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

<p>MCCORMACK, JOHN WILLIAM, a Representative from Massachusetts; born in Boston, Suffolk County, Mass., December 21, 1891; attended the public schools; studied law in a private law office; was admitted to the bar in 1913 and began practice in Boston, Mass.; member of the State constitutional convention in 1917 and 1918; during the First World War served in the United States Army in 1917 and 1918; served in the State house of representatives, 1920-1922; member of the State senate, 1923-1926, serving as Democratic floor leader in 1925 and 1926; delegate to all Democratic State conventions since 1920; delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1932, 1940, 1944, and 1948; elected as a Democrat to the Seventieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of James A. Gallivan and on the same day was elected to the Seventy-first Congress; reelected to the Seventy-second and to the nineteen succeeding Congresses and served from November 6, 1928, to January 3, 1971; chairman, Select Committee on Astronautics and Space Exploration (Eighty-fifth Congress); majority leader (Seventy-sixth through Seventy-ninth, Eighty-first, Eighty-second and Eighty-fourth through Eighty-seventh Congresses), minority whip (Eightieth and Eighty-third Congresses), Speaker of the House of Representatives (Eighty-seventh through Ninety-first Congresses); was not a candidate for renomination in 1970 to the Ninety-second Congress; resided in Boston, Mass., until his death in Dedham, Mass., November 22, 1980; interment in Saint Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury, Mass.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>