Champ Clark

Common card · No. 423430

James Beauchamp Clark (March 7, 1850 – March 2, 1921) was an American politician and attorney who served as the 36th speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1911 to 1919. He was the only Democrat to serve as speaker during the Progressive Era when Republicans dominated the House, Senate and presidency. Clark represented Missouri's 9th district between 1893 and 1921. Born in Kentucky, Clark established a law practice in Bowling Green, Missouri. After serving in local, county and state office, he won election to the U.S. House in 1892, lost his seat in 1894, and won the seat again in 1896. He became the House minority leader in 1908 and was elevated to speaker after Democrats took control of the house in the 1910 elections. He inadvertently helped defeat the Canadian–American Reciprocity Treaty of 1911 by arguing that ratification of the treaty would lead to the incorporation of Canada into the United States. Entering the 1912 Democratic National Convention, Clark had won...

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