Byrns, Joseph Wellington, 1869-1936

<p>Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Joseph W. Byrns was an important political leader in early twentieth-century Tennessee, serving in the Tennessee General Assembly and then fourteen terms in the U.S. Congress. Born at Cedar Hill in 1869, Byrns attended Vanderbilt University, graduating with a law degree in 1890. His legal practice began in Nashville, and by 1895 he had been elected to the Tennessee House as a Davidson County representative. A staunch, loyal Democrat, Byrns enjoyed rapid political success and during his third term, fellow Democrats chose him as Speaker of the House. In 1901 he won election to the state Senate, but failure came in 1902 when the voters rejected Byrns's bid to become district attorney general for Davidson County. Byrns rebounded in 1908 and won the Democratic nomination for the Fifth District seat in the U.S. Congress. From that point on, Byrns never faced serious political opposition and won every congressional election in his district until his death in 1936.</p>

<p>As Byrns gained seniority in the U.S. Congress and his party's political fortunes improved during the Great Depression years, he exercised significant influence in the nation's capital. In 1928 he was chosen as chairman of the Democratic National Congressional Committee; two years later, once the Democrats gained control of the House, he became the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, one of the most powerful positions in Washington. In 1933 he advanced to the position of majority leader, a key political role once newly elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced his New Deal in March 1933. Although a conservative, Byrns embraced the New Deal out of party loyalty. He introduced the bill creating the Civilian Conservation Corps and successfully maneuvered other major New Deal initiatives through Congress.</p>

<p>In 1935, due to his seniority, debts owed from his leadership of the Democratic National Congressional Committee, and his loyalty to the New Deal, Byrns was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was an effective Speaker, which surprised some of his detractors. The Republican minority leader, however, noted that it was Byrns's “intense loyalty to the chief executive and his adroit and skillful leadership that piloted administrative measures through the shoals and over the rocks of legislative processes.” Byrns's career as Speaker, unfortunately, was cut short by his sudden death from a heart attack on June 3, 1936. “Fearless, incorruptible, unselfish, with a high sense of justice, wise in victory,” observed President Roosevelt, Byrns “served his state and the nation with fidelity, honor and great usefulness.” No Tennessean since has served as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.</p>

<p>Joseph Wellington "Jo" Byrns Sr. (July 20, 1869 – June 4, 1936) was a U.S. politician. He served as a 14-term Democratic Congressman from Tennessee, and as the 41st Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.</p>

<p>Byrns was born in Cedar Hill, Robertson County, Tennessee, son of James Henry Byrns and Mary Emily Jackson. He was named for a maternal uncle, Joseph William Green Jackson, who died in the American Civil War. His great-grandfather, James Byrns, Esq., figures in the legend of The Bell Witch, and is mentioned in the Authenticated History of The Bell Witch by Martin Van Buren Ingram. A graduate of public schools, he displayed a strong early interest in politics and was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1894 and reelected in 1896 and 1898. In 1900 he was elected to the Tennessee State Senate.</p>

<p>In 1902, he ran for district attorney of Davidson County, Tennessee, but was defeated — his only unsuccessful political race in 18 efforts. In 1908, Byrns received the Democratic nomination for U.S. Representative and was elected in November of that year to a term beginning March 4, 1909. He served in the House for the rest of his life.</p>

<p>Byrns was widely respected and his influence grew as his seniority did. He was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 1928 to 1935. In 1931 he was appointed chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and in 1933 became House Majority Leader. In 1935 he became Speaker of the House.</p>

<p>Byrns was Speaker when he died in Washington, D.C., and had been planning to run for reelection. His funeral, attended by President Roosevelt and other dignitaries, was held in the United States Capitol. He was interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.</p>

<p>BYRNS, JOSEPH WELLINGTON, (father of Joseph Wellington Byrns, Jr.), a Representative from Tennessee; born near Cedar Hill, Robertson County, Tenn., July 20, 1869; attended the common schools; was graduated from Nashville High School in 1887 and from the law department of Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., in 1890; was admitted to the bar in 1890 and commenced the practice of law in Nashville; member of the State house of representatives, 1895-1901; member of the State senate in 1901-1903; unsuccessful candidate for district attorney general of Davidson County in 1902; elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-first and to the thirteen succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1909, until his death; chairman, Committee on Appropriations (Seventy-second Congress); majority leader (Seventy-third Congress), Speaker of the House of Representatives (Seventy-fourth Congress); chairman of the Democratic National Congressional Campaign Committee 1928-1930; was a nominee for reelection to the Seventy-fifth Congress at the time of his death; died in Washington, D.C., on June 4, 1936; funeral services were held in the Hall of the House of Representatives; interment in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Tenn.</p>