78th United States Congress
1943–1945 U.S. Congress
| 78th United States Congress | |
|---|---|
77th ← → 79th | |
 United States Capitol (1956) | |
January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1945 | |
| Members | 96 senators 435 representatives 4 non-voting delegates |
| Senate majority | Democratic |
| Senate President | Henry A. Wallace (D) |
| House majority | Democratic |
| House Speaker | Sam Rayburn (D) |
| Sessions | |
| 1st: January 6, 1943 – December 21, 1943 2nd: January 10, 1944 – December 19, 1944 | |
The 78th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from January 3, 1943, to January 3, 1945, during the last two years of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1940 United States census.
Both chambers had a Democratic majority - albeit greatly reduced from the 77th Congress, with the Democrats losing their supermajority in the House and Senate. Along with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democrats maintained an overall federal government trifecta.[1]
Major events
- World War II continued (1941–1945)
- June 6, 1944: Battle of Normandy
- November 7, 1944: General elections:
- President Roosevelt was re-elected to a fourth term.
- Senate Democrats kept their majority despite 1-seat net loss.
- House Democrats increased their majority with a 20-seat net gain.
Major legislation
- December 17, 1943: Magnuson Act (Chinese Exclusion Repeal Act of 1943), Sess. 1, ch. 344, 57 Stat. 600
- February 3, 1944: Mustering-out Payment Act, Sess. 2, Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 78–225, 58 Stat. 8
- June 6, 1944: Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (G.I. Bill), Sess. 2, ch. 268, Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 78–345, 58 Stat. 284
- June 27, 1944: Veterans' Preference Act, Sess. 2, ch. 287, Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 78–359, 58 Stat. 387
- July 1, 1944: Public Health Service Act, Sess. 2, ch. 373, 58 Stat. 682
- December 22, 1944: Pick-Sloan Flood Control Act, Sess. 2, ch. 665, Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 78–534, 58 Stat. 887
Party summary
Senate
| Party (shading shows control) | Total | Vacant | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (D) | Wisconsin Progressive (WP) | Republican (R) | Other | |||
| End of previous congress | 64 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 96 | 0 |
| Begin | 57 | 1 | 38 | 0 | 96 | 0 |
| End | 56 | 39 | ||||
| Final voting share | 58.3% | 1.0% | 40.6% | 0.0% | ||
| Beginning of next congress | 57 | 1 | 38 | 0 | 96 | 0 |
House of Representatives
| Party (shading shows control) | Total | Vacant | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (D) | Farmer– Labor (FL) | American Labor (AL) | Wisconsin Progressive (WP) | Republican (R) | |||
| End of previous congress | 254 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 165 | 424 | 11 |
| Begin | 222 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 208 | 434 | 1 |
| End | 212 | 0 | 211 | 426 | 9 | ||
| Final voting share | 49.8% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 49.5% | ||
| Beginning of next congress | 242 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 190 | 434 | 1 |
Leaders
Section contents: Senate: Majority (D), Minority (R) • House: Majority (D), Minority (R)
Senate
Majority (Democratic) leadership
- Majority Leader: Alben W. Barkley
- Majority Whip: J. Lister Hill
- Democratic Caucus Secretary: Francis T. Maloney
Minority (Republican) leadership
- Minority Leader: Charles L. McNary, until February 25, 1944
- Wallace H. White Jr., after February 25, 1944
- Minority whip: No Republican whips were appointed from 1935 to 1944 since only 17 Republicans were in the Senate following the landslide reelection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936. Accordingly, the minutes of the Republican Conference for the period state: "On motion of Senator Hastings, duly seconded and carried, it was agreed that no Assistant Leader or Whip be elected but that the chairman be authorized to appoint Senators from time to time to assist him in taking charge of the interests of the minority." A note attached to the conference minutes added: "The chairman of the conference, Senator McNary, apparently appointed Senator Austin of Vermont as assistant leader in 1943 and 1944, until the conference adopted Rules of Organization."[2]
- Republican Conference Secretary: Wallace H. White Jr., until February 25, 1944
- Harold Hitz Burton (from February 25, 1944)
- National Senatorial Committee Chair: John G. Townsend Jr.
House of Representatives
- Speaker: Sam Rayburn (D)
Majority (Democratic) leadership
- Majority Leader: John W. McCormack
- Majority whip: Robert Ramspeck
- Democratic Caucus Chairman: Harry R. Sheppard
- Democratic Campaign Committee Chairman: Patrick H. Drewry
Minority (Republican) leadership
- Minority Leader: Joseph W. Martin Jr.
- Minority whip: Harry Lane Englebright, until May 13, 1943
- Leslie C. Arends, from May 13, 1943
- Republican Conference Chairman: Roy O. Woodruff
- Republican Campaign Committee Chairman: Charles A. Halleck
Members
Senate
Senators are popularly elected statewide every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election, In this Congress, Class 3 meant their term ended with this Congress, facing re-election in 1944; Class 1 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1946; and Class 2 meant their term began in this Congress, facing re-election in 1948.
House of Representatives
The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.
Changes in membership
Senate
| State (class) | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation[a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey (1) | William Warren Barbour (R) | Died November 22, 1943. Successor was appointed until an election. | Arthur Walsh (D) | November 26, 1943 |
| Indiana (3) | Frederick Van Nuys (D) | Died January 25, 1944. Successor was appointed until an election. | Samuel D. Jackson (D) | January 28, 1944 |
| Massachusetts (2) | Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (R) | Resigned February 3, 1944, to go on active duty in the US Army. Successor was appointed until a special election. | Sinclair Weeks (R) | February 8, 1944 |
| Oregon (2) | Charles L. McNary (R) | Died February 25, 1944. Successor was appointed and subsequently won special election | Guy Cordon (R) | March 4, 1944 |
| Washington (3) | Homer Bone (D) | Resigned November 13, 1944, to become Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Successor was appointed to finish the term, having just been elected to the next term. | Warren Magnuson (D) | December 14, 1944 |
| Indiana (3) | Samuel D. Jackson (D) | Appointee was not a candidate to finish the term. Successor was elected. | William E. Jenner (R) | November 7, 1944 |
| South Carolina (3) | Ellison D. Smith (D) | Died November 17, 1944. | Wilton E. Hall (D) | November 20, 1944 |
| New Jersey (1) | Arthur Walsh (D) | Appointee was not a candidate to finish the term. Successor was elected. | Howard Alexander Smith (R) | December 7, 1944 |
| Massachusetts (2) | Sinclair Weeks (R) | Appointee was not a candidate to finish the term. Successor was elected. Successor chose not to take the seat until the next Congress, but was nevertheless duly elected and qualified. | Leverett Saltonstall (R) | January 4, 1945 |
House of Representatives
| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation[a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri 6th | Vacant | Rep. Philip A. Bennett died in previous Congress | Marion T. Bennett (R) | January 12, 1943 |
| California 2nd | Harry L. Englebright (R) | Died May 13, 1943 | Clair Engle (D) | August 31, 1943 |
| Kansas 2nd | Ulysses S. Guyer (R) | Died June 5, 1943 | Errett P. Scrivner (R) | September 14, 1943 |
| Oklahoma 2nd | John C. Nichols (D) | Resigned July 3, 1943, to become vice-president of Transcontinental and Western Air. | William G. Stigler (D) | March 28, 1944 |
| New York 32nd | Francis D. Culkin (R) | Died August 4, 1943 | Hadwen C. Fuller (R) | November 2, 1943 |
| Pennsylvania 23rd | James E. Van Zandt (R) | Resigned September 24, 1943, after being called to active duty in the US Armed Forces. | D. Emmert Brumbaugh (R) | November 2, 1943 |
| Kentucky 4th | Edward W. Creal (D) | Died October 13, 1943 | Chester O. Carrier (R) | November 30, 1943 |
| Pennsylvania 2nd | James P. McGranery (D) | Resigned November 17, 1943, after being appointed an Assistant Attorney General | Joseph Marmaduke Pratt (R) | January 18, 1944 |
| Pennsylvania 17th | J. William Ditter (R) | Died November 21, 1943 | Vacant until the next Congress | |
| Alabama 3rd | Henry B. Steagall (D) | Died November 22, 1943 | George W. Andrews (D) | March 14, 1944 |
| Colorado 1st | Lawrence Lewis (D) | Died December 9, 1943 | Dean M. Gillespie (R) | March 7, 1944 |
| New York 21st | Joseph A. Gavagan (D) | Resigned December 30, 1943, after being elected a justice of the New York Supreme Court | James H. Torrens (D) | February 29, 1944 |
| Illinois 19th | William H. Wheat (R) | Died January 16, 1944 | Rolla C. McMillen (R) | June 13, 1944 |
| Illinois 7th | Leonard W. Schuetz (D) | Died February 13, 1944 | Vacant until the next Congress | |
| New York 4th | Thomas H. Cullen (D) | Died March 1, 1944 | John J. Rooney (D) | June 6, 1944 |
| New York 11th | James A. O'Leary (D) | Died March 16, 1944 | Ellsworth B. Buck (R) | June 6, 1944 |
| Louisiana 3rd | James Domengeaux (D) | Resigned April 15, 1944, to join US Armed Forces | James Domengeaux (D) | Re-elected to fill his own vacancy November 7, 1944 |
| Minnesota 9th | Harold Hagen (FL) | Changed parties April 15, 1944, after Minnesota Farmer–Labor and Democratic parties merged to become the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) | Harold Hagen (R) | April 15, 1944 |
| California 16th | Will Rogers Jr. (D) | Resigned May 23, 1944, to enter the US Army | Vacant until the next Congress | |
| Philippines at-large | Joaquín Miguel Elizalde | Resigned August 9, 1944, to become a member of the war cabinet of President Manuel L. Quezon | Carlos P. Romulo | August 10, 1944 |
| Virginia 2nd | Winder R. Harris (D) | Resigned September 15, 1944 | Ralph Hunter Daughton (D) | November 7, 1944 |
| Florida 3rd | Robert L. F. Sikes (D) | Resigned October 19, 1944, to enter the U.S. Army | Vacant until the next Congress | |
| South Carolina 2nd | Hampton P. Fulmer (D) | Died October 19, 1944 | Willa L. Fulmer (D) | November 7, 1944 |
| Florida at-large | Robert A. Green (D) | Resigned November 25, 1944, to enter the United States Navy | Vacant until the next Congress | |
| Tennessee 4th | Albert Gore Sr. (D) | Resigned December 4, 1944, to enter the United States Army | Vacant until the next Congress | |
| Rhode Island 2nd | John E. Fogarty (D) | Resigned December 7, 1944, to enter the United States Navy | Vacant until the next Congress | |
| Washington 1st | Warren Magnuson (D) | Resigned December 14, 1944, when appointed U.S. Senator | Vacant until the next Congress | |
| Pennsylvania at-large | William I. Troutman (R) | Resigned January 2, 1945 | Vacant until the next Congress | |
Committees
Lists of committees and their party leaders for members of the House and Senate committees can be found through the Official Congressional Directory at the bottom of this article. The directory after the pages of terms of service lists committees of the Senate, House (Standing with Subcommittees, Select and Special) and Joint and, after that, House/Senate committee assignments. On the committees section of the House and Senate in the Official Congressional Directory, the committee's members on the first row on the left side shows the chairman of the committee and on the right side shows the ranking member of the committee.
Senate
- Agriculture and Forestry (Chairman: Ellison D. Smith; Ranking Member: Charles L. McNary then Arthur Capper)
- Appropriations (Chairman: Carter Glass; Ranking Member: Gerald P. Nye)
- Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate (Chairman: Scott W. Lucas; Ranking Member: Charles W. Tobey)
- Banking and Currency (Chairman: Robert F. Wagner; Ranking Member: Charles W. Tobey)
- Campaign Expenditures Investigation, 1944 (Special) (Chairman: Theodore F. Green)
- Centralization of Heavy Industry in the United States (Select)
- Civil Service (Chairman: Sheridan Downey; Ranking Member: William Langer)
- Civil Service Laws (Special)
- Claims (Chairman: Allen J. Ellender; Ranking Member: Arthur Capper)
- Commerce (Chairman: Josiah W. Bailey; Ranking Member: Charles L. McNary)
- District of Columbia (Chairman: Pat McCarran; Ranking Member: Arthur Capper)
- Education and Labor (Chairman: Elbert D. Thomas; Ranking Member: Robert M. La Follette Jr.)
- Wartime Health and Education
- Enrolled Bills (Chairman: Hattie W. Caraway; Ranking Member: Clyde M. Reed)
- Expenditures in Executive Departments (Chairman: J. Lister Hill; Ranking Member: James J. Davis)
- Finance (Chairman: Walter F. George; Ranking Member: Robert M. La Follette Jr.)
- Foreign Relations (Chairman: Tom Connally; Ranking Member: Hiram W. Johnson)
- Fuel Situation in the Middle West (Special)
- Gasoline and Fuel Oil Shortages (Special)
- Immigration (Chairman: Richard B. Russell; Ranking Member: Hiram W. Johnson)
- Indian Affairs (Chairman: Elmer Thomas; Ranking Member: Robert M. La Follette Jr.)
- Interoceanic Canals (Chairman: Bennett Champ Clark; Ranking Member: Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.)
- Interstate Commerce (Chairman: Burton K. Wheeler; Ranking Member: Wallace H. White Jr.)
- Irrigation and Reclamation (Chairman: John H. Bankhead II; Ranking Member: Charles L. McNary then Hiram W. Johnson)
- Investigate the National Defense Program (Special)
- Judiciary (Chairman: Pat McCarran; Ranking Member: Warren R. Austin)
- Library (Chairman: Alben W. Barkley; Ranking Member: Charles L. McNary then Owen Brewster)
- Manufactures (Chairman: John H. Overton; Ranking Member: Robert M. La Follette Jr.)
- Military Affairs (Chairman: Robert R. Reynolds; Ranking Member: Warren R. Austin)
- Mines and Mining (Chairman: Joseph F. Guffey; Ranking Member: James J. Davis)
- Naval Affairs (Chairman: David I. Walsh; Ranking Member: James J. Davis)
- Patents (Chairman: Homer T. Bone; Ranking Member: Wallace H. White)
- Pensions (Chairman: James M. Tunnell; Ranking Member: Henrik Shipstead)
- Petroleum Resources (Special)
- Post Office and Post Roads (Chairman: Kenneth McKellar; Ranking Member: James J. Davis)
- Post-War Economic Policy and Planning (Special) (Chairman: Walter F. George)
- Printing (Chairman: Carl Hayden; Ranking Member: William Langer)
- Privileges and Elections (Chairman: Theodore F. Green; Ranking Member: Warren R. Austin)
- Public Buildings and Grounds (Chairman: Francis Maloney; Ranking Member: W. Warren Barbour)
- Public Lands and Surveys (Chairman: Carl A. Hatch; Ranking Member: Gerald P. Nye)
- Rules (Chairman: Harry F. Byrd; Ranking Member: Arthur H. Vandenberg)
- Senatorial Campaign Expenditures (Special) (Chairman: Ernest W. McFarland)
- Small Business Enterprises (Special) (Chairman: James E. Murray)
- Territories and Insular Affairs (Chairman: Millard E. Tydings; Ranking Member: Gerald P. Nye)
- Whole
- Wildlife Resources (Special) (Chairman: Bennett Champ Clark)
- Wool Production (Special) (Chairman: Joseph C. O'Mahoney)
House of Representatives
- Accounts (Chairman: John J. Cochran; Ranking Member: James Wolfenden)
- Agriculture (Chairman: Hampton P. Fulmer; Ranking Member: Clifford R. Hope)
- Appropriations (Chairman: Clarence Cannon; Ranking Member: John Taber)
- Banking and Currency (Chairman: Brent Spence; Ranking Member: Jesse P. Wolcott)
- Census (Chairman: A. Leonard Allen; Ranking Member: J. Roland Kinzer)
- Civil Service (Chairman: Robert Ramspeck; Ranking Member: Edith Nourse Rogers)
- Claims (Chairman: Dan R. McGehee; Ranking Member: J. Parnell Thomas)
- Coinage, Weights and Measures (Chairman: Andrew Somers; Ranking Member: Chauncey W. Reed)
- Conservation of Wildlife Resources (Select) (Chairman: A. Willis Robertson)
- Disposition of Executive Papers (Chairman: Alfred J. Elliott; Ranking Member: Bertrand W. Gearhart)
- District of Columbia (Chairman: Jennings Randolph; Ranking Member: Everett M. Dirksen)
- Education (Chairman: Graham A. Barden; Ranking Member: George A. Dondero)
- Election of the President, Vice President and Representatives in Congress (Chairman: Eugene Worley; Ranking Member: Ralph A. Gamble)
- Elections No.#1 (Chairman: C. Jasper Bell; Ranking Member: Clarence E. Hancock)
- Elections No.#2 (Chairman: Ed Gossett; Ranking Member: Francis D. Culkin then Stephen A. Day)
- Elections No.#3 (Chairman: Hugh Peterson; Ranking Member: Charles A. Plumley)
- Enrolled Bills (Chairman: Arthur G. Klein; Ranking Member: Charles Aubrey Eaton)
- Expenditures in the Executive Departments (Chairman: Carter Manasco; Ranking Member: Charles L. Gifford)
- Flood Control (Chairman: William M. Whittington; Ranking Member: Harry Lane Englebright then Charles R. Clason)
- Foreign Affairs (Chairman: Sol Bloom; Ranking Member: Charles Aubrey Eaton)
- Immigration and Naturalization (Chairman: Samuel Dickstein; Ranking Member: Noah M. Mason)
- Indian Affairs (Chairman: James F. O'Connor; Ranking Member: Fred C. Gilchrist)
- Insular Affairs (Chairman: C. Jasper Bell; Ranking Member: Richard J. Welch)
- Interstate and Foreign Commerce (Chairman: Clarence F. Lea; Ranking Member: Charles A. Wolverton)
- Labor (Chairman: Mary Teresa Norton; Ranking Member: Richard J. Welch)
- Memorials (Chairman: John R. Murdock; Ranking Member: Allen T. Treadway)
- Merchant Marine and Fisheries (Chairman: S. Otis Bland; Ranking Member: Richard J. Welch)
- Military Affairs (Chairman: Andrew J. May; Ranking Member: Walter G. Andrews)
- Invalid Pensions (Chairman: John Lesinski; Ranking Member: Robert A. Grant)
- Investigate Acts of Executive Agencies Beyond their Scope of Authority (Select) (Chairman: N/A)
- Investigate the Federal Communications Commission (Select) (Chairman: Edward E. Cox)
- Irrigation and Reclamation (Chairman: Compton I. White; Ranking Member: Dewey Jackson Short)
- Judiciary (Chairman: Hatton W. Sumners; Ranking Member: Ulysses S. Guyer then Clarence E. Hancock)fairs]] (Chairman: Andrew J. May; Ranking Member: Walter G. Andrews)
- Mines and Mining (Chairman: Joe L. Smith; Ranking Member: Harry Lane Englebright then John M. Robsion)
- Investigate the Seizure of Montgomery Ward and Company (Select) (Chairman: N/A)
- Naval Affairs (Chairman: Carl Vinson; Ranking Member: Melvin J. Maas)
- Patents (Chairman: Frank W. Boykin; Ranking Member: Fred A. Hartley Jr.)
- Pensions (Chairman: Charles A. Buckley; Ranking Member: Fred J. Douglas)
- Post Office and Post Roads (Chairman: Thomas G. Burch; Ranking Member: Fred A. Hartley Jr.)
- Post-War Military Policy (Select) (Chairman: Clifton A. Woodrum)
- Post-War Economic Policy and Planning (Special) (Chairman: N/A; Ranking Member: N/A)
- Printing (Chairman: Pete Jarman; Ranking Member: N/A)
- Public Buildings and Grounds (Chairman: Fritz G. Lanham; Ranking Member: Pehr G. Holmes)
- Public Lands (Chairman: J. Hardin Peterson; Ranking Member: Harry Lane Englebright)
- Revision of Laws (Chairman: Eugene J. Keogh; Ranking Member: Earl C. Michener)
- Rivers and Harbors (Chairman: Joseph J. Mansfield; Ranking Member: Albert E. Carter)
- Roads (Chairman: J.W. Robinson; Ranking Member: Jesse P. Wolcott)
- Rules (Chairman: Adolph J. Sabath; Ranking Member: Hamilton Fish III)
- Small Business (Select) (Chairman: Wright Patman; Ranking Member: Usher L. Burdick)
- Standards of Official Conduct
- Territories (Chairman: Robert A. Green; Ranking Member: Usher L. Burdick)
- War Claims (Chairman: Edward J. Hart; Ranking Member: Clare E. Hoffman)
- Ways and Means (Chairman: Robert L. Doughton; Ranking Member: Allen T. Treadway)
- World War Veterans' Legislation (Chairman: John E. Rankin; Ranking Member: Edith Nourse Rogers)
- Whole
Joint committees
- Commemorate the Centennial of the Telegraph
- Conditions of Indian Tribes (Special)
- Disposition of (Useless) Executive Papers
- The Library (Chairman: Sen. Alben W. Barkley)
- Reduction of Nonessential Federal Expenditures (Chairman: Sen. Harry F. Byrd; Vice Chairman: Rep. Robert L. Doughton)
- Organization of Congress
- Printing (Chairman: Sen. Carl Hayden; Vice Chairman: Rep. Pete Jarman)
- Selective Service Deferments
- Taxation (Chairman: Sen. Walter F. George; Vice Chairman: Rep. Robert L. Doughton)
Caucuses
- Democratic (House)
- Democratic (Senate)
Employees
Legislative branch agency directors
- Architect of the Capitol: David Lynn
- Attending Physician of the United States Congress: George Calver
- Comptroller General of the United States: Lindsay C. Warren
- Librarian of Congress: Archibald MacLeish, until 1944
- Public Printer of the United States: Augustus E. Giegengack
Senate
- Chaplain: Frederick Brown Harris (Methodist)
- Parliamentarian: Charles Watkins
- Secretary: Edwin A. Halsey
- Librarian: Ruskin McArdle
- Secretary for the Majority: Leslie Biffle
- Secretary for the Minority: Carl A. Loeffler
- Sergeant at Arms: Chesley W. Jurney, until January 31, 1943
- Wall Doxey, from February 1, 1943
House of Representatives
- Chaplain: James Shera Montgomery (Methodist)
- Clerk: South Trimble
- Doorkeeper: Joseph J. Sinnott, until January 27, 1943
- Ralph R. Roberts, from February 5, 1943
- Parliamentarian: Lewis Deschler
- Postmaster: Finis E. Scott
- Reading Clerks: George J. Maurer (D) and Alney E. Chaffee (R)
- Sergeant at Arms: Kenneth Romney
See also
- 1942 United States elections (elections leading to this Congress)
- 1944 United States elections (elections during this Congress, leading to the next Congress)
Notes
- ^ a b When seated or oath administered, not necessarily when service began.
References
- House of Representatives Session Calendar for the 78th Congress (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 20, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
- Official Congressional Directory for the 78th Congress, 1st Session.
- Official Congressional Directory for the 78th Congress, 1st Session (Revision).
- Official Congressional Directory for the 78th Congress, 2nd Session.
- Official Congressional Directory for the 78th Congress, 2nd Session (Revision).
