The Speaker of the House: The Romantic Story of John N. Garner

by George Rothwell Brown

Biography of John Nance Garner, who was FDR's first Vice-President, a major Texas politician.

162 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1932

Reviews

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in 1932, this biography covers the early political career of John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner, from his days as a junior representative from the state of Texas to just before his elevation to the vice presidency under Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Hailing from the Red River valley of Texas, Garner makes his way in life as an attorney but finds his career choice stalling in the small northern county. He's offered a job in Uvalde, Texas, some 500 miles away. In Uvalde, he meets and marries his wife, Mariette "Ettie" Rheiner. Ettie would go on to be Garner's stenographer and secretary throughout his political career. Enjoying a lucrative career as an attorney, Garner has his eyes set on a congressional position and later earns the title of Speaker of the House.

George Rothwell Brown uses congressional records to chronicle Garner's early political career. This early historical book doesn't offer any other resources so it's hard to determine where he gleaned his information from, but since it is written during Garner's congressional career, it's safe to say that his information comes from national news and personal sources.