Favorable or Unfavorable #27: John Bankhead II

[vcczar]

Sen. John Bankhead (AL-D) was the standard conservative Southern Democrat during the time that supported the New Deal because of its popularity among voters, and because it was their party leader's program. This was during that long period from 1890s-1960s when Southern Democrats seemed progressive in regards to the plight of poor whites, but were shockingly regressive in regards to the plight of blacks. Bankhead is probably best known for his work for farmers as seen below. If not for Bankhead's VP candidacy, we would have likely seen a President Henry A. Wallace in 1945 and a much different start to the Cold War.

Bankhead's father, brother, and either his son or nephew (forget off the top of my head) served in the US Congress. His brother William was Speaker of the House but won't be polled as he only has 4 actions. His niece, daughter of Speaker William Bankhead, was a famous actress at the time, Tallulah Bankhead. William and Tallulah were both much more liberal than John Bankhead II. 

His actions:

Bankhead II, John H	1933	Major role in Subsistence Homestead Act
Bankhead II, John H	1934	Bankhead Cotton Control Act
Bankhead II, John H	1935	sponsors farm tenancy bill
Bankhead II, John H	1937	Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenancy Act
Bankhead II, John H	1938	Adds amendment to Agricultural Adjustment Act
Bankhead II, John H	1943	Introduces bill to allow full-time farmers to be exempted from military draft
Bankhead II, John H	1944	VP candidate at Dem Convention; withdrew and helped push Truman over Wallace for the spot

[vcczar]

This was a hard pick because his racism isn't captured in his actions. If I were going to vote straight on actions, and if I ignored that final action, he'd get favorable. The final action might be enough for me to vote him down, even without considering racism. I would have much preferred Wallace to Truman in 1945. 

[OrangeP47]

3 hours ago, vcczar said:

This was a hard pick because his racism isn't captured in his actions. If I were going to vote straight on actions, and if I ignored that final action, he'd get favorable. The final action might be enough for me to vote him down, even without considering racism. I would have much preferred Wallace to Truman in 1945. 

Yeah, all my votes are actions only generally.

[Pringles]

Favorable only because he fucked over Henry Wallace.