Albert, Carl (Bert) (1908-2000)

US representative. A Democrat, Albert became majority whip of the House of Representatives in 1955 and majority leader in 1962. He created an alliance between the representatives from northern and southern America to make way for President Johnson's Great Society legislation, and went on to preside over the disastrous Democratic convention, ruling against the delegates opposed to the war in Vietnam. He succeeded John McCormack as Speaker in 1971, and voted against the war in 1973. He retired in 1977.

Born in North McAlester, Oklahoma, Albert went to the House of Representatives in 1947 as representative for Oklahoma. A distinguished student, he was a lawyer before he joined the army in World War II, where he was awarded the Bronze Star.