James G. Polk

James G. Polk (1955)

James Gould Polk (born October 6, 1896 in Highland County , Ohio , †  April 28, 1959 in Washington, DC ) was an American politician . Between 1931 and 1941 and again from 1949 to 1959 he represented the state of Ohio in the US House of Representatives .

Career

James Polk grew up on a farm in Highland County and attended public schools in his homeland. In 1915 he graduated from New Vienna High School , also in Ohio. He then attended the Agricultural College of Ohio , which was part of Ohio State University . In September 1918 he was drafted into the military for two weeks in the final phase of the First World War . But he was immediately retired for health reasons. In 1919 he graduated from Ohio State University . He then embarked on a career in school service. From 1919 to 1920 he was principal of the New Vienna High School ; From 1920 to 1922 he was a school councilor and supervised the public schools in New Vienna . He also worked in agriculture on the side. From 1923 to 1928 he directed Hillsboro High School . Politically, he joined the Democratic Party .

In the 1930 congressional election , Polk was elected to the United States House of Representatives in Washington in the sixth constituency of Ohio, where he succeeded Republican Charles Cyrus Kearns on March 4, 1931 . After four re-elections, he was able to complete five legislative terms in Congress by January 3, 1941 . These were initially shaped by the events of the Great Depression. Between 1933 and 1941, the federal government's New Deal laws were passed under President Franklin D. Roosevelt . In 1935 the provisions of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution were applied for the first time , according to which the legislative period of the Congress ends or begins on January 3rd.

In 1940, Polk initially renounced another candidacy. Between 1942 and 1946 he worked for the US Department of Agriculture . In the elections of 1948 he was re-elected to Congress in the sixth district of his state, where he replaced Edward Oscar McCowen on January 3, 1949 . After five re-elections, he was able to exercise his mandate until his death on April 28, 1959. During this time the Cold War began , the Korean War and, domestically, the civil rights movement . James Polk was buried in Highland .

Web links

Commons : James G. Polk  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

• James G. Polk in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• James G. Polk in the database of Find a Grave (English)