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 595 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

1948 Letter to Congressman Carl Albert Regarding Poor Condition of U.S. Highways 69 and 75, 1948-01-01 - 1948-12-31

 Item — Box DP 20: Series CAC_CC_001_4_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 11
Identifier: CAC_CC_001_4_20_11_0004

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

Additional filters:

Subject
Indians of North America--Oklahoma DISAMBIGUATE ME! 346
Indians of North America--United States 98
Indians of North America--Claims 53
Indians of North America--United States; Indians of North America--United States 17
Banks and banking--United States 14
Community health services--United States 12
Water resources development--Law and legislation--United States 11
Indians of North America--Oklahoma; Indians of North America--Claims 10
Federal Indian policy--Education 9
Indians of North America--Health and hygiene 8
Indians of North America--Education 6
Indians of North America--Oklahoma; Sovereignty--Social aspects--United States--History 6
Land use--Law and legislation 6
Land use--Planning 6
Choctaw Nation 5
Civil rights--United States 5
Indians of North America--Politics and government 5
Campaign management--United States 3
Constituents' communication with members of the U.S. Congress 3
Flood control; Land use--Planning 3
Indians of North America--Oklahoma 3
Indians of North America--Oklahoma; Indians of North America--Claims 3
Native Americans---Legislative Policy Area 3
Political campaigns--Oklahoma 3
Civil rights United States 2
Constituents communication with members of the U.S. Congress 2
Education United States 2
Education--United States 2
Indians of North America--Health 2
Infrastructure (Economics)--Government policy--United States 2
Political campaigns--United States 2
Agricultural laws and legislation--United States 1
Agriculture laws and legislation--United States 1
Business--United States 1
Cherokee Indians 1
Chickasaw Indians 1
Civil service--United States 1
Communist countries--Foreign relations--United States 1
Energy policy--United States 1
Farm legislation--United States 1
Flood control--United States 1
Government correspondence 1
Housing--Law and legislation 1
Indians of North America--Oklahoma; Education--United States; Education, Higher--United States 1
Indians of North America--Oklahoma; Housing--Law and legislation; Education--United States 1
Indians of North America--Oklahoma; Indians of North America--Claims; Banks and banking--United States 1
Indians of North America--Oklahoma; Indians of North America--Claims; Education--United States 1
Indians of North America--Oklahoma; Indians of North America--Oklahoma; Indians of North America--Claims 1
Indians of North America--Oklahoma; Banks and banking--United States 1
Indians of North America--Oklahoma; Education--United States; Indians of North America--Claims 1
Indians of North America--Oklahoma; Indians of North America--Education; Indians of North America--Politics and government 1
Indians of North America--Oklahoma; Indians of North America--Health and hygiene 1
Indians of North America--Sovereignty 1
Older people--Medical care--United States 1
Public Works--United States 1
Public welfare administration 1
Speeches, addresses, etc. 1
Transportation--United States 1
United States 1
United States. Congress. House--Speakers 1
Voting--United States 1
Water--Law and legislation--United States 1