As a new session of Congress began in January 1962, a new speaker was elected to succeed previous Speaker of The House Sam Rayburn, who had died in November.
McCormack had a daunting task before him – Sam Rayburn was a much beloved figure around Capitol Hill. There was no Democratic challenge to Majority Leader McCormack’s more or less automatic succession to Rayburn’s chair nor was there any marked enthusiasm about it. Some liberal columnists and editorial writers grumbled, but the young liberals of the House, much closer in “style” to their President than to their new Speaker, were too prudent to voice their misgivings publicly.
John McCormack was the first Roman Catholic to attain the speakership; one of the futile arguments mentioned by the anti-McCormack press was that with one Catholic in the White House and another, Mike Mansfield, leading the Senate Democrats, it would be asking too much of non-Catholics to elevate a third to the speakership. At 70, McCormack is the second-oldest man to win election (the oldest: Illinois’ Henry Rainey, who was 72 when elected Speaker in 1933). He is the third Northern Democrat to become Speaker in this century. The seventh Bay Stater to lead the House, he puts Massachusetts far in the lead as the mother of Speakers (following are Virginia and Kentucky, each with four).
The Speaker of the House of Representatives ranks right behind Lyndon Johnson in the presidential succession. In power potential he stands second only to the President. “The Speaker.” said Speaker Thomas B. Reed, “has one Superior and no peer.” When he and the President are of the same party, the Speaker is expected to be the chief White House ally on Capitol Hill. The Speaker must be a skilled and cool parliamentarian, in complete control of the 437 men and women of the House able interpret, to arbitrate, and to act swiftly and certainly. Through his various powers, controls and discretions, he can exercise enormous influence on the flow of legislation. No law may be enacted without the Speaker’s signature. His right to refuse recognition to members rising to speak on the floor is a legislative tool of immense power; his discretionary privilege of entertaining or refusing to entertain a motion is another.
On this episode of ABC Radio’s Issues and Answers, Speaker McCormack is grilled over his new role, his new duties and his plans for the new Congressional session.
Here is that interview with Speaker of The House John McCormack as it was broadcast by ABC Radio on February 17, 1962.
