Henry T. Rainey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Henry Thomas Railey | |
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| In office March 9, 1933 – August 19, 1934 |
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| Preceded by | John Nance Garner |
| Succeeded by | Joseph W. Byrns |
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| In office 1903–1921 1923–1934 |
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| Preceded by | James R. Williams (1903) Guy L. Shaw (1923) |
| Succeeded by | Guy L. Shaw (1921) Scott W. Lucas (1934) |
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| Born | August 20, 1860 |
| Died | August 19, 1934 |
| Political party | Democratic |
Henry Thomas Rainey (August 20, 1860–August 19, 1934) was a prominent U.S. politician during the first third of the 20th century. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1903 to 1921 and from 1923 to his death as a Democrat from Illinois, and was its Speaker during the famous Hundred days of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early years
Rainey attended the public schools and Knox Academy and Knox College, Galesburg, Ill. he transferred to, and graduated from Amherst (Mass.) College in 1883 and then the Union College of Law, Chicago, Ill.,which he graduated in 1885. He was admitted to the bar in 1885 and commenced practice in Carrollton, Ill.
[edit] Political career
Rainey was appointed master in chancery for Greene County, Ill., from 1887 until 1895, when he resigned, and returned to private practice. He then decided to return to politics in 1902 getting elected to Congress and serving for nine terms before losing to Guy L. Shaw in 1920. Two years later, he won back his seat and served until his death.
[edit] Leadership
Due to the Great Depression, the Republican party lost it's majority in a landslide, and, with John Nance Garner elevated to the Speakership, Rainey ran for, and defeated John McDuffie for the Majority leadership. McDuffie remaind as Whip.
[edit] Speaker of the House
With Speaker Garner having been inaugurated Vice President on March 4, 1933, Rainey, being next in line, was elected Speaker of the House when President Roosevelt called a special session of Congress two days later. Rainey gave the Roosevelt administration carte blache to do whatever it wanted. allowing almost the entire New Deal to be passed with little or no changes.
More reforms were passed during the regular session starting December. Rainey died of a heart attack the following summer, before the new Congress could meet.
This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
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| Preceded by John Nance Garner |
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives March 9, 1933 – August 19, 1934 |
Succeeded by Joseph W. Byrns |
| Preceded by John Q. Tilson |
Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives December 7, 1931-March 3, 1933 |
Succeeded by Joseph W. Byrns |
| Speakers of the United States House of Representatives |  |
|---|---|
| Muhlenberg • Trumbull • Muhlenberg • Dayton • Sedgwick • 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 • Cannon • Clark • Gillett • Longworth • Garner • Rainey • Byrns • Bankhead • Rayburn • Martin • Rayburn • Martin • Rayburn • McCormack • Albert • O'Neill • Wright • Foley • Gingrich • Hastert • Pelosi |
| Majority Leaders of the United States 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 |
