Rayburn, Samuel Taliaferro (1882-1961)

US Democratic politican. Elected to Congress in 1912, he supported President Roosevelt's New Deal programme of 1933, and was elected majority leader in 1937 and Speaker of the House in 1940. With the exception of two terms, he served as Speaker until his death.

Born in Roane County, Tennessee, and raised in Texas, Rayburn received a law degree from the University of Texas in 1908. He served in the state legislature 1907-12, serving as its Speaker from 1911. A leader of the Democratic Party, Rayburn chaired the national conventions in 1948, 1952, and 1956. His tenure in the House of Representatives 1912-61 was the longest on record.