By Ray Hill For decades the Bankhead family was one of the most politically prominent in the state. Today, perhaps the best-known member of the family is the late actress Tallulah Bankhead, yet Miss Bankhead’s father William was Speaker of the U. S. House of...
William Gibbs McAdoo
By Ray Hill Few men have lived as colorful and productive a life as did William Gibbs McAdoo, who was, incidentally, a one-time resident of Knoxville. A lawyer, businessman, son-in-law of a President of the United States, member of a President’s Cabinet, U.S....
William E. Borah: The Lion of Idaho
By Ray Hill William Edgar Borah was one of the most celebrated members of the United States Senate during his time. Enormously popular in his state of Idaho, Borah was an impressive orator, regularly filling the Senate galleries when he spoke and his speeches were...
Burton K. Wheeler of Montana
By Ray Hill Few members of the United States Senate had as colorful or stormy a career as Burton Kendall Wheeler of Montana. The fact Wheeler came to represent Montana in the Senate in the first place was an accident of fate, as Wheeler had been born in Hudson,...
The Senate’s Dandy: James Hamilton Lewis of Illinois
By Ray Hill It seems highly unlikely anyone could be elected to any office today if he or she exhibited just a few of the eccentricities that were a part of James Hamilton Lewis. Lewis was even for his time somewhat eccentric in his appearance and dress, but he...
Senator Ellison DuRant Smith of South Carolina
By Ray Hill Ellison DuRant Smith was one of the more colorful figures in South Carolina’s oftentimes turbulent political history. It was frequent said, “His name is Ellison DuRant Smith and he sure do rant.” More commonly, he was known simply as “Cotton Ed.” E. D....
Robert Rice Reynolds of North Carolina
By Ray Hill In a time when the South had some of the most flamboyant politicians in the country, few exceeded Robert Rice Reynolds of North Carolina for his flair. Over time, Reynolds’s penchant for flair degenerated into buffoonery, a condition few politicians can...
Senator Walter F. George: George of Georgia
By Ray Hill Walter F. George was, during his time, one of the most respected and powerful members of the United States Senate. Senator George was a man of innate, if not somewhat exaggerated, dignity; even his wife, Miss Lucy, referred to him as “Senator George.”...
Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky
By Ray Hill During his time, Alben W. Barkley was one of the most famous public officials in the country. Barkley was renowned for his oratory and could be depended upon to give a rousing speech just about anywhere, at any time and on most any topic. Barkley was the...
Tom Connally of Texas
By Ray Hill When folks think in terms of Texas and Connally, the late Governor John Connally usually comes to mind, but there was another Connally who enjoyed a much longer political career: Thomas Terry Connally. Tom Connally was no relation to John Connally and...
-
Edward Hull Crump: The Boss, Part VII
By Ray Hill Despite...
-
The U.S. Senate In The Age of McKellar: 1917 – 1953
By Ray Hill Kenneth...
-
The Senator’s Secretary: D. W. McKellar
By Ray Hill...
-
A Feudin’ Son of Tennessee: Kenneth McKellar Chapter 1
By Ray Hill It will...
-
A Feudin’ Son of Tennessee: Kenneth McKellar Chapter 2
By Ray Hill Kenneth McKellar...
-
A Feudin’ Son of Tennessee: Kenneth McKellar, Chapter 3
By Ray Hill Even as a...