Skip to main content

Albert, Carl Bert, 46th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1971-1977); Leader of the House Democratic Caucus (1971-1977); House Majority Leader (1962-1971); House Majority Whip (1955-1962); U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's

 Person

Biography

Carl Albert was born in McAlester, Oklahoma on May 10, 1908. His father was a coal miner and farmer. In high school, Albert became the student body president and won a national high school oratory contest.

He enrolled in the University of Oklahoma in 1927. In 1931, he earned a Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. After completing his studies abroad, he opened a law practice in Oklahoma City in 1935, where he worked for several oil companies until the beginning of World War II.

Albert served in the Judge Advocate General Corps during World War II. He earned the Bronze Star for his work in the Pacific Theater and left the military with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1946. During the war he also married Mary Harmon, with whom he had two children: Mary Frances and David.

In 1946, Albert won his first election to Congress. He became House Majority Whip in 1955 and House Majority Leader in 1961. As Majority Leader, he helped advance the Democratic Party’s legislative agenda during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, in particular the latter’s Great Society legislation of 1964 and 1965.

When Speaker John W. McCormack retired in 1971, Albert was elected Speaker of the House of the Representatives. When the Watergate scandal developed in 1973, Albert played a key role in the impeachment proceedings against President Richard M. Nixon.

Albert retired from the Congress in 1977 and died on February 4, 2000.

Found in 564 Collections and/or Records:

#10, undated

 Item — Box AV 6: Series CAC_CC_001_21_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 1
Identifier: Albert_21_6_0000_1.10
Scope and Contents From the Series:

This series includes original interviews, personal narratives, network broadcasts, and other produced materials. The series spans Carl Albert's career as a public figure from the 1950s to 1976. Notable events include Carl Albert

Dates: 1905-1996

1949 Correspondence on Oklahoma's Resolution for Support of Needy Indians, 1949-02-16

 Item — Box DP 6: Series CAC_CC_001_4_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 88
Identifier: CAC_CC_001_4_6_88_0005

1970 Correspondence Regarding Indian Education Programs and Reforms, 1970-07-28

 Item — Box LG 67: Series CAC_CC_009_2_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 20
Identifier: CAC_CC_009_2_67_20_0006

$51,477 Contract Awarded for Water Well Project in Oklahoma Counties, 1969-01-01 - 1969-12-31

 Item — Box SP 11: Series CAC_CC_001_16_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 140
Identifier: CAC_CC_001_16_11_140_0004
Scope and Contents

The Department of Health, Education and Welfare has awarded a contract for drilling and renovating water wells for Indian families in multiple counties, including Broken Bow, Tishomingo, Idabel, Ardmore, Seminole, Wetumka, Holdenville, Wewoka, and Konawa in Oklahoma. The announcement was made by Congressman Carl Albert.

Dates: 1969-01-01 - 1969-12-31

Additional filters:

Subject
Indians of North America--Oklahoma 325
Indians of North America 153
94th Congress - 1975-01-03 to 1977-01-03 66
Indians of North America--Claims 57
Choctaw Nation 47
Chickasaw Nation 28
Indians of North America--Health and hygiene 25
Cherokee Nation 19
Appropriations and expenditures 16
Indians of North America--Education--Government Policy--United States 14
Water resources development--Law and legislation--United States 13
Banks and banking--United States 12
Constituent Correspondence 12
Indians of North America--Health and Hygiene--Law and legislation 12
Seminole Nation 12
Speeches, addresses, etc. 12
Muscogee Creek Nation 10
91st Congress - 1969-01-03 to 1971-01-03 9
Community health services--United States 7
Land use--Law and legislation 7
87th Congress - 1961-01-03 to 1963-01-03 6
93rd Congress - 1973-01-03 to 1975-01-03 6
Osage Nation 6
Housing and Community Development---Legislative Policy Area 5
Indians of North America--Land tenure--United States 5
88th Congress - 1963-01-03 to 1965-01-03 4
90th Congress - 1967-01-03 to 1969-01-03 4
Education--United States 4
Land use--Planning 4
Employment 3
Flood control 3
Native Americans---Legislative Policy Area 3
Political campaigns--Oklahoma 3
Agricultural policy--United States 2
Foreign trade regulation--United States 2
Housing policy--United States 2
Indians of North America--Housing--Law and legislation--United States 2
Political campaigns--United States 2
Shawnee 2
Transportation, Automotive--Law and legislation--United States 2
86th Congress - 1959-01-03 to 1961-01-03 1
Agricultural laws and legislation--United States 1
Agriculture laws and legislation--United States 1
Business--United States 1
Caddo Nation 1
Citizen Potawatomi Nation 1
Civil rights--United States 1
Civil service--United States 1
Comanche Nation 1
Communist countries--Foreign relations--United States 1
Dakota people 1
Education, Higher--United States 1
Energy policy--United States 1
Farm legislation--United States 1
Flood control--United States 1
Government correspondence 1
Health---Legislative Policy Area 1
Housing--Law and legislation 1
Indians of North America--Culture 1
Indians of North America--Education 1
Indians of North America--Legal status, laws, etc. 1
Kiowa Tribe 1
Land use--Law and legislation--United States 1
Navajo Nation 1
Older people--Medical care--United States 1
Political campaigning and communication 1
Public welfare administration 1
Retirement 1
Tribal sovereignty 1
Unemployment--United States 1
United States 1
United States. Congress. House--Speakers 1
Voting--United States 1
Water--Law and legislation--United States 1