William B. Bankhead

William Brockman Bankhead (April 12, 1874 – September 15, 1940) was an American politician who served as the 42nd speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1936 to 1940, representing Alabama's 10th and later 7th congressional districts as a Democrat from 1917 to 1940. Bankhead was a strong liberal and 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.^[1] 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.^[2] He was the father of actress Tallulah Bankhead.

Bankhead died on September 15, 1940, from an

Bankhead was born at the

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 US Representative, but failed. 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

As Speaker, Bankhead held the second-highest political office ever attained by any Alabamian, after only Vice President William R. King.

At the 1940 Democratic National Convention (three months before his death), he finished second to Henry A. Wallace on the vice presidential ticket, losing the delegate count 626–329.

Bankhead 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 the acclaimed theatrical, radio and motion picture actress.^[7]

The

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

References

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

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to William B. Bankhead.

• United States Congress. "William B. Bankhead (id: B000113)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• William B. Bankhead at Find a Grave
• Bankhead House & Heritage Center home page

U.S. House of Representatives
New constituency	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 10th congressional district 1917–1933	Constituency abolished
Preceded by Miles C. Allgood	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 7th congressional district 1933–1940	Succeeded by Zadoc L. Weatherford
Preceded by Jo Byrns	House Majority Leader 1935–1936	Succeeded by Sam Rayburn
Party political offices
Preceded by Jo Byrns	House Democratic Deputy Leader 1935–1936	Succeeded by Sam Rayburn
Preceded by Joseph Taylor Robinson	Keynote Speaker of the Democratic National Convention 1940	Succeeded by Robert S. Kerr
Political offices
Preceded by Jo Byrns	Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives 1936–1940	Succeeded by Sam Rayburn