William B. Bankhead

William B. Bankhead
42nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office June 4, 1936 – September 15, 1940
Preceded by	Jo Byrns
Succeeded by	Sam Rayburn
Leader of the House Democratic Caucus
In office June 4, 1936 – September 15, 1940
Preceded by	Jo Byrns
Succeeded by	Sam Rayburn
House Majority Leader
In office January 3, 1935 – June 4, 1936
Deputy	Patrick J. Boland
Preceded by	Jo Byrns
Succeeded by	Sam Rayburn
Chair of the House Rules Committee
In office April 1, 1934 – January 3, 1935
Preceded by	Edward W. Pou
Succeeded by	John J. O'Connor
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama
In office March 4, 1917 – September 15, 1940
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Zadoc L. Weatherford
Constituency	10th district (1917–1933) 7th district (1933–1940)
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
In office 1900–1901
City Attorney of Huntsville
In office 1898–1902
Personal details
Born	William Brockman Bankhead (1874-04-12)April 12, 1874 Sulligent, Alabama, U.S.
Died	September 15, 1940(1940-09-15) (aged 66) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Adalaide Eugenia Sledge ​ ​ (m. 1900; died 1902)​ Florence McGuire ​ (m. 1915)​
Children	2, including Tallulah
Parent	John H. Bankhead (father)
Relatives	John H. Bankhead II (brother) Walter W. Bankhead (nephew)
Education	University of Alabama (BA) Georgetown University (LLB)

William Brockman Bankhead (April 12, 1874 – September 15, 1940) was an American politician who served as the 42nd speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1936 to 1940, representing Alabama's 10th and later 7th congressional districts as a Democrat from 1917 to 1940. Bankhead was a strong liberal and a prominent supporter of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal of pro-labor union legislation, thus clashing with most other Southern Democrats in Congress at the time.^[1] Bankhead described himself as proud to be a politician, by which he meant that he did not neglect matters that concerned his district or reelection.^[2] He was the father of actress Tallulah Bankhead.

Bankhead died on September 15, 1940, from an abdominal hemorrhage, while still in office.^[3][4]