Veeps: John Nance Garner
John Nance Garner IV was born on November 22, 1868 near the village of Detroit in Red River County, Texas. His parents were John Nance Garner III and the former Sarah Jane Guest. John the fourth attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, for one semester before dropping out and returning home. He eventually studied law and was admitted to the Texas state bar in 1890. He began his law practice in Uvalde, Texas.
In 1893, Garner entered politics, running for County Judge of Uvalde County. At that time, Democrats entirely dominated politics in Texas, and the Democratic nomination for an office was tantamount to election. Garner's opponent in the primary later became his closest ally. Her name was Mariette Rheiner, a rancher's daughter. They married a week after meeting and later had one child together, Josiah Charles Nance Garner. Garner won the primary and the election as County Judge, and served until 1896.
The office was a stepping stone to further political office. Garner was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1898, and re-elected in 1900. During his service, the legislature selected a state flower for Texas. Garner fervently supported the prickly pear cactus for the honor. Instead the legislature chose the Bluebonnet, but Garner earned his lifelong nickname of "Cactus Jack."
In 1902, Garner was elected to the United States House of Representatives from a newly created congressional district comprising a large area of rural south Texas. He was elected from the district fourteen subsequent times, serving until 1933. His wife served as his private secretary during this period. Garner was chosen to serve as minority floor leader for the Democrats in 1929, and then as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives in 1931.
In 1932, Garner ran for the Democratic Presidential nomination. The clear front runner in the race was Governor Franklin Roosevelt of New York, but he did not have enough delegates to win the nomination. Garner cut a deal with Roosevelt, becoming his Vice-Presidential candidate. He was elected Vice President of the United States and served two terms in that office from March 4, 1933, to January 20, 1941. But once in office he found the post to be largely ceremonial. He had little influence on the President's policies causing him to famously described the office of the Vice-Presidency as being "not worth a bucket of warm piss". (This quote was often requoted as "warm spit".) Garner disagreed sharply with FDR on a number of important issues. For example Garner supported a balanced federal budget, opposed packing the Supreme Court with additional judges, and opposed executive interference with the internal business of the Congress.
In 1939, a number of Democratic party leaders urged Garner to run for President in 1940. Garner was considered as the traditional Democratic Party establishment candidate, as opposed to Roosevelt and the supporters of the New Deal. The Gallup Poll showed that Garner was the favorite among Democratic voters, even though he was 71 years of age at the time. But he lacked support among labour. Union leader John L. Lewis called him as "a labor-baiting, poker-playing, whiskey-drinking, evil old man". Nonetheless, Garner declared his candidacy. Roosevelt remained mum on whether he would seek a third term for the presidency. Garner was opposed to anyone having a third term as President. At the Democratic National Convention, Roosevelt arranged what was staged to be a "spontaneous" call for his renomination, and won on the first ballot. Garner got only 61 votes out of 1,093. Roosevelt chose Henry A. Wallace to be the Vice Presidential running mate, instead of Garner.
When Garner's term as Vice President ended in January 1941, his 46-year career in public life came to an end. He retired to his home in Uvalde. For the remainder of his life, he kept out of formal politics by managing his extensive real estate holdings, spending time with his great-grandchildren, and fishing. Throughout his retirement, his advice was still sought by active Democratic politicians and he enjoyed a close relationship with Harry Truman. On the morning of Garner's 95th birthday on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy called Garner to wish the former Vice President a happy birthday, just hours before Kennedy's fateful trip to Dallas.
John Nance Garner died on November 7, 1967, 15 days before his 99th birthday, making him the longest-living Vice President in United States history. He is interred in Uvalde Cemetery.
In 1893, Garner entered politics, running for County Judge of Uvalde County. At that time, Democrats entirely dominated politics in Texas, and the Democratic nomination for an office was tantamount to election. Garner's opponent in the primary later became his closest ally. Her name was Mariette Rheiner, a rancher's daughter. They married a week after meeting and later had one child together, Josiah Charles Nance Garner. Garner won the primary and the election as County Judge, and served until 1896.
The office was a stepping stone to further political office. Garner was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1898, and re-elected in 1900. During his service, the legislature selected a state flower for Texas. Garner fervently supported the prickly pear cactus for the honor. Instead the legislature chose the Bluebonnet, but Garner earned his lifelong nickname of "Cactus Jack."
In 1902, Garner was elected to the United States House of Representatives from a newly created congressional district comprising a large area of rural south Texas. He was elected from the district fourteen subsequent times, serving until 1933. His wife served as his private secretary during this period. Garner was chosen to serve as minority floor leader for the Democrats in 1929, and then as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives in 1931.
In 1932, Garner ran for the Democratic Presidential nomination. The clear front runner in the race was Governor Franklin Roosevelt of New York, but he did not have enough delegates to win the nomination. Garner cut a deal with Roosevelt, becoming his Vice-Presidential candidate. He was elected Vice President of the United States and served two terms in that office from March 4, 1933, to January 20, 1941. But once in office he found the post to be largely ceremonial. He had little influence on the President's policies causing him to famously described the office of the Vice-Presidency as being "not worth a bucket of warm piss". (This quote was often requoted as "warm spit".) Garner disagreed sharply with FDR on a number of important issues. For example Garner supported a balanced federal budget, opposed packing the Supreme Court with additional judges, and opposed executive interference with the internal business of the Congress.
In 1939, a number of Democratic party leaders urged Garner to run for President in 1940. Garner was considered as the traditional Democratic Party establishment candidate, as opposed to Roosevelt and the supporters of the New Deal. The Gallup Poll showed that Garner was the favorite among Democratic voters, even though he was 71 years of age at the time. But he lacked support among labour. Union leader John L. Lewis called him as "a labor-baiting, poker-playing, whiskey-drinking, evil old man". Nonetheless, Garner declared his candidacy. Roosevelt remained mum on whether he would seek a third term for the presidency. Garner was opposed to anyone having a third term as President. At the Democratic National Convention, Roosevelt arranged what was staged to be a "spontaneous" call for his renomination, and won on the first ballot. Garner got only 61 votes out of 1,093. Roosevelt chose Henry A. Wallace to be the Vice Presidential running mate, instead of Garner.
When Garner's term as Vice President ended in January 1941, his 46-year career in public life came to an end. He retired to his home in Uvalde. For the remainder of his life, he kept out of formal politics by managing his extensive real estate holdings, spending time with his great-grandchildren, and fishing. Throughout his retirement, his advice was still sought by active Democratic politicians and he enjoyed a close relationship with Harry Truman. On the morning of Garner's 95th birthday on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy called Garner to wish the former Vice President a happy birthday, just hours before Kennedy's fateful trip to Dallas.
John Nance Garner died on November 7, 1967, 15 days before his 99th birthday, making him the longest-living Vice President in United States history. He is interred in Uvalde Cemetery.