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→U.S. House of Representatives
===U.S. House of Representatives===
===U.S. House of Representatives===
In 1867, Butler ran for U.S. House and easily defeated opponent James White in the general election by a landslide, polling 87% of the vote.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=627139 TN - District 01 Race - Aug 01, 1867]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref> He was re-elected three times, though was defeated in the 1874 midterms.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=233328 Candidate - Roderick R. Butler]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref> After rebounding in 1886, he did not run the following year. His final run for the seat was in 1890 as an Independent Republican against official party nominee Alfred A. Taylor, where he narrowly lost.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=625175 TN - District 01 Race - Nov 04, 1890]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref>
In 1867, Butler ran for U.S. House and easily defeated opponent James White in the general election by a landslide, polling 87% of the vote.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=627139 TN - District 01 Race - Aug 01, 1867]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref> He was re-elected three times, though was defeated in the 1874 midterms.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=233328 Candidate - Roderick R. Butler]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref> After rebounding in 1886, he did not run the following year. His final run for the seat was in 1890 as an Independent Republican against official party nominee Alfred A. Taylor, where he narrowly lost.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=625175 TN - District 01 Race - Nov 04, 1890]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 6, 2021.</ref>
During the 1867–69 congressional session (40th Congress), Butler's membership in the House was contested on the grounds that he was a member of the Tennessee legislature when the state was part of the Confederacy.<ref name=bio2/> However, Elections Committee chair Rep. Dawes stated:
{{cquote|There is presented evidence in the person of Mr. Butler a remarkable instance of a man of position in a community in which he resided, of influence among his fellow-men, of such mind and character and attainments among his fellow-citizens as to exert a widespread influence for good or for evil, who, at the outbreak of the rebellion never trembled in the balance between Union and disloyalty, but stepped out from associations and from influences calculated to draw him into a vortex of the rebellion and broke away from such influence, and facing the danger and peril of the hour, actuated by patriotism as pure, as disinterested, as self-sacrificing, and efficient as ever actuated any gentleman occupying a position where he could make his mark or his influence felt in the great struggle through which we have passed.|||Rep. Dawes, Chairman of House Committee on Elections}}
Butler was censured by the House in mid-March 1870 for selling an appointment to the [[United States Military Academy]].<ref>McFadden, Robert D. (November 29, 2010). [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/nyregion/30censure.html House Censure: Humbling to Some, but Not All]. ''The New York Times''. Archived version available [https://archive.md/aXI0g here]. Retrieved November 7, 2021.</ref> ''The New York Times'' had reported on July 30 that year:<ref>July 30, 1870. [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1870/07/31/83468664.pdf WASHINGTON.; Serious Charges Against a Congressman--The City Government Troubles--More Troops for North Carolina--The Alaska Seal Fisheries--Revenue Matters--Personal.]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved November 7, 2021.</ref>
Butler was censured by the House in mid-March 1870 for selling an appointment to the [[United States Military Academy]].<ref>McFadden, Robert D. (November 29, 2010). [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/30/nyregion/30censure.html House Censure: Humbling to Some, but Not All]. ''The New York Times''. Archived version available [https://archive.md/aXI0g here]. Retrieved November 7, 2021.</ref> ''The New York Times'' had reported on July 30 that year:<ref>July 30, 1870. [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1870/07/31/83468664.pdf WASHINGTON.; Serious Charges Against a Congressman--The City Government Troubles--More Troops for North Carolina--The Alaska Seal Fisheries--Revenue Matters--Personal.]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved November 7, 2021.</ref>