The Poet in Congress: John S. McGroarty of California By Ray Hill “One of the countless drawbacks of being in Congress is that I am compelled to receive impertinent letters from a jackass like you in which you say I promised to have the Sierra Madre mountains...
The Tragedy of William Knowland
The Tragedy of William Knowland By Ray Hill William Fife Knowland seemingly had everything; born into a wealthy and powerful family, he eventually found himself in the United States Senate representing California. Rising to become the Majority Leader of the U.S....
Frederick Gillet & the Fight for Speaker
Frederick Gillet & the Fight for Speaker By Ray Hill The mutiny earlier this year inside the GOP caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives is not new, although it hasn’t happened in a long while. In fact, the last time it did occur was one hundred years...
Oklahoma’s Crazy Congressman: Manuel Herrick
Oklahoma’s Crazy Congressman: Manuel Herrick By Ray Hill If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard someone suggest a member of Congress was crazy, Elon Musk would be a pauper by comparison. Yet in the case of Manuel Herrick of Oklahoma, it was not simply the opinion...
E. W. Marland of Oklahoma
E. W. Marland of Oklahoma By Ray Hill The life story of Ernest Whitworth Marland is a tale of the rise and fall of an American businessman and politician like a Hollywood movie. It is the story of rising to amazing heights and falling just as far. Marland made an...
Edward H. Moore of Oklahoma
Edward H. Moore of Oklahoma By Ray Hill There was a time when Republicans in Oklahoma were pretty scarce in many areas of the state. Yet there were traditionally Republican areas in the Sooner State and during the decade of the 1920s, Oklahoma boasted two GOP United...
The Man in the White Hat: Indiana’s Henry F. Schricker
The Man in the White Hat: Indiana’s Henry F. Schricker By Ray Hill For many years the governors of Indiana were confined to serving one four-year term and sitting it out for another four years before they could run again. Several tried, but the only man to have...
Kentucky Statesman: Governor Simeon Willis
Kentucky Statesman: Governor Simeon Willis By Ray Hill Even today, Democrats seem to have an easier time winning the governorship of Kentucky than either of the state’s seats in the United States Senate. Kentucky was primarily a Democratic state for many years and...
Lucille Foster McMillin
By Ray Hill While Lucille Foster McMillin is barely remembered today, she was a pioneer for women in public service during her time. Married to Benton McMillin, a member of Congress for twenty years and twice governor of Tennessee, Lucille Foster McMillin was...
Statesman from the North Star State: Edward J Thye of Minnesota
Statesman from the North Star State: Edward J Thye of Minnesota By Ray Hill Politics is perhaps the most fickle of mistresses. The one thing one can always rely upon to change is the times. Even the most enduring of officeholders are frequently faced with the changing...
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Edward Hull Crump: The Boss, Part VII
By Ray Hill Despite...
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The U.S. Senate In The Age of McKellar: 1917 – 1953
By Ray Hill Kenneth...
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The Senator’s Secretary: D. W. McKellar
By Ray Hill...
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A Feudin’ Son of Tennessee: Kenneth McKellar Chapter 1
By Ray Hill It will...
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A Feudin’ Son of Tennessee: Kenneth McKellar Chapter 2
By Ray Hill Kenneth McKellar...
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A Feudin’ Son of Tennessee: Kenneth McKellar, Chapter 3
By Ray Hill Even as a...