May 7, Mar. 4, 1915-Mar. 3, l923 4, 1905 Dec. 1907 43rd-51st, 53rd-62nd, 2, 1 1836) Mar. 15, 1909 64th-67th , 1 -I----- Congresses

I LRS - 7 -

DATES ON # OF PARTY STATE SPEAKER LENGTH OF SERVICE IN HOUSE LENGTH OF LENGTH OF SERVICE AS SPEAKER! SERVICE WHICH BAL- AFFILIATION BEFORE SPEAKER WAS LOTS BECOMINq ELECTED TO ELECT (DATE OF DATES AND SPEAKER 1S DATES AND BIRTH) CONGRESSES YRS. MOS. YRS. MOS CONGRESSES YRS. MOS -~ -.--- ? Democrat Missouri Champ Mar. 4, 1893-Mar. 3, 1895 26 0 16 1 Apr. 4, 1911-Mai . 3 , 19 1 9 7 11 Apr. 4, 1911 1 (James B.) Mar. 4, 1897-Mar. 2, 1921 62nd-6*th Congi esses Mar. 7, 1913 1 Clark 53rd-66th Congresses Dec. 6, 1915 1 (Mar. 7, Apr. 2, 1917 1 1850) Republican Mass. Frederick H Mar. 4, 1893-Mar. 3, 1925 32 0 26 2+IMay 19, 1919-Ma r.3, 1925 5 9+ May 19, 1919 1 Gillett 53rd-68th Congresses 66th-68th Cong dresses Apr. 11, 1921 1 (Oct. 16, Dec. 5, 1923 1 1851)

Republican Ohio Nicholas Mar. 4, 1903-Mar. 3, 1913 26 1 20 9 Dec. 7, 1925-Ma r. 3, 1931 5 3 Dec. 7, 1925 1 Longworth Mar. 4,- 1915-Apr. 9, 1931 69th-71st Cong resses Dec. 5, 1927 1 Apr. 15, 1929 1 (Nov. 5, 58th-62nd, 64th-72nd 1869) Congresses

Dec. 7, 1931 1 Democrat Texas John N. Mar. 4, 1903-Mar. 3, 1933 30 0 28 9 'Dec. 7, 1931-Ma r. 3, 1933 1 3 Garner 58th-73rd Congresses 72nd Congress (Nov. 22, 1868)

19, 1934 1 5+1 Mar. 9, 1933 1 Democrat Illinois Henry T. Mar. 4, 1903-Mar. 3, 1921 29 5+ 28 0 Mar. 9, 1933-Aug. Rainey Mar. 4, 1923-Aug. 19, 1934 73rd Congress (Aug. 20, 58th-66th, 68th-73rd 1860) Congresses .1 LRS - 8 -

SPEAKER LENGTH OF SERVICE IN HOUSE LENGTH OF LENGTH OF SERVICE AS SPEAKERS DATES ON # OF PARTY STATE SERVICE WHICH BAL- BEFORE SPEAKER WAS LOTS BECOMING ELECTED TO (DATE AFFILIATION OF DATES AND SPEAKER DAT ES AND ELECT BIRTH) CONGRESSES YRS. MOS YRS. MOS. CONGRESSES YRS. MOS. _

Joseph W. Mar. 4, 1909-June 4, 1936 27 3 25 10 Jan. 3, 1935-June 4, 1936 1 5 Jan. 3, 1935 Democrat Tenn. Byrns 61st-74th Congresses 74th Congress 1 ~1 (July 20, 1869)

William B. Mar. 4, 1917-Sept. 15, 1940 23 6+ 19 3 June 4, 1936-Sept.15,1940 by 4 3+ June 4, 1936 mo- Democrat Ala. Bankhead 65th-76th Congresses 74th-76th Congresses (April 12, tion Jan. 5, 1937 1874) 1 Jan. 3, 1939 1

Sam Mar. 4, 1913-Nov. 16, Iby 1961 48 8+ 27 6+ Sept. 16, 1940-Jan. 3,1947 17 2 Sept. 16,4940 reso- Democrat Texas Rayburn 63rd-87th Congresses Jan. 3, 1949-Jan.3, 1953 lu- (Jan. 6, Jan. 5, 1955-Nov. 16, 1961 1882) tion 76th-79th, 81st-82nd, Jan. 3, 1941 84th-87th Congresses Jan. 6, 1943 1 Jan. 3, 1945 Jan. 3, 1949 1 Jan. 3, 1951 1 Jan. 5, 1955 1 Jan. 3, 1957 1 Jan. 7, 1959 1 Jan. 3, 1961 1 Joseph W. Mar. 4, 1925-Jan. 3, 1967 41 10 21 10 Jan. 3, 1947-Jan. 3, 1949 4 0 Jan. 3, 1947 1 Republican Mass. Martin, Jr. 69th..89th Congresses Jan. 3, 1953-Jan. 5, 1955 Jan. 3, 1953 1 (Nqv. 3, 80th, 83rd Congresses 1884)

It LRS - 9 -

2/ SPEAKER LENGTH OF SERVICE IN HOUSE LENGTH OF LENGTH OF SERVICE AS SPEAKER- DATES ON # OF PARTY STATE SERVICE WHICH BAL- AFFILIATION BEFORE SPEAKER WAS LOTS BECOMING D, ELECTED TO (DATE OF DATES AND SPEAKERSDATESAND ELECT BIRTH) CONGRESSES YRS. MOS, YRS. MOS, CONGRESSES YRS. MOS. I

John W. Nov. 6, 1928- 40 4 33 2 Jan. 10, 1962-- 7 2 Jan. 10, 1962 1 Democrat Mass. McCormack 70th Congress-- (as of 87th Cbngress--- (as of Jan. 9, 1963 1 (Dec. 21, Mar. 6, Mar. 10, Jan. 4, 1965 1 1891) 1969) 1969) Jan. 10, 1967 1 Jan. 3, 1969 1

FOOTNOTES: 1. A Representative's length of service prior to his becoming Speaker is computed from the day his tenure began to the day upon which he was first elected to the Speakership. Note that prior to 1934 a Representatives's term began March 4 of the year following his election, but the Congress to which he was elected usually did not convene until the following December. We have included this period as part of a Member's service except in the footnoted cases below.

2. Calculating the continuous service of Speakers is complicated by the fact that, technically, there is often an interregnum between the day on which a Speaker's term as Representative (and therefore as Speaker ends and the day he is reelected Speaker. For example, although Mr. Rayburn was Speaker in both the 77th and 78th Congress, he was not actually Speaker between January 3, 1943, the day his term as a Representative in the 77th Congress ended, and January 6, 1943, the day the 78th Congress first convened and reelected him as Speaker. Prior to 1934, this interregnum was frequently much longer for there was often as much as a nine-month gap between the end of a Speaker's term as Representative (March 4) and the first convening of the new Congress (usually the first Monday in December) at which it was possible to reelect him. In this chart we have followed the policy of including such interregnums as part of a Speaker's continuous service if he was reelected Speaker at the first opportunity the House was given to reelect him. Otherwise, a Speaker's service is calculated from the time of his election to the end of his term as Representative during which he last served as Speaker.

3. A lack of a quorum prevented the election of Muhlenberg until April 1. Accordingly, we have not counted the period March 4-April 1 in calculating his prior service in the House. LRS - 10 -

4. Clay was elected Speaker upon the convening of the 12th Congress. We have not counted the period March 4-November 4, 1811 in calculating his prior service even though his term of office began March 4, 1811. Obviously, he could not be elected Speaker until Congress convened. 5. The House had agreed before the 133rd ballot to elect by plurality. In an extremely close vote Banks appeared to have a slim lead and the Congressional Globe records that there was confusion in the chamber. To affirm his election a resolution was offered and adopted, 155-40; so an actual 134 ballots were required to elect him as Speaker,

6. We have shown a two-months' prior service for Pennington because of the stalemate in choosing a Speaker. This period dates from the convening of the 36th Congress, December 5, 1859, to Pennington's election February 1, 1860.

SOURCES: Annals of 'the Congress, Congressional Debates, Congressional Globe, and Congressional Record. Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1961. Congressional Directory, 90th Congress, 2nd Session, pp. 346-351. Herbert B. Fuller, The Speakers of the House, Boston, Little, Brown, 1909, pp. 293-295.

Frederick H. Pauls Jill Spier Government and General Research Division March 1969

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