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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 590 Collections and/or Records:

Update on Talihina Hospital: A Letter from Carl Albert, M.C., 1957-08-29

 Item — Box DP 27: Series CAC_CC_001_4_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 26b
Identifier: CAC_CC_001_4_27_26b_0033

Update on Talihina Hospital Employment Situation, 1957-08-28

 Item — Box DP 27: Series CAC_CC_001_4_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 26b
Identifier: CAC_CC_001_4_27_26b_0022

Updates on Choctaw and Chickasaw Land Payment Distribution, 1949-06-01

 Item — Box 6: Series CAC_CC_001_4_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 66
Identifier: CAC_CC_001_4_6_66_0009

Updates on Payment for Choctaw and Chickasaw Tribes, 1949-05-13

 Item — Box 6: Series CAC_CC_001_4_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 61
Identifier: CAC_CC_001_4_6_61_0007

Urgent Concerns for Indian School Closures in Oklahoma, 1947-05-16

 Item — Box SP 1: Series CAC_CC_001_16_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 23c
Identifier: CAC_CC_001_16_1_23C_0004

Urgent Request for Payment of Choctaw and Chickasaw Lands, 1949-01-24

 Item — Box 6: Series CAC_CC_001_4_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 58
Identifier: CAC_CC_001_4_6_58_0005

Urgent Request for Payment of Segregated Coal Lands Sale, 1949-05-06

 Item — Box 6: Series CAC_CC_001_4_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 61
Identifier: CAC_CC_001_4_6_61_0002

Water Resources Projects Meeting Scheduled for December 30, 1959, 1959-10-27

 Item — Box 16: Series CAC_CC_001_5_0000_0000_0000, Folder: 63
Identifier: CAC_CC_001_5_16_63_0004

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Choctaw Nation 5
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Constituents' communication with members of the U.S. Congress 3
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Political campaigns--Oklahoma 3
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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