William B. Bankhead

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William Brockman Bankhead
47th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office June 4, 1936 – September 15, 1940
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Joseph W. Byrns, Sr.
Succeeded by	Sam Rayburn
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 7th & 10th districts
In office March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1933 (10th) March 4, 1933 – September 15, 1940 (5th)
Preceded by	Only representative for the tenth district; Miles C. Allgood
Succeeded by	Zadoc L. Weatherford
Born	April 12, 1874 (1874-04-12) Lamar County, Alabama
Died	September 15, 1940 (1940-09-16) (aged 66) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Alabama Georgetown University Law School
Profession	Law

William Brockman Bankhead (April 12, 1874 – September 15, 1940) was an American politician from Alabama and the father of noted actress Tallulah Bankhead. William followed his father's footsteps and went into politics following a brief career as a lawyer. As a young man he was known as a brilliant public speaker and for his fun-loving personality. While attending the the University of Alabama he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the school's inaugural football team. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1917 until his death and as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1936 until his death. Bankhead was the only person ever elected to Alabama's 10th congressional district. The district was eliminated after apportionment based on the 1910 census. John Abercrombie had been elected at large but Bankhead was directly elected to the office. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

Bankhead, due to his position as the House Speaker, was the second highest-ranking Alabamian (by office held) in U.S. history after Vice President William R. King.

Painting of Bankhead as House Speaker.

[edit] A Notable Family

In his early days, he thought about becoming an actor, a career taken up by his daughter, Tallulah Bankhead, who gained quite a bit of notoriety as an actress and bon vivant.^[1] Senator John H. Bankhead was his father, and John H. Bankhead II was his brother. His mother was Tallulah James Brockman, of the South Carolina Brockman family and the namesake of his daughter. His grandfather was Thomas Patterson Brockman, a South Carolina Senator. The William B. Bankhead National Forest and sections of old US Highway 78 in northern Alabama are named in his honor.

[edit] References

1. ^ Tallulah Bankhead - A passionate life, on Hiwaay.net

[edit] External links

• William B. Bankhead at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

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