The Politics of Personality
Part 2, 1927-1939
Dan Moody |
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Timeline |
January 17, 1927 - |
Born: June 1, 1893 Taylor, Williamson County, Texas Early Career: Moody attended the University of Texas from 1910 to 1914, although he did not graduate. Moody passed the bar and began practicing law in Taylor prior to World War I. He joined the Texas National Guard during the war. After being elected Williamson County attorney in 1920, Moody became district attorney two years later. He worked against the Ku Klux Klan, becoming known statewide, and was elected attorney general in 1924 at the age of thirty-one. In 1926 Moody ran for governor, blaming Governor Miriam Ferguson and her husband for the corruption and inefficiency in state government. Accomplishments: Moody became the youngest governor and the first to hold an outdoor inaugural ceremony when he took office in January 1927. During his terms in office he sought reform of the judiciary, taxation, and the prison system; improvements in the highway system and education; and development of a uniform accounting system and creation of a state civil service system. The legislature passed only about half of Moody's proposals: funding for education was increased, taxes were reduced, the highway system was expanded, and the administration of the prison system was changed superficially. Later years: After retiring from the governor's office, Moody practiced law in Austin. He ran for the Senate in 1942, but was defeated. Moody died on May 22, 1966 and was buried in the state cemetery in Austin. |
First talking pictures Charles Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin Jun 26-29 1928 Walt Disney introduces Mickey Mouse Babe Ruth hits 60 home runs Feb 17 1929 Average annual income less than $2000 Over 15 million Model Ts on the road Oct 15 1929 Wall Street crash May 6 1930 Sep 5 1930 Bobby Jones wins "Grand Slam" of golf 1300 bank failures in 1930 |
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Letter on Moody's "dry" stance at the 1928 Democratic Convention |
Statement from famed Texas Ranger Frank Hamer on the Sherman Riot |
Ross S. Sterling |
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Timeline |
January 20, 1931 - |
Born: February 11, 1875 in Anahuac, Chambers County, Texas Early Career: Sterling grew up on a farm and, after little formal education, began working as a clerk at the age of twelve. At the age of 21 he started his own merchandising business, and in 1911 he organized the Humble Oil Company. In addition to oil, Sterling was also involved in a railroad, a newspaper, banking, and real estate in the Houston area, and was an active member of the Houston Port Commission. He served as chair of the Highway Commission under Governor Dan Moody. Accomplishments: Sterling defeated former governor Miriam Ferguson and several other candidates in the 1930 race for governor. When Sterling took office, the worst effects of the Depression were beginning to appear in the state. Appropriations exceeded revenues, and Sterling had to veto funding for education and other programs. During Sterling's term in office, the East Texas oil fields experienced rapid and uncontrolled development. The Railroad Commission attempted proration, but the courts struck the plan down. Because of the chaotic situation, Sterling declared martial law in four counties for six months. National Guard troops were sent to the oil fields to limit waste and control production. This action was later declared unwarranted by the federal district court and the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Railroad Commission's plan for proration was accepted. Cotton prices also suffered during Sterling's term in office. Later years: Governor Sterling was defeated by Miriam Ferguson in his attempt at reelection in 1932. He was a very successful oil man and philanthropist. Ross Sterling died on March 25, 1949. |
4 to 5 million unemployed Carmichael's "Georgia on My Mind" "Scottsboro Boys" case becomes cause celebre Jun 23 1931 Marx Brothers' Monkey Business July 1931 Japanese occupy Manchuria Comic strip "Dick Tracy" debuts Kingdom of Saudi Arabia founded Oct 25 1931 Dec 13 1931 350,000 unemployed in Texas "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" Lindbergh baby kidnapped Amelia Earhart becomes first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic 5000 banks fail 13 million Americans unemployed; wages down by 60 percent |
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Telegram from Huey Long on the cotton crisis |
Telegram on East Texas oil crisis |
Miriam A. Ferguson |
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Timeline |
January 17, 1933 - |
Miriam Amanda Ferguson had previously served one term as governor. She ran for governor twice in the interim; in 1926 she was defeated in the primary by Dan Moody, and in 1930 she was defeated in the run-off primary by Ross Sterling. In 1932, promising to reduce taxes, Ferguson defeated Governor Ross Sterling in the run-off primary and the Republican candidate in the general election. Her proposal for a corporate income tax failed in the legislature, but her practice of granting liberal pardons continued. Later years: Ferguson remained in political semi-retirement until 1940 when she attempted to unseat Governor Lee O'Daniel. She was widowed in 1944, and died in 1961. |
Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany Franklin Roosevelt introduces New Deal Jul 28 1933 2000 rural schools do not open for fall semester; 2.3 million children not in school NRA Blue Eagle: "We Do Our Part" Dust storms begin Benny Goodman organizes orchestra, becomes "King of Swing" Shirley Temple sings "On the Good Ship Lollipop" May 24 1934
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Offer from a citizen to help track down |
Letter from Harry Hopkins on |
James V Allred |
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Timeline |
January 15, 1935 - |
Born: March 29, 1899, in Bowie, Texas Early Career: Allred enrolled in Rice Institute (now Rice University) but withdrew for financial reasons. He served with the U.S. Immigration Service and then enlisted in the Navy during World War I. After the war, he studied law at Cumberland University in Tennessee and began practice in Wichita Falls. In 1923 he was named to an unexpired term as district attorney for the 30th District, which included Wichita, Archer, and Young counties. Allred became known as "the fighting district attorney" for his opposition to the Ku Klux Klan. He ran an unsuccessful race for state attorney general in 1926, then was elected to the post in 1930, where he campaigned against the undue influence of monopolies and large businesses. Accomplishments: Allred devoted most of his first term of office to cooperating with federal programs designed to combat the Great Depression. He won approval for measures to provide increased support for public education, highway construction, the establishment of the Texas Department of Public Safety, and expanded services for the elderly and needy, though the legislature refused to fund many of the programs. Allred won national note, including a nod from the Junior Chamber of Commerce as "Outstanding Young Man in America" in 1935. He easily won reelection. Allred's second term saw passage of a teacher retirement system, broadened social security and welfare provisions, expansion of state services, increased support for education, and higher pay for state officials. Again, the legislature refused to fund many of Allred's initiatives. Later years: Allred was named by President Roosevelt to a federal judgeship, where he began service when he left the governorship in 1939. He resigned from the bench to run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1942. He returned to private practice until President Truman named him once again to a federal judgeship in 1949. He died on September 24, 1959. |
Rural electrification Alcoholics Anonymous founded Social Security Act Nov 1935 Jun 6 - Nov 29 1936 Jesse Owens wins 4 gold medals at Munich Olympics Aug 12 1936 Edward VIII abdicates the throne to marry Wallis Simpson Lindbergh kidnapping trial Count Basie's "One O'Clock Jump" Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Mar 18 1937 Apr 10 1937 The Hindenburg crashes Jun 17 1937 Joe Louis becomes heavyweight champion Amelia Earhart disappears Munich agreement with Hitler Orson Welles' "Invasion from Mars" panics listeners
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Letter on the appointment of Sarah T. Hughes, first woman district judge in Texas |
Letter from Lyndon B. Johnson, |