ABSTRACT
Governor James Ferguson, a small town banker, campaigned as “Farmer Jim” to strengthen his connection to rural voters. Jim Ferguson did try to benefit the common people by providing financial relief to tenant farmers, improving farm-to-market roads, and providing free textbooks to the public schools, but he did not forget to benefit himself along the way. Early in his second term, “Farmer Jim” was accused of embezzling state funds, impeached, convicted, and removed from office. Impeachment made him ineligible to hold state office in the future. Undeterred, Jim convinced his wife, Miriam “Ma” Ferguson, to run for governor on the slogan “two governors for the price of one.” With “Pa” at her side, “Ma” Ferguson served two terms, 1925-27 and 1933-35, as Governor of Texas. “Ma” and “Pa” Ferguson kept Texas politics in an entertaining turmoil for two decades, but their political accomplishments were relatively few.
