President Franklin D. Roosevelt Succeeded by Sam Rayburn Siblings John H. Bankhead II Preceded by Joseph Byrns Spouse Adelaide Eugenia Bankhead | Succeeded by Sam Rayburn Name William Bankhead Preceded by Joseph W. Byrns, Sr. Preceded by Miles C. Allgood | |
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Role Former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Died September 15, 1940, Washington, D.C., United States Children Tallulah Bankhead, Evelyn Eugenia Bankhead Parents John H. Bankhead, Tallulah James Brockman Similar People John H Bankhead, John H Bankhead II, Tallulah Bankhead, Marie Bankhead Owen, John Emery | ||
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 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 was the father of actress Tallulah Bankhead.
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Early life
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. 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.
At the 1940 Democratic National Convention (three months before his death), he finished 2nd 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 an acclaimed theatrical and motion picture 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.