The Strong Man of North Carolina F.M. Simmons By Ray Hill It would surprise me greatly if one reader out of a thousand knew the name of Furnifold McLendel Simmons.  Long ago consigned to the pages of history, there was a time when F. M. Simmons was the most potent...

Maine’s ‘Mr. Democrat’ Louis Jefferson Brann By Ray Hill Years ago, Maine was one of the most reliably Republican states in the nation. While Democrats there weren’t quite as rare as Republicans were in the South at the time, they were used to losing elections. Even...

Judge Mansfield of Texas By Ray Hill Joseph Jefferson Mansfield was originally christened “Beauregard” but as his father, born in 1807, died fighting for the Confederacy the younger Mansfield’s name was changed to honor his late father.  A slight man with a full head...

Battle of The Titans: Carmack versus Taylor By Ray Hill Politically speaking, Tennessee has never lacked for talent or ability.  To get to the United States Senate, Kenneth D. McKellar had to defeat two of Tennessee’s most recognizable Democrats, as well as the best...

Machine Man: Barratt O’Hara of Illinois By Ray Hill There have been numerous political machines throughout the country; some infamous still to this day. Most of those political machines were to be found in big cities. Tennessee had two active political machines, both...

Mr. Revercomb of West Virginia By Ray Hill Stephen Jones of Oklahoma was a personal friend and the biographer of Senator Chapman Revercomb of West Virginia. As Mr. Jones wrote, Revercomb, especially in his second term, looked as if he were made to wear the senatorial...

Appointing a Senator: John D. Hoblitzell Jr. of West Virginia By Ray Hill The process for replacing congressmen and U.S. senators is quite different.  When a congressman resigns or dies in office, that vacancy must be filled by calling a special election.  When a...

John Sparkman of Alabama By Ray Hill For forty-two years, John Sparkman served the people of Alabama in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the United States Senate.  An enthusiastic advocate for the Tennessee Valley Authority, Sparkman was considered a...

Re-electing the Senator: The Final Campaign of William B. Bate By Ray Hill By 1903, only two men had ever been elected to a fourth term in the United States Senate from the State of Tennessee: Isham G. Harris and William B. Bate. The two men had several things in...

Life With Wild Bill By Ray Hill George Graham Vest, an outstanding attorney and U. S. senator from Missouri, is still remembered to this day for his tribute to dogs.  Vest had been hired by Charles Burden whose dog, Old Drum, had been killed by his brother-in-law,...