ABSTRACT
This chapter examines John Nance Garner the congressman and the congressional leader and attempts to explain his views, his personality, and the power base from which he led the House. It explains that Garner requires insights into his early life as well as his congressional life, his district, and the political forces in the Rio Grande Valley that kept him in power in Washington. One explanation was that Kitchin resented Garner's leadership role during the Wilson era when Kitchin's opposition to World War I limited his role as the spokesman for the administration in Congress. In 1929, Garner became minority leader. At the time, opportunities for Democratic control of the House seemed slim, but economic events took control, and within two years opened the speakership to Garner. Garner, as long as he satisfied Jim Wells and the local political bosses of his sprawling district with pork barrel projects, was essentially a free agent.
