Preceded by Rufus Hardy Children Two children Died June 6, 1965 Resting place Oakwood Cemetery Alma mater Cumberland University Education Cumberland University | Political party Democratic Name Luther Johnson Party Democratic Party Spouse(s) Turner Read Role U.S. congressman Succeeded by Olin E. Teague | |
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Born October 29, 1875
Corsicana, Texas ( 1875-10-29 ) Residence Corsicana, Texas, United States Similar People Oscar Branch Colquitt, Andrew Jackson Hamilton, Elisha M Pease | ||
Luther Alexander Johnson (October 29, 1875 – June 6, 1965) was a United States Congressman from the U.S. state of Texas
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Early years
Luther was born in Corsicana, Texas, where he attended the public schools. He received his L.L.B. in 1896 from Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, and was admitted to the Bar association the same year. He commenced practice in Corsicana and was attorney for Central Texas Grocery Company and The Royall Coffee Company.
He was a prosecuting attorney of Navarro County from 1898 to 1902 and district attorney of the thirteenth judicial district of Texas from 1904 to 1910.
Congress
He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1916 and as chairman of the Democratic State convention in 1920. Johnson was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-eighth and to the eleven succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1923, until his resignation on July 17, 1946.
A confidential 1943 analysis of the House Foreign Affairs Committee by Isaiah Berlin for the British Foreign Office described Johnson as
in Congress for nearly twenty years; a well-disposed farmer and capable business man. He is a typical southern Democrat in that he has stood staunchly behind the Administration's foreign policies and has supported most New Deal measures, except on such matters as labour. While strongly independent and equally strongly American, he is likely to put his weight behind the Administration's post-war policies and is traditionally pro-British. He made one of the most eloquent speeches in support of the unamended Lend-Lease Powers Act.
In his legislative role Johnson was most famous for his part in the passage of the Radio Act of 1927, stating that
American thought and American politics will be largely at the mercy of those who operate these stations. [If] a single selfish group is permitted to ... dominate these broadcasting stations throughout the country, then woe be to those who dare to differ with them." [67 Cong. Rec. 5558 (1926).]
Later years
Johnson was appointed by President Harry S. Truman to be a judge of the United States Tax Court, holding this office from July 1946 until his retirement in September 1956. He returned to Corsicana until his death there on June 6, 1965. He was interred in Oakwood Cemetery.
Personal life
Luther Alexander Johnson married Turner Read on July 19, 1899. The couple had two children. Mr. Johnson became a ruling Elder in the Westminster Presbyterian Church (USA), where the couple had lifelong membership.