Bankhead, William Brockman

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William Brockman Bankhead, 1874–1940, U.S. Representative from Alabama (1917–40), b. Lamar co., Ala. Chairman of the House rules committee (1934–35), Democratic floor leader (1935–36), and Speaker of the House (1936–40), he was one of the outstanding New Deal legislative leaders. The Cotton Control Act of 1934 was largely the work of Bankhead and his brother, Senator John H. Bankhead. He was also interested in monetary legislation and was considered one of the ablest parliamentarians in the House.