107-423: [REDACTED] James Richard Perry (born March 4, 1950) is an American politician who served as the 14th United States secretary of energy from 2017 to 2019 in the first administration of Donald Trump . He previously served as the 47th governor of Texas from 2000 to 2015 and ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in the 2012 and 2016 elections. Born into
214-476: A Republican , and was elected Agriculture Commissioner of Texas the following year. In 1998, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas , becoming the state's first Republican Lieutenant Governor since Reconstruction . Perry assumed the governorship of Texas in December 2000, after Governor George W. Bush resigned following his election as President . Perry was re-elected Governor three times, becoming
321-477: A "transformation" and now opposed abortions, even in cases of rape and incest. The next day he clarified that he would allow an exception for abortions that would save a mother's life. In February 2007, Perry issued an executive order mandating that Texas girls receive the HPV vaccine , which protects against some strains of the human papilloma virus , a contributing factor to some forms of cervical cancer . Following
428-508: A Confederate widows home and a tuberculosis sanitarium. Many decades later Rayburn rated his service as Texas House Speaker as the most enjoyable period in his long political career. He said, "that job had real power—that's what a man wants—but power's no good unless you have the guts to use it." Due to a series of lucky events for Rayburn, the House district of his home county of Fannin County,
535-694: A Day of Prayer and Fasting , inviting other governors to join him in a prayer meeting hosted by the American Family Association in Houston. The event was criticized as going beyond prayer and fasting to include launching Perry's presidential campaign. Perry has called himself "a firm believer in intelligent design as a matter of faith and intellect" and has expressed support for its teaching alongside evolution in Texas schools but has also said that "educators and local school officials, not
642-580: A backward glance." In shaping legislation, Rayburn preferred working quietly in the background to being in the public spotlight. As Speaker, he won a reputation for fairness and integrity. In his years in Congress, Rayburn always insisted on paying his own expenses, even going so far as to pay for his own travel expenses when inspecting the Panama Canal when his committee was considering legislation concerning it, rather than exercising his right to have
749-798: A barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build one" is attributed to Rayburn. His home in Texas, now known as the Sam Rayburn House Museum , was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark . In 1957, Rayburn dedicated the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum in Bonham in the style of a presidential library to preserve his memory, library collection, honors, and mementos. Rayburn married once, to Metze Jones (1901–1982), sister of Texas Congressman and Rayburn friend Marvin Jones . He had corresponded with her for nine years, and at
856-409: A bipartisan education plan, which was subsequently adopted. In 2001, Perry expressed his pride in the enactment of the statute extending in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants who meet Texas' residency requirements. It also required the undocumented students to pledge to apply for permanent residency or citizenship if this became a possibility for them. In September 2014, Gov. Perry stated during
963-463: A bruising Democratic primary where he won by only 490 votes. He won the general election afterwards and became a Representative. He entered Congress in 1913 at the beginning of Woodrow Wilson 's presidency and served in office for almost 49 years (more than 24 terms), until the beginning of John F. Kennedy 's presidency. Rayburn was a protégé of then-Representative John Nance Garner . Despite Rayburn's freshman status, in 1913, Garner helped him become
1070-478: A debate his continuous support for the program. Perry is a firm opponent of LGBT rights and as both Governor of Texas and Secretary of Energy became controversial for his homophobic comments and anti-LGBT positions. In 2002, Perry described the Texas same-sex anti-sodomy law as "appropriate". The following year, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the statute in Lawrence v. Texas , determining that it violated
1177-687: A family of cotton farmers in Haskell, Texas , Perry graduated from Texas A&M University in 1972 and entered into the United States Air Force , serving a five-year stint and achieving the rank of captain . After leaving the Air Force in 1977, Perry returned to Texas and entered politics, serving as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1985 to 1991. Initially a Democrat , Perry switched parties in 1989 and became
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#17327724286501284-473: A frank discussion of politics. Rayburn alone determined who received an invitation to these gatherings; to be invited to even one was a high honor. On April 12, 1945, Vice President Harry Truman , a regular attendee since his Senate days, had just arrived at the "Board of Education" when he received a phone call telling him to immediately come to the White House , where he learned that Franklin D. Roosevelt
1391-522: A lot of legal cases [...] My position on traditional marriage is clear [...] I don't need a federal law case to explain it to me." Perry supported Texas Proposition 2 in 2005 , a ballot proposition that amended the Texas constitution by defining marriage as "only a union between a man and a woman" and prohibiting the state from creating or recognizing "any legal status identical or similar to marriage" (such as civil unions ). United States Secretary of Energy The United States secretary of energy
1498-534: A member of the powerful House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee , which handled legislation pertaining to commerce, bridges, coal, oil, communication, motion pictures, securities exchanges, holding companies and the Coast Guard . Rayburn learned how to make deals and how to deal with adversity during his first two decades in the House. While he was a young representative he introduced and helped pass numerous anti-trust and railroad-related legislation such as
1605-593: A military regime, I would have not lasted at Texas Tech or the University of Texas . I would have hit the fraternity scene and lasted about one semester." In the early 1970s, Perry interned during several summers with Southwestern Advantage , as a door-to-door book salesman. "I count my time working for Dortch Oldham [then president of the Southwestern family of companies ] as one of the most important formative experiences of my life", Perry said in 2010. "There
1712-557: A narrow but significant victory. Himself a protégé of Vice President of the United States John Nance Garner , Rayburn was a close friend and mentor of Lyndon B. Johnson and knew Johnson's father, Sam , from their days in the Texas Legislature. Rayburn was instrumental to Lyndon Johnson's ascent to power, particularly his rapid rise to the position of Minority Leader . Johnson had been in
1819-683: A non-denominational evangelical megachurch in western Travis County. Perry told the Austin American-Statesman that he began attending Lake Hills because it was close to the rental home where he and his wife lived while the Governor's Mansion was being renovated. In 2006, Perry said he believed in the inerrancy of the Bible and that those who do not accept Jesus as their Savior will go to hell. A couple of days later, he clarified, "I don't know that there's any human being that has
1926-501: A notable falling out with his previous top political strategist Karl Rove, which began the much-reported rivalry between the Bush and Perry camps. Perry polled 1,858,837 votes (50.04 percent) to the 1,790,106 (48.19 percent) cast for Democrat John Sharp . Perry became the state's first Republican lieutenant governor since Reconstruction , taking office on January 19, 1999. Perry assumed the office of governor on December 21, 2000, following
2033-470: A period as a school teacher, Rayburn won election to the Texas House of Representatives and graduated from the University of Texas School of Law . He won election to the United States House of Representatives in 1912 and continuously won re-election until his death in 1961, serving a total of 25 terms. Rayburn was a protégé of John Nance Garner and a mentor to Lyndon B. Johnson . Rayburn
2140-508: A serious contender for the nomination. However, his support declined following debates and early primaries, and he withdrew from the race in January 2012. Perry declined to seek re-election to a fourth term as Governor and left office in 2015, launching a second presidential campaign shortly thereafter. Perry's second presidential campaign failed to garner substantial polling support, fundraising or media attention, leading him to withdraw from
2247-500: A staunch liberal Democrat who endorsed Perry's reelection bid in 2006. Perry was part of the "Pit Bulls", a group of Appropriations members who sat on the lower dais in the committee room ("the pit") who pushed for austere state budgets during the 1980s. At one point, The Dallas Morning News named him one of the ten most effective members of the legislature. In 1987, Perry voted for a $ 5.7 billion tax increase proposed by Republican Governor Bill Clements . Perry supported Al Gore in
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#17327724286502354-473: A strict personal rule to never accept gifts more than $ 25 to avoid being bribed. The congressmembers circumvented this rule by combining their single $ 25 checks together to pay for the car. Rayburn returned all 50 Republican representatives' checks (to avoid a conflict of interest) but graciously thanked them for their gesture. In 1947–1948, Rayburn as Minority Leader helped pass the Marshall Plan and
2461-559: A wealthy oil man had a very expensive horse delivered to Rayburn's farm in Bonham. No one apparently knew the oil man delivered the horse except him, Rayburn, and a Rayburn staffer. Rayburn returned the horse. H.G. Dulaney, an aide to Rayburn and later the director of the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum, said that after speaking in Texas on one occasion Rayburn learned his driver had been given an envelope with money inside from
2568-473: Is nothing that tests your commitment to a goal like getting a few doors closed in your face." He said that "Mr. Oldham taught legions of young people to communicate quickly, clearly and with passion, a lesson that has served me well in my life since then." Upon graduation from college in 1972, Perry was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force and completed pilot training in February 1974. He
2675-799: Is the head of the United States Department of Energy , a member of the Cabinet of the United States , and fifteenth in the presidential line of succession . The position was created on October 1, 1977, when President Jimmy Carter signed the Department of Energy Organization Act, establishing the department. The energy secretary and the department originally focused on energy production and regulation . The emphasis soon shifted to developing technology for better and more efficient energy sources, as well as energy education. After
2782-748: The Associated Press reported the existence of a letter Rayburn wrote to Metze after her father died in June 1926. In 2016, the Plano Star Courier published a story about an article in the October 2016 issue of Southwestern Historical Quarterly (a scholarly journal published by the Texas State Historical Association) profiling Sam Rayburn's "lady friend" who was a woman named Margaret Fallon (Peggy) Palmer,
2889-631: The Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960 , the first civil rights bills passed by the U.S. Congress since the Enforcement Acts and the Civil Rights Act of 1875 during Reconstruction (1865–1877). Rayburn was also influential in the construction of U.S. Route 66 . He served as Speaker until his death in 1961, and was succeeded by John W. McCormack . He is the most recent Speaker of the House to die in office. Rayburn
2996-695: The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 , the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 and the Esch–Cummins Transportation Act (The Railway Stock and Bond Bill that was originally introduced in 1914 was the first ever major legislation that was crafted and proposed by Rayburn. In 1920 it finally became law in the Esch-Cummins Act). As a signal of things to come for Rayburn, after only eight years in
3103-669: The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. In his 2010 book, Perry referenced the Lawrence decision, writing "Texans have a different view of the world than do the nine oligarchs in robes." In 2011, Perry admitted that he did not know about the Lawrence decision; when told that the Supreme Court case had struck down Texas's anti-sodomy law, Perry said: "I'm not taking the bar exam [...]I don't know what
3210-884: The Interstate Highway System , the National Aeronautics and Space Act that established NASA , the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 that established the FAA , the National Defense Education Act , the Colorado River Storage Project Act , the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 , which were the first civil rights acts passed since Reconstruction . In 1958–1959, Rayburn helped admit Alaska and Hawaii into
3317-580: The Santa Fe Railroad Company , receiving pay monthly. When the first check came after I entered the firm, Mr. Thurmond brought to my desk one-third of the amount of the check, explaining what it was for. I said to him that I was a member of the Legislature, representing the people of Fannin County, and that my experience had taught me that men who represent the people should be as far removed as possible from concerns whose interests he
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3424-588: The Texas Enterprise Fund , which has since given $ 435 million in grants to businesses. The New York Times reported that many of the companies receiving grants, or their chief executives, have made contributions to Perry's campaigns or to the Republican Governors Association. (Perry became chairman of the group in 2008 and again in 2011.) Perry was criticized for supporting corporate tax breaks and other incentives, while
3531-752: The Texas Revolution . His father, a Democrat , was a long-time Haskell County commissioner and school board member. Perry has said that his interest in politics probably began in November 1961, when his father took him to the funeral of U.S. Representative Sam Rayburn . Perry was in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and earned the rank of Eagle Scout . The BSA has honored Perry with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award . Perry attended Texas A&M University where he
3638-686: The Texas State Department of Health , and created the Texas Department of Agriculture . Due to his power of persuasion when he was a very young legislator for four years on January 10, 1911, at 29 years of age, Rayburn became the youngest Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives in history. He defeated Clarence E. Gilmore 70 to 63 in the speaker election. Texas speakers from the beginning of statehood until Rayburn's tenure were mostly ceremonial and powerless, similar to
3745-711: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . He also helped pass laws that established the Soil Conservation Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps . These two agencies were primarily engaged in water and soil erosion control due to the negative effects of farming in America that led to catastrophes like the Dust Bowl . On September 16, 1940, at the age of 58, and while serving as House Majority Leader , Rayburn became Speaker of
3852-489: The fourth district , was open for him to run. Senator Joseph Weldon Bailey was rocked by allegations of corruption and bribery involving oil companies so he announced his resignation effective January 1913. The longtime incumbent representative of the fourth district, Choice B. Randell , ran for Bailey's open senate seat in the July 1912 primary election and lost. Rayburn won election to the House of Representatives in 1912 after
3959-518: The president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate . Under Texas state law the office actually had immense powers but the previous speakers never exercised them due to deference to party bosses. Upon election as Speaker, Rayburn requested the appointment of a special committee to determine "the duties and rights of the speaker". This became the first ever codification of the speaker's power. He helped pass numerous legislation as Speaker such as shorter working hours for women, child labor laws, and appropriations for
4066-447: The 1988 Democratic presidential primaries and worked for Gore's campaign in Texas. On September 29, 1989, Perry announced that he was switching parties, becoming a Republican. On a guest appearance on Fox show Hannity , he partially credits Reagan as part of the reason he became a Republican, also stating he switched political parties sooner in his life than Reagan. In 1990, as a newly minted Republican, Perry challenged Jim Hightower ,
4173-504: The Air Force in 1977 at the rank of captain , returned to Texas, and went into farming cotton with his father. In 1984, Perry was elected to the Texas House of Representatives as a Democrat from district 64, which included his home county of Haskell . He served on the House Appropriations and Calendars committees during his three two-year terms in office. He befriended fellow freshman state representative Lena Guerrero ,
4280-746: The Fair Deal legislation from being passed. During his second tenure as Speaker he focused mostly on passing anti-Soviet legislation and getting House support for Truman and the military in the Korean War . By 1952 the Korean War bogged down and Truman's popularity crashed. He chose not to run for re-election as a result and the Republicans won the House, Senate, and presidency. Rayburn's second time as Minority Leader coincided with President Eisenhower's first two years of his presidency. McCarthyism
4387-414: The House upon the sudden death of Speaker William Bankhead . Rayburn's ascension to the speakership was surprisingly rapid; that including Bankhead, the three Speakers prior to Rayburn died in office within six years. ( Henry Thomas Rainey died in 1934 and Jo Byrns in 1936.) Rayburn's first major crisis after assuming the speakership was World War II . In the decade prior to the war, the United States
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4494-558: The House Democratic Leader for the rest of his life. To show how much they appreciated Rayburn's decision to stay in office as House Democratic Leader, 142 House Democrats and 50 House Republicans surprised Rayburn with a special gift, a 1947 Cadillac. The House Speaker was provided a government-funded vehicle and the representatives felt bad that now Minority Leader Rayburn would have no car in Washington. Rayburn had
4601-1025: The House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee. Due to his position and influence on this committee he helped pass landmark New Deal bills such as the Truth in Securities Act , the bills that established the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Communications Commission , the Public Utilities Holding Company Act , the Emergency Railroad Transportation Act, and the Rural Electrification Act . Rayburn
4708-529: The House he was elected to be House Democratic Caucus Chairman . He served as chairman from 1921 to 1923. At only age 39 when he was elected chairman he was the youngest person ever elected to that position. During the 1920s, Rayburn kept a low profile due to the Republican dominance of Congress and the Presidency under Presidents Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover. Rayburn's biggest contribution in this decade
4815-572: The House, Senate, and Truman's re-election he became Speaker again and supported a repeal of the Texas poll tax. He said that a repeal of the poll tax in Texas would aid the United States in its battle with the Soviet Union for the world's hearts and minds. From 1949 to 1953, Rayburn was Speaker again. He supported Truman's Fair Deal but the Conservative Coalition of conservative Republicans and conservative Democrats blocked
4922-508: The House. Rayburn felt that because he lost in such an overwhelming manner he should step down as House Democratic Leader and not be the Minority Leader in the upcoming congress (this would have likely ended in an early retirement for him before the end of the 1940s). He endorsed the northern Democrat John W. McCormack for Minority Leader, but there was a "draft Rayburn" movement initiated by President Truman, McCormack himself, and all
5029-672: The President's own cabinet and even vice presidents as well as all members of Congress except a handful not knowing about the atomic bomb. Only Rayburn, the Senate Majority Leader, and five other congressmen were aware of this operation. Rayburn had to hide the Manhattan Project through fake names and other deceptive means in appropriation bills until the bombs were used in 1945. During the 1944 presidential campaign , President Roosevelt offered Speaker Rayburn
5136-694: The Rural Electrification Act helped to bring electricity to 90% of rural America by 1959, compared to only 3% in the early 1930s. In 1943–44, Rayburn helped to establish in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Louisiana the Southwestern Power Administration , which became a "mini- Tennessee Valley Authority " in the region. The main difference from the TVA was the SWPA only involved federal dams constructed by
5243-447: The Senate for a mere four years when he assumed the role. Johnson also owed his subsequent elevation to Majority Leader to Rayburn. Like Johnson, Rayburn did not sign the Southern Manifesto . As Speaker of the House, Rayburn forged close friendships and partnerships with legislatures of emerging independent countries and democracies on the continent of Africa , especially Nigeria , a rising political power on that continent. Rayburn
5350-515: The Sun Belt". Rayburn also had a knack for dressing to suit his occasion. While in Washington, D.C. , he would sport expensive suits, starched shirts, and perfectly shined shoes. However, while back in his poorer district in Texas, Rayburn would wear simple shirts, blue jeans, cowboy boots, and cowboy hats. Several politicians have imitated this pattern, including Ronald Reagan 's example of clearing brush when at home in California, while wearing fine suits in Washington. The phrase "A jackass can kick
5457-472: The United States as the 49th and 50th states. Rayburn heavily fought for Alaska after realizing that then-Democratic Alaska would counter then-Republican Hawaii in the Senate and Electoral College . In 1961, Rayburn wanted to pass more civil rights legislation along with President Kennedy but the powerful House Rules Committee was dominated by a conservative coalition of Democrats and Republicans who rejected any socially liberal legislation. Rayburn sought to end
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#17327724286505564-519: The ability to interpret what God and his final decision-making is going to be." In his 2008 book On My Honor , Perry expressed his views on the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the U.S. Constitution. "Let's be clear: I don't believe government, which taxes people regardless of their faith, should espouse a specific faith. I also don't think we should allow a small minority of atheists to sanitize our civil dialogue of religious references." In June 2011, Perry proclaimed August 6 as
5671-413: The administration of George W. Bush . Steven Chu became the first Asian American to hold the position on January 20, 2009, serving under president Barack Obama . Chu was also the longest-serving secretary of energy and the first individual to join the Cabinet after having received a Nobel Prize . President Joe Biden 's nominee to be Secretary of Energy, former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm ,
5778-420: The age of 24, Rayburn won by a narrow 163 vote margin an election to the 34th district of the Texas House of Representatives . While serving in the legislature, he studied at the University of Texas School of Law , and he was admitted to the bar in 1908. As a representative, Rayburn helped pass laws that made textbooks more widely available to Texas schoolchildren, established the State Board of Health alongside
5885-415: The age of 79 and was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal . His funeral in Bonham, Texas was a large spectacle attended by numerous VIPs, most notably President John F. Kennedy, former presidents Harry S. Truman and Dwight Eisenhower, and vice president (and future president) Lyndon B. Johnson. Hundreds of members of Congress and numerous other dignitaries attended the funeral. President Kennedy
5992-445: The aid package that supported the Truman Doctrine that supported non-communist European countries and helped to stop the spread of communism. He also had to deal with the southern Democrats' ( Dixiecrats ') reaction to President Truman's call for very swift civil rights legislation. The committees were dominated by very powerful southern Democrats who were pro-segregation so these civil rights bills were dead on arrival. Rayburn had to be
6099-403: The background and successfully used his power of persuasion and charisma to get his bills passed due to having to navigate the post- Joseph Cannon era when each individual committee chairman had immense power in the House. Along with Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson and most of the Texan Representatives, Rayburn refused to sign the 1956 Southern Manifesto and helped shepherd the passage of
6206-613: The economic success Texas achieved under his governorship. The efficacy of Perry's economic policies has been questioned by some sources. A proclaimed proponent of fiscal conservatism, Perry often campaigned on job growth and tax issues, such as his opposition to creating a state income tax . In 2002, Perry refused to promise not to raise taxes as governor, and in the following years did propose or approve various tax and debt increases. In 2009, Perry signed Grover Norquist 's pledge to "oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes". Texas began borrowing money in 2003 to pay for roads and
6313-438: The effort to reform the nation's healthcare, describing it as "most commendable". The healthcare plan, first revealed in September, was ultimately unsuccessful due to Republican congressional opposition. In 2005, after being questioned on the issue by a potential opponent in the Republican governor primary, Perry said he expressed his support only in order to get Clinton to pay more attention to rural healthcare. In 1994, Perry
6420-426: The end of the Cold War , the department's attention also turned toward radioactive waste disposal and the maintenance of environmental quality . Former secretary of defense James Schlesinger served as the first secretary of energy. As a Republican nominated to the post by Democratic president Jimmy Carter, Schlesinger's appointment marks the only time a president has chosen a member of another political party for
6527-421: The end of the year. He left office on December 1, 2019. A fifth-generation Texan, Perry was born on March 4, 1950, in Haskell, Texas , and raised in Paint Creek, Texas , the son of dryland cotton farmers Joseph Ray Perry and Amelia June Holt Perry. He has one older sister. Perry's ancestry is almost entirely English, dating as far back as the original Thirteen Colonies . His family has been in Texas since before
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#17327724286506634-417: The farm. Toiling in the fields made Rayburn determined to get a good education and help the poor and downtrodden. Rayburn went to co-educational East Texas Normal College (now East Texas A&M University ) in Commerce, Texas , in 1900 with $ 25 (around $ 750 in 2020) that his father saved up to help take care of his first few months of college expenses. To help cover tuition and room and board, Rayburn rang
6741-459: The government pay for it. After he died his estate was valued at just under $ 300,000, which was mostly land he owned, and the amount of cash he had in various checking accounts was just over $ 26,000. Rayburn was well known among his colleagues for his after business hours "Board of Education" meetings in hideaway offices in the House. During these off-the-record sessions, the speaker and powerful committee chairmen would gather for poker, bourbon, and
6848-478: The government to prepare for possible war. The isolationists in the House wanted to not get involved in the war though and wanted to let the peacetime draft expire after 12 months in 1941. After Rayburn talked to all representatives who were anti-draft and tried to persuade them to change their minds, the bill was passed by a vote of 203–202, a one-vote margin. If this bill had been defeated, the U.S. Army stood to lose about two-thirds of its strength and three-fourths of
6955-428: The governor, should determine science curriculum". In 2005, Perry said he would not "approve an education budget that shortchanges teacher salary increases, textbooks, education technology, and education reforms. And I cannot let $ 2 billion sit in some bank account when it can go directly to the classroom". Following a second rejection of Perry's bill, Perry asked John Sharp to head a task force charged with preparing
7062-405: The greatest moments of his career. His protégé Senator Lyndon B. Johnson became Majority Leader mostly thanks to Rayburn maneuvering the Senate leadership and making deals to make sure Johnson became Senate Democratic Leader. The trio of Rayburn, Eisenhower, and Johnson worked together well and passed numerous landmark bills such as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act that established
7169-465: The history of the state since Reconstruction . Perry is one of five governors of Texas to have served three terms, the others being Allan Shivers , Price Daniel , John Connally and later Greg Abbott . He is the longest-serving governor in Texas history. He had served for 14 years by the time he left office, making him the second longest-serving U.S. governor at the time, behind Terry Branstad of Iowa. In his presidential campaign, Perry highlighted
7276-425: The impasse by changing House rules to add three spots (two majority and one minority) to the committee. Rayburn defended his plan in a rare speech on the House floor. "I think this House should be allowed on great measures to work its will and it cannot work its will if the Committee on Rules is so constituted as not to allow the House to pass on those things." In a 217–212 vote, Rayburn and the Democratic leadership won
7383-420: The incumbent Democratic Agriculture Commissioner . Karl Rove was Perry's campaign manager. In the Republican primary on March 13, 1990, Perry polled 276,558 votes (47%), with Richard McIver garnering 176,976 votes (30%) and Gene L. Duke, who placed third, polling 132,497 votes (23%). Since Perry fell shy of the necessary 50% to win outright, a runoff was held between Perry and McIver set on April 10, 1990. In
7490-473: The longest-serving governor in Texas history. As Governor, Perry identified as a staunch conservative , enacting conservative fiscal policies , restrictions on abortion and expanded gun rights . Long considered a potential presidential candidate, Perry officially announced his candidacy for the 2012 Republican nomination for President in August 2011. Perry initially performed well in polling and showed strong fundraising prowess, leading to him being considered
7597-436: The moderate between the conservatives and liberals as well as the northern and southern Democrats so he rebuffed Truman's civil rights bills that many party members considered very fast but also rejected the southern Democrats' calls for a pro-segregation candidate to run in place of Truman in the 1948 presidential election . Rayburn was against a swift poll tax repeal and other fast-track civil rights legislation but also ordered
7704-399: The move, news outlets reported various apparent financial connections between Perry and the vaccine's manufacturer, Merck . Merck's political action committee has contributed $ 28,500 since 2001 to Perry's campaigns. Perry later reversed his position, calling the vaccine mandate a "mistake". In May 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a bill undoing the order; Perry did not veto the bill, saying
7811-596: The name of Jim Hightower" resulting in Perry's name becoming a "household name in Texas—and Hightower's name synonymous with corruption". As Agriculture Commissioner, Perry was responsible for promoting the sale of Texas farm produce to other states and foreign nations, and for supervising the calibration of weights and measures, such as gasoline pumps and grocery store scales. In April 1993, Perry, while serving as Texas agriculture commissioner, expressed support for
7918-486: The northern and southern Democrats. Democrats feared that, without Rayburn as their leader, the Democratic Party would have been torn apart by inter-factionalism between northern and southern Democrats and liberal and conservative Democrats. Many people in Washington were then aware of how important Speaker Rayburn was to hold the Democratic Party together. Rayburn accepted the Minority Leader position and remained
8025-482: The officer corps due to the end of the draft. In early 1944, top Roosevelt officials approached Rayburn and asked him to work discreetly with Congress to gain funding for the production of an atomic bomb . Later that year, Rayburn secured $ 1.6 billion to fund the Manhattan Project , the code name for the secret project that led to the creation of the atomic bomb. This secret operation was done with most of
8132-428: The position. Schlesinger is also the only secretary to be dismissed from the post. Hazel O'Leary , Bill Clinton 's first secretary of energy, was the first female and first African American to hold the position. The first Hispanic to serve as Energy Secretary was Clinton's second energy secretary, Federico Peña . Spencer Abraham became the first Arab American to hold the position on January 20, 2001, serving under
8239-874: The president for specific military uses. The department of energy is responsible for the building, maintenance, and disposal of all nuclear weapons within the United States' arsenal in addition to safeguarding these weapons when they are not actively deployed in military service. Under the terms of several successive treaties, most recently New START, the United States has reduced its strategic arsenal to 1,500 deployed weapons. Consequently, many older legacy weapons systems have been dismantled or scheduled for dismantlement, with their core radioactive fuel - generally plutonium - being reprocessed into reactor-grade or space exploration fuel. Democratic (7) Republican (9) Status Acting Secretary of Energy Sam Rayburn Samuel Taliaferro Rayburn (January 6, 1882 – November 16, 1961)
8346-411: The pro-segregation Democrats to run as a third-party due to his fears that the northern Democrats would boycott the election and help the Republicans win the election. Rayburn was a staunch supporter of Truman and was for a gradual civil rights legislation rollout that wouldn't be too fast and immediate due to the fears of the backlash by southern Democrats. In 1949, after his successful efforts to win back
8453-530: The race after only three months. Perry was initially a vocal opponent of Donald Trump's 2016 campaign for President , however, he later endorsed Trump after he secured the Republican nomination. After winning the presidency , Trump appointed Perry as Secretary of Energy, and he was confirmed by the United States Senate in a 62–37 vote on March 2, 2017. On October 17, 2019, Perry reported to Trump that he intended to resign as Secretary of Energy at
8560-540: The resignation of George W. Bush —who was preparing to become President of the United States . He won the office in his own right in the 2002 gubernatorial election , where he received 58% of votes to Laredo oilman and businessman Tony Sanchez 's 40%. He was re-elected in the 2006 gubernatorial election against three major opponents, polling 39% of votes against runner-up former U.S. Congressman Chris Bell of Houston with 30%. Former Republican Comptroller, Carole Keeton Strayhorn , running as an independent, garnered 18% of
8667-547: The runoff, he emerged victorious, garnering 96,649 votes (69%) to McIver's 43,921 votes (31%). During 1990, Hightower's office was embroiled in an FBI investigation into corruption and bribery. Three aides were convicted in 1993 of using public funds for political fundraising, although Hightower himself was not found to be involved in the wrongdoings. Perry narrowly defeated Hightower in November 1990, garnering 1,864,463 votes (49%) to Hightower's 1,820,145 votes (48%). Rove raised $ 3 million to raise Perry's profile, "while tarnishing
8774-492: The school bell to signal the end of classes and swept out Commerce's public school buildings, earning $ 3 a month. Rayburn obtained his teaching credentials before completing his bachelor of science degree, and earned additional income by teaching in the public school of Greenwood, a small community in Hopkins County . He graduated in 1903 in a class of 13 (9 men and 4 women) and taught school for two years. In 1906, at
8881-472: The sponsor of the speech. He said Rayburn made the driver turn around and return the money. Author Robert Caro said, "No one could buy him. Lobbyists could not buy him so much as a meal. Not even the taxpayer could buy him a meal. He refused not only fees but travel expenses for out-of-town speeches; hosts who... attempted to press checks upon him quickly realized they had made a mistake... Rayburn would say, 'I'm not for sale' - and then he would walk away without
8988-581: The state government was experiencing budget deficits. As governor, Perry was an opponent of federal health-care reform proposals and of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , describing the latter as "socialism on American soil". His focus in Texas was on tort reform , signing a bill in 2003 that restricted non-economic damages in medical malpractice judgments. Perry touted this approach in his presidential campaign, although independent analysts have concluded that it has failed to increase
9095-461: The state's safety net has withered." Perry's office said that Texas represents a model private-sector approach to healthcare. His spokeswoman said, "Texas does provide an adequate safety net to those truly in need... and many individuals simply choose not to purchase healthcare coverage." Perry is anti-abortion and has signed bills with rules or restrictions for abortion procedures and funding for them. In December 2011, Perry said he had undergone
9202-447: The supply of physicians or limit health-care costs in Texas. During Perry's governorship, Texas rose from second to first among states with the highest proportion of uninsured residents at 26%, and had the lowest level of access to prenatal care in the U.S. Perry and the state legislature cut Medicaid spending. The Los Angeles Times wrote that under Perry, "working Texans increasingly have been priced out of private healthcare while
9309-425: The time of the wedding Rayburn was 45 and Jones was 26. Their 1927 marriage ended after only a few months; biographers D. B. Hardeman and Donald C. Bacon guessed that Rayburn's work schedule and long bachelorhood, combined with the couple's differing views on alcohol, contributed to the rift. The court's divorce file in Bonham, Texas , has never been located, and Rayburn avoided speaking of his brief marriage. In 2014,
9416-623: The veto would have been overruled, but blamed lawmakers who supported the bill for the deaths of future Texan cervical cancer victims. On July 1, 2011, Perry both had adult stem cell surgery in Houston and started "laying the groundwork" for the commercialization of the adult stem cell industry in Texas. Perry grew up in the United Methodist Church . He and his family were members of Tarrytown United Methodist Church in Austin until 2010, when they began attending Lake Hills Church,
9523-611: The vice presidential nomination. Rayburn might have become president had he accepted Roosevelt's offer, but he rejected it. As the Speaker, Rayburn had already reached the pinnacle of his ambition. Ultimately, the Democratic vice presidential nomination went to Missouri Senator Harry S. Truman . In 1946, the Republicans swept the Democrats in the midterm elections, winning both the House and Senate. The Democrats lost 54 seats in
9630-451: The vote and comic/author/musician, Kinky Friedman , also running as an independent, garnered over 12%. In the 2010 gubernatorial election , Perry became the first Texas governor to be elected to three four-year terms, polling 55% of votes to former Houston Mayor Bill White 's 42%. In the 2001 legislative session, Perry set a record for his use of the veto , rejecting 82 acts, more than any other governor in any single legislative session in
9737-650: The widow of former Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer , and her close relationship with Rayburn. In 1956, Rayburn was baptized by Elder H. G. Ball in the Primitive Baptist Church, also known as Old Line Baptist or Hard Shell Baptist Church. One of his greatest, most painful regrets was that he did not have a son, or as he was quoted as saying in The Path to Power , Robert Caro 's biography of Lyndon B. Johnson , "a towheaded boy to take fishing". Rayburn died of pancreatic cancer in 1961 at
9844-447: Was a big supporter of projects that helped make life easier for farmers and rural Americans like dams and farm-to-market roads . His role in creating new lakes such as Lake Texoma and changing old rural dirt roads into fully paved roads ensured lifelong support from his congressional district constituents. The dams in rural America controlled rivers from flooding and also generated electricity. The Flood Control Act of 1936 combined with
9951-485: Was a good friend of Jaja Wachuku , the first indigenous Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives , from 1959 to 1960. Although many Texas legislators were on the payroll of public service corporations, Rayburn refused to be. As he recounted in a speech during his congressional campaign: When I became a member of the law firm of Steger, Thurmond and Rayburn, Messrs. Thurmond and Steger were representing
10058-578: Was a member of the Corps of Cadets and the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He was elected senior class social secretary, a member and redpot in Aggie Bonfire , and one of A&M's five "yell leaders" . He graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science . In 1989, he said, "I was probably a bit of a free spirit, not particularly structured real well for life outside of
10165-642: Was an American politician who served as the 43rd speaker of the United States House of Representatives . He was a three-time House speaker, former House majority leader, two-time House minority leader, and a 24-term congressman, representing Texas's 4th congressional district as a Democrat from 1913 to 1961. He holds the record for the longest tenure as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives , serving for over 17 years (among his three separate tenures). Born in Roane County, Tennessee , Rayburn moved with his family to Windom, Texas , in 1887. After
10272-506: Was an honorary pallbearer. By the time of his death, he had served as Speaker for nearly twice as long as any of his predecessors. Sam Rayburn was close friends with the wood shop instructor Prof. Tarter of East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce, Texas (now East Texas A&M University ) and had his own room in the family's house during his visits to the district. This house still stands at 1910 Monroe St., Commerce, TX. Rayburn
10379-571: Was born in Roane County, Tennessee , on January 6, 1882. He was the son of Martha Clementine (Waller) and William Marion Rayburn, a former Confederate cavalryman. The Rayburn family descended from Ulster Scots immigrants who emigrated to the Province of Pennsylvania in 1750. In 1887, the Rayburn family moved to a 40-acre cotton farm near Windom, Texas . Rayburn grew up in poverty as he, his nine siblings, and his parents all participated in running
10486-471: Was confirmed on February 25, 2021. Granholm is the second woman to lead the Department of Energy. In addition to responsibilities related to generation and use of energy, the secretary is the most senior official other than the president of the United States or Secretary of Defense with primary responsibility for the nation's ~3,800 viable nuclear weapons. This arrangement is intended to maintain full civilian control over strategic weapons, except as directed by
10593-565: Was dead and he was now President of the United States. Rayburn coined the term " Sun Belt " while strongly supporting the construction of Route 66 . It originally ran south from Chicago , through Oklahoma , and then turned westward from Texas to New Mexico and Arizona before ending at the beach in Santa Monica, California . Arguing in favor of the project, he stated famously that America absolutely must connect "the Frost Belt with
10700-496: Was elected House Majority Leader in 1937 and was elevated to the position of Speaker of the House after the death of William B. Bankhead . 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. Rayburn also served twice as House Minority Leader (1947 to 1949 and 1953 to 1955) during periods of Republican House control. He preferred to work quietly in
10807-406: Was in full swing so both parties were trying their best to portray themselves as anti-communist. The Communist Control Act of 1954 and the continuing defense of South Korea and Taiwan and South Vietnam were supported by Rayburn and most Democrats. Rayburn and the Democrats won back the House and Senate in the 1954 elections . Rayburn's third and final tenure as Speaker from 1955 to 1961 was one of
10914-763: Was isolationist and decided to not participate in the war when war broke out in 1937 in Asia and 1939 in Europe. Rayburn helped pass the Lend-Lease Act in March 1941. This act allowed the U.S. to distribute food, oil, and materiel to the United Kingdom, China, and the Soviet Union. In August 1941, he helped pass the Service Extension Act of 1941. In 1940, a 12-month peacetime draft was instituted by
11021-423: Was liable to be called on to legislate concerning, and that on that ground I would not accept a dollar of the railroad's money, though I was legally entitled to it. I never did take a dollar of it. I have been guided by the principle in all my dealings. This practice of refusing to accept fees from clients with interests before the legislature was "virtually unheard-of" at the time. Later, while serving in Congress,
11128-419: Was projected to owe $ 17.3 billion by the end of 2012, increasing total state debt from $ 13.4 billion in 2001 to $ 37.8 billion in 2011. The state's public finance authority sold $ 2 billion in bonds for unemployment benefits, and it was authorized to sell $ 1.5 billion more if necessary. Texas federal borrowing topped $ 1.6 billion in October 2010, before the bond sales. In 2003, Perry signed legislation that created
11235-669: Was reelected Agriculture Commissioner by a large margin, getting 2,546,287 votes (62 percent) to Democrat Marvin Gregory's 1,479,692 (36 percent). Libertarian Clyde L. Garland received the remaining 85,836 votes (2 percent). Gregory, a chicken farmer from Sulphur Springs, Texas , was on the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority with Perry in the early nineties as a Republican but became a Democrat before running against Perry in 1994. In 1998, Perry ran for lieutenant governor . During this election, Perry had
11342-767: Was then assigned as a Lockheed C-130 Hercules pilot with the 772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base , located in Abilene, Texas. Perry's duties included two-month overseas rotations at RAF Mildenhall , located in Mildenhall , England, and Rhein-Main Air Base , located at Frankfurt am Main, Germany. His missions included a 1974 U.S. State Department drought relief effort in Mali , Mauritania and Chad , and, in 1976, earthquake relief in Guatemala . He left
11449-403: Was to help create the U.S. Highway System in 1926, the first major victory of his lifelong dream to make paved roads available for all Americans. Rayburn worked as Garner's campaign manager during the 1932 presidential election and released Garner's delegates to vote for Roosevelt after a deal was made to make Garner the vice-presidential nominee. From 1931 to 1937, Rayburn was Chairman of
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