William B. Umstead of North Carolina Like Cameron Morrison and Clyde R. Hoey before him, William Bradley Umstead served as a congressman, U.S. senator and governor of North Carolina.  Although both his time in the United States Senate and as governor were abbreviated,...

Song & Dance Man in the Senate George Murphy of California By Ray Hill The most notable actor who transitioned to politics was, of course, Ronald Reagan. Later came Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was elected governor. Before either Reagan or Schwarzenegger were...

John E. Rankin of Mississippi By Ray Hill It is a very rare thing when a human being has absolutely no redeeming feature.  There have been instances where someone, usually a psychopath, doesn’t seem to have one good quality.  The People’s House - - - the U.S. House of...

The Irrepressible Perennial Matthew M. Neely of West Virginia Faithful readers of this column will note I have covered some of the same subjects again, at least in terms of personages.  I am attempting to give readers a better feel for what the person was like, his or...

Robert L. Ramsay of West Virginia By Ray Hill I have oftentimes stated my belief that the U.S. House of Representatives, for better or worse, is a reflection of those people who send a congressman to Washington, D.C. Most congressmen work in anonymity, even in today’s...

Bluegrass Statesman Marvel M. Logan of Kentucky By Ray Hill “The old have wisdom that the young know not of,” Marvel Mills Logan once wrote. With each passing day, the more I agree with that statement. Marvel M. Logan is a name long forgotten by most, but for a time...

The War Referendum: Congressman Louis Ludlow of Indiana By Ray Hill Louis Ludlow is largely forgotten today, but during his heyday in the 1930s, he was one of the most well-known members of Congress. A newspaperman by trade, Ludlow became famous for proposing...

The Gentleman From Missouri: Forrest C. Donnell By Ray Hill During a time when Democrats were the majority party in Missouri, Forrest Donnell was one Republican who could win statewide elections, albeit by frighteningly small margins. A lawyer by profession, Donnell...

The Gentlewoman From Tuxedo Park: Katharine St. George By Ray Hill For a time, Katharine Price Collier St. George was the First Lady of a swath of upstate New York ranging from her home in Tuxedo Park to Delaware County. That title came not from her pedigree, which...

Okie Orator: Joshua Bryan Lee of Oklahoma By Ray Hill Like every aspect of life, political careers vary.  Some last for decades and things seem to come easily to some lucky folks, while others must work hard at it and fight for what they get.  Other political careers...