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'''Samuel Taliaferro “Sam” Rayburn''' (January 6, 1882 – November 16, 1961) was an [[United States|American]] [[politician]] who held the longest tenure in history, seventeen years, as the Speaker of the [[United States House of Representatives]]. A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] from northern [[Texas]], he was the 43rd House Speaker and represented the state's 4th congressional district from 1913 to 1961.  

'''Samuel Taliaferro “Sam” Rayburn''' (January 6, 1882 – November 16, 1961) was an [[United States|American]] [[politician]] who held the longest tenure in history, seventeen years, as the Speaker of the [[United States House of Representatives]]. A [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] from northern [[Texas]], he was the 43rd House Speaker and represented the state's 4th congressional district from 1913 to 1961.  

A native of Roane County, [[Tennessee]], Rayburn mowed with his family to Texas in 1887 at the age of five. He briefly taught school until he was elected from District 34 in the Texas House of Representatives. He obtained his legal credentials through the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]]. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 1912, when [[Woodrow Wilson]] defeated [[Theodore Roosevelt]] and [[William Howard Taft]] for the presidency. He continually won reelection through 1960 and died in office a year thereafter. An associate of [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[John Nance Garner]], Rayburn was a mentor to later [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], who served with Rayburn in the House from 1937 to 1949.

A native of Roane County, [[Tennessee]], Rayburn mowed with his family to Texas in 1887 at the age of five. He briefly taught school until he was elected from District 34 in the Texas House of Representatives. He obtained his legal credentials through the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]]. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 1912, when [[Woodrow Wilson]] defeated [[Theodore Roosevelt]] and [[William Howard Taft]] for the presidency. He continually won reelection through 1960 and died in office a year thereafter. An associate of [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[John Nance Garner]], Rayburn was a mentor to later [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], who served with Rayburn in the House from 1937 to 1949.

Rayburn became House Majority Leader in 1937 and was elevated to the position of Speaker of the House after the death of [[William B. Bankhead]] of [[Alabama]]. He led the House Democrats from 1940 to 1961, and served as Speaker of the House from 1940 to 1947, 1949 to 1953, and 1955 to 1961. He was the Minority Leader from 1947 to 1949 and from 1953 to 1955, when the [[Republican Party|Republicans]] under [[Joseph William Martin, Jr.]], of [[Massachusetts]], held majorities in two nonconsecutive terms of Congress.

Rayburn became House Majority Leader in 1937 and was elevated to the position of Speaker of the House after the death of [[William B. Bankhead]] of [[Alabama]]. He led the House Democrats from 1940 to 1961, and served as Speaker of the House from 1940 to 1947, 1949 to 1953, and 1955 to 1961. He was the Minority Leader from 1947 to 1949 and from 1953 to 1955, when the [[Republican Party|Republicans]] under [[Joseph William Martin, Jr.]], of [[Massachusetts]], held majorities in two nonconsecutive terms of Congress.

During the 1950s, Rayburn refused to sign the [[Southern Manifesto]] against school desegregation.<ref>[https://www.congress.gov/84/crecb/1956/03/12/GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf]. ''Congressional Record''. Retrieved April 17, 2021.</ref> He permitted committee chairmen to wield much of the authority in the House. He pushed for completion of the since abandoned U.S. Route 66 from [[Chicago]] to Santa Monica, [[California]], which he called uniting the Frost Belt with the [[Sun Belt]]. He often said that politics should stop at "the water's edge," meaning partisan wrangling should not extend to matters of foreign policy.

During the 1950s, Rayburn refused to sign the [[Southern Manifesto]] against school desegregation.<ref>[https://www.congress.gov/84/crecb/1956/03/12/GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf]. ''Congressional Record''. Retrieved April 17, 2021.</ref> He permitted committee chairmen to wield much of the authority in the House. He pushed for completion of the since abandoned U.S. Route 66 from [[Chicago]] to Santa Monica, [[California]], which he called uniting the Frost Belt with the [[Sun Belt]]. He often said that politics should stop at "the water's edge," meaning partisan wrangling should not extend to matters of foreign policy.

His home outside of [[Bonham, Texas]] is a state historic site. He has been honored in many ways: one of the Congressional office buildings is named for him, along with a high school near Houston, Lake Sam Rayburn (the largest lake wholly within the state boundaries), and a school district.

His home outside of [[Bonham, Texas]] is a state historic site. He has been honored in many ways: one of the Congressional office buildings is named for him, along with a high school near Houston, Lake Sam Rayburn (the largest lake wholly within the state boundaries), and a school district.

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