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In 1961, Connally served as secretary of the navy under [[President]] [[John F. Kennedy]]. In 1962, he was elected governor of Texas but only narrowly won the Democratic nomination for the position. He then faced a stronger than usual Republican nominee, [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] industrial [[Jack Cox (Texas politician)|Jack M. Cox]]. In 1963, he sustained serious gunshot wounds while riding in President Kennedy's car during his assassination; however, he  recovered quickly. Connally was easily reelected as governor in 1964 in his race against Republican [[Jack Crichton]] and in 1966, when the little-known T. Everton Kennerly, a Houston attorney, ran as the GOP nominee against Connally. In the 1966 contest, Republican [[John Tower]] was elected to a second term.

In 1961, Connally served as secretary of the navy under [[President]] [[John F. Kennedy]]. In 1962, he was elected governor of Texas but only narrowly won the Democratic nomination for the position. He then faced a stronger than usual Republican nominee, [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] industrial [[Jack Cox (Texas politician)|Jack M. Cox]]. In 1963, he sustained serious gunshot wounds while riding in President Kennedy's car during his assassination; however, he  recovered quickly. Connally was easily reelected as governor in 1964 in his race against Republican [[Jack Crichton]] and in 1966, when the little-known T. Everton Kennerly, a Houston attorney, ran as the GOP nominee against Connally. In the 1966 contest, Republican [[John Tower]] was elected to a second term.

Although a Democrat, he called himself "a [[conservative]] who believed in active government." And in 1971, he became [[Richard Nixon]]'s [[Secretary of the Treasury]]. In 1972, he vacated the treasury secretary's position to organize the political action committee "Democrats for Nixon" to support President Nixon's reelection. Connally switched political parties from the Democrat to Republican in 1973. He briefly tested the presidential waters in 1980, but failed to win the Republican Party nomination (He garnered only one delegate, [[Ada Mills]] of [[Arkansas]], in part because of a "wheeler-dealer" image from the media. After the 1980 [[South Carolina]] [[primary]], he left politics and returned to private life.

Although a Democrat, he called himself "a [[conservative]] who believed in active government." And in 1971, he became [[Richard Nixon]]'s [[Secretary of the Treasury]]. In 1972, he vacated the treasury secretary's position to organize the political action committee "Democrats for Nixon" to support President Nixon's reelection. Connally switched political parties from the Democrat to Republican in 1973. He briefly tested the presidential waters in 1980, but failed to win the Republican Party nomination (He garnered only one delegate, [[Ada Mills]] of [[Arkansas]],) in part because of a "wheeler-dealer" image from the media. After the 1980 [[South Carolina]] [[primary]], he left politics and returned to private life.

The Connally Memorial Hospital in his native Floresville in Wilson County is named for the Connally family.

The Connally Memorial Hospital in his native Floresville in Wilson County is named for the Connally family.