McCormack, John W. (John William), 1891-1980

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John William McCormack (December 21, 1891 – November 22, 1980) was an American politician from Boston, Massachusetts. An attorney and a Democrat, McCormack served in the United States Army during World War I, and afterwards won terms in both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Massachusetts State Senate before winning election to the United States House of Representatives. He became the 45th Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1962.

McCormack enjoyed a long House career (1928 to 1971), and advanced through the leadership ranks to become the 45th Speaker of the House. He served as Speaker from 1962 until his 1971 retirement.

McCormack's Congressional career was highlighted by his support for the New Deal measures undertaken to combat the Great Depression, U.S. involvement in World War II, and support for the Great Society programs of the 1960s, including civil rights, education, and health care for the elderly. A staunch anti-communist, McCormack supported U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. His support for the war and the seniority system in Congress caused increasing numbers of younger members to challenge his leadership; McCormack survived a 1969 contest with Mo Udall for the Speakership. He did not run for reelection to his House seat in 1970, and retired to his home in Boston. He later resided at a Dedham nursing home, where he died in 1980.

At 42 years and 58 days, as of 2017 McCormack's service in the U.S. House ranks 15th in terms of uninterrupted time. He is the longest-serving member of the U.S. House in Massachusetts history; Joseph William Martin Jr. is second to McCormack at 41 years, 305 days.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Klumpp, Theodore G., 1903-1997. Papers, 1948-1964. Herbert Hoover Library
creatorOf McCormack, John W., 1891-1980. ALS : Boston, Mass., to Tom Parry, Raleigh, N.C. 1973 Jan. 14. Boston Public Library, Central Library in Copley Square
referencedIn Levis, Rosa Marie Finnochietti, 1878-1959. Papers, 1890-1959 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Spence, Brent, 1874-1967. Brent Spence papers, 1930-1962, 1943-1962. University of Kentucky Libraries
referencedIn Howe, Mark De Wolfe. Mark De Wolfe Howe papers. 1933-1967. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn John Collier papers, 1910-1987 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn George W. Pray Papers, 1844-1890 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn John Lesinski papers, 1930s-1964, 1950-1964 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn John Collier papers Yale University Library
referencedIn Boggs, Lindy, 1916-. Lindy Boggs letters, 1974-1978. Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries
referencedIn Dewey D. Stone Papers Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at New England Historic Genealogical Society
creatorOf Lyndon Baines Johnson Archives Collection. 1931 - 1968. Congressional Correspondence Files Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn McNamara, Francis J. (Francis Joseph), 1896-1979. Francis J. McNamara, Sr., collection, 1926-1979. Boston University. School of Medicine
referencedIn Jack Kroll papers, 1919-1969 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Wright, Paul M. Research material about John W. McCormack, 1901-1992 (bulk, 1984-1988). University of Massachusetts at Boston, Healey Library
creatorOf Crosser, Robert, 1874-1957. Papers 1901-1954. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. Papers, 1833-1975 (bulk: 1884-1972) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961. Rayburn, Sam, papers, 1906-1990. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Templeton and Company Daybook and Ledger, 1856-1860 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Shattuck, Henry Lee, 1879-1971. Papers, 1870-1971 Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Rogers, Edith Nourse, 1881-1960. Papers, 1854-1961 (inclusive), 1881-1961 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Wyzanski, Charles Edward. Charles E. (Charles Edward) Wyzanski papers. 1930-1968. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Papers of Martha May Eliot, 1898-1975 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Robert Barnes Papers, 1962-1964 East Carolina University. J.Y. Joyner Library
referencedIn Spyros P. Skouras Papers, 1942-1971 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Morris, Toby. Toby Morris photograph collection, 1947-1961. Museum of the Great Plains
referencedIn Thomas J. Dodd Papers, undated, 1919-1971. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Oliver F. Atkins photograph collection, 1943-1975 George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives
referencedIn Chester Bowles papers, 1924-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Chester Bowles papers, 1924-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Indiana Politics, 1969;, 1978 Indiana University, Bloomington. Center for the Study of History and Memory
referencedIn Papers of Eva Whiting White, 1900-1965 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Wilson, George Howard, 1905-1985. Papers, 1933-1974. University of Oklahoma, Bizzell Memorial Library
referencedIn Freddy Homburger Papers, 1926-1990, (bulk 1941-1989) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Emanuel Celler Papers, 1924-1973, (bulk 1945-1973) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Harvard Law School Forums Records Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. Papers: Series III-IV, 1900-1972 (inclusive) [microform]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn William Ernest Hocking papers Houghton Library
creatorOf McCormack, John W., 1891-1980. Letters to John W. McCormack, 1957. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Pilcher, John L. (John Leonard), 1898-1981. John Leonard Pilcher Papers, Series II: Meigs Office, 1960-1964.
creatorOf Boston College. Office of the President. William J. Murphy President's Office records, 1911-1947, (bulk 1939-1945). Boston College. John J. Burns Library
creatorOf William James McGarry President's Office Records, 1922-1982, (bulk 1937-1939). Boston College. John J. Burns Library
referencedIn Vinson, Fred M., 1890-1953. Frederick Moore Vinson papers, 1907-1953. University of Kentucky Libraries
referencedIn Levis, Rosa Marie, 1878-1959. Papers, 1884-1994 (bulk: 1910-1959) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Harvard University Archives Photograph Collection: Portraits, ca. 1852-ca. 2004 Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Margaret Bayne Price Papers, 1918-1969, 1947-1968 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Papers, 1854, 1881-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Lee, Maurice du Pont, 1885-1974. Papers, 1900-1973 (bulk 1952-1972). Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Records, 1891-1955 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn James Martin Barnes Papers, circa 1918-1958, (bulk 1943-1945) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Carl Bert Albert Congressional papers, 1910-1998, bulk 1946-1998. University of Oklahoma, Bizzell Memorial Library
referencedIn William D. Ford Papers, 1955-1995, 1965-1995 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 664 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Consumers' League of Massachusetts. Records, 1891-1955 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Lawrence, William Howard, 1916-1972. Papers, 1936-1972. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Collier, John, 1884-1968. John Collier papers, 1910-1987 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn John Foster Dulles oral history collection, 1964-1967 Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special Collections.Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library. Public Policy Papers.
referencedIn James P. McGranery and Regina Clark McGranery, 1909-1975, (bulk 1943-1975) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Blair Moody Papers, 1928-1954, 1934-1952 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Papers of Gould Lincoln. 3/14/1957 - 12/15/1965. Papers of Gould Lincoln Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
Relation Name
associatedWith Albert, Carl Bert, 1908-2000. person
associatedWith Atkins, Oliver F., 1916-1977. person
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correspondedWith Barnes, James Martin, 1899-1958. person
correspondedWith Barnes, Robert. person
associatedWith Boggs, Lindy, 1916- person
associatedWith Boston College. Office of the President. corporateBody
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associatedWith Bowles, Chester, 1901-1986. person
correspondedWith Celler, Emanuel, 1888-1981 person
associatedWith Collier, John, 1884-1968. person
associatedWith Consumers' League of Massachusetts. corporateBody
associatedWith Crosser, Robert, 1874-1957. person
associatedWith Cushing, Richard, 1895-1970. person
correspondedWith Dodd, Thomas J. (Thomas Joseph), 1907-1971 person
associatedWith EDITH NOURSE ROGERS, 1881-1960 person
associatedWith Eliot, Martha M. (Martha May), b. 1891. person
associatedWith Emma (Guffey) Miller, 1874-1970 person
associatedWith Ford, William D. (William David), 1927- person
correspondedWith Harvard Law School Forum corporateBody
correspondedWith Hocking, William Ernest, 1873-1966 person
correspondedWith Homburger, Freddy. person
associatedWith Homburger, Freddy. person
associatedWith Howe, Mark De Wolfe, 1906-1967 person
associatedWith Indiana University Center for the Study of History and Memory corporateBody
correspondedWith Klumpp, Theodore G., 1903-1997. person
correspondedWith Kroll, Jack, 1885-1971. person
associatedWith Lawrence, William Howard, 1916-1972. person
associatedWith Lee, Maurice du Pont, 1885-1974. person
associatedWith Lesinski, John, 1914-2005 person
associatedWith Levis, Rosa Marie Finnochietti, 1878-1959. person
associatedWith MARTHA MAY ELIOT, 1891-1978 person
correspondedWith McGranery, James P. (James Patrick), 1895-1962. person
correspondedWith McGranery, Regina Clark, 1907-1975 person
correspondedWith McNamara, Francis J. (Francis Joseph), 1896-1979. person
associatedWith Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. person
associatedWith Moody, Blair, 1902-1954 person
associatedWith Morris, Toby. person
associatedWith Murray, Tom. person
associatedWith Oliver F. Atkins, 1916-1977 person
correspondedWith Parry, Tom person
correspondedWith Pilcher, John L. (John Leonard), 1898-1981. person
associatedWith Pray, George Washington, 1825-1890 person
associatedWith Price, Margaret Bayne, 1912-1968 person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
associatedWith Rogers, Edith Nourse, 1881-1960. person
associatedWith Rosa Marie Levis, 1878-1959 person
associatedWith Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Shattuck, Henry Lee, 1879-1971. person
associatedWith Skouras, Spyros P., 1893-1971. person
associatedWith Spellman, Francis, 1889-1967. person
associatedWith Spence, Brent, 1874-1967. person
associatedWith Stone, Dewey D., 1900-1977 person
associatedWith Tito, Josip Broz, 1892-1980. person
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associatedWith United States. Congress. House. corporateBody
associatedWith Vinson, Fred M., 1890-1953. person
associatedWith White, Eva Whiting, 1880-1974. person
associatedWith Wilson, George Howard, 1905-1985. person
associatedWith Wright, Paul M. person
associatedWith Wyzanski, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1906- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Boston MA US
Dedham MA US
Subject
Bishop
Legislators
Presidents
Occupation
Lawyers
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Speakers of the House, U.S. Congress
State Representative
Activity

Person

Birth 1891-12-21

Death 1980-11-22

Male

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6513x8m

SNAC ID: 21638036