Word: rayburn
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...late Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn, used to marvel at "those rolling waves of sentiment" that would occasionally engulf the House, abruptly establishing a solid consensus. Last week even Mister Sam might have been surprised at the swift surge of revulsion that swept both chambers of Congress. It came suddenly on Wednesday, eight days after the release of the presidential transcripts. The turn seemed to come with the gathering flow of mail running as much as 10-1 against the President, the opportunity for enough of the busy Congressmen finally to read through much of the transcripts...
...through the 1960s, oilmen worried constantly that a worldwide glut would lead to a catastrophic slump in prices; gas stations lured motorists with price wars, contests and giveaways of drinking glasses and steak knives; oil-bearing countries eagerly offered rich drilling concessions. And the late House Speaker Sam Rayburn...
With McCormack as his patron, O'Neill soon entered the inner circle of the House, where his blarney and good fellowship made him a quick favorite. O'Neill regularly attended the select meetings of Sam Rayburn's "board of education," afterhours sessions in the Speaker's office where the likes of Lyndon Johnson, Albert and McCormack met over bourbon to discuss the business of Congress...
Iron Backbone. In Congress, Albert became extraordinarily popular. Small (5 ft. 4 in., 150 Ibs.) and self-effacing, he showed himself to be considerate of other members' sensitivities, and trustworthy. Regarded as a tireless worker and gifted parliamentarian, he became assistant Democratic leader in 1955 under Rayburn, who called him "one of the greatest whips the House has ever known." With the death of Rayburn in 1961, Albert was promoted to party floor leader. He became Speaker in 1971, after the retirement of John W. McCormack...
Albert operates much as Rayburn did-backstage, without seeking publicity or notoriety. Instead of twisting arms, he works for cooperation and consensus. But the very qualities that won him the votes to become McCormack's successor led some Representatives to doubt that he had, in Rayburn's phrase, the "iron in his backbone" needed to be an effective Speaker...