Henry T. Rainey
Encyclopedia
Henry Thomas Rainey was a prominent U.S.
politician during the first third of the 20th century. He served in the United States House of Representatives
from 1903 to 1921 and from 1923 to his death as a Democrat from Illinois
, and was its Speaker
during the famous Hundred days of Franklin D. Roosevelt
in 1933, and the last Speaker of the House born before the Civil War
.
in 1883 and then the Union College of Law, in Chicago which he graduated in 1885. He was admitted to the bar in 1885 and commenced practice in Carrollton, Ill.
in 1920. Two years later, he won back his seat and served until his death.
, the Republican party lost its majority in a landslide, and, with John Nance Garner
elevated to the Speakership, Rainey ran for, and defeated John McDuffie
for the Majority leadership. McDuffie remained as Whip.
called a special session of Congress two days later. Rainey gave the Roosevelt administration carte blanche to do whatever it wanted, allowing almost the entire New Deal
to be passed with little or no changes.
More reforms were passed during the regular session starting December. Rainey died of a heart attack the following summer, before the new Congress could meet.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician during the first third of the 20th century. He served in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1903 to 1921 and from 1923 to his death as a Democrat from Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and was its Speaker
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
during the famous Hundred days of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
in 1933, and the last Speaker of the House born before the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early years
Rainey attended the public schools and Knox Academy and Knox College, Galesburg, Ill. he transferred to, and graduated from Amherst CollegeAmherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in 1883 and then the Union College of Law, in Chicago which he graduated in 1885. He was admitted to the bar in 1885 and commenced practice in Carrollton, Ill.
Political career
Rainey was appointed master in chancery for Greene County, Ill., from 1887 until 1895, when he resigned, and returned to private practice. He then decided to return to politics in 1902 getting elected to Congress and serving for nine terms before losing to Guy L. ShawGuy L. Shaw
Guy Loren Shaw was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born on a farm near Summer Hill, Illinois, Shaw attended the public schools and the College of Agriculture of the University of Illinois at Urbana....
in 1920. Two years later, he won back his seat and served until his death.
Leadership
Due to the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, the Republican party lost its majority in a landslide, and, with John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner, IV , was the 32nd Vice President of the United States and the 44th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives .- Early life and family :...
elevated to the Speakership, Rainey ran for, and defeated John McDuffie
John McDuffie
John McDuffie was born in River Ridge, Alabama in Monroe County on September 25, 1883. He was educated by private tutors. He attended college at Southern University in Greensboro. He later attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute in Auburn, Alabama, where he in graduated in 1904...
for the Majority leadership. McDuffie remained as Whip.
Speaker of the House
With Speaker Garner having been inaugurated Vice President on March 4, 1933, Rainey, being next in line, was elected Speaker of the House when President RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
called a special session of Congress two days later. Rainey gave the Roosevelt administration carte blanche to do whatever it wanted, allowing almost the entire New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
to be passed with little or no changes.
More reforms were passed during the regular session starting December. Rainey died of a heart attack the following summer, before the new Congress could meet.