First elected to Congress in 1912 from Bonham, Texas, Rayburn became Speaker in 1941 and served 17 years as Speaker, with two interruptions when Republicans controlled the House of Representatives. Renowned for his integrity and quiet effectiveness, Rayburn was a leader in Congress during the New Deal and World War II and was a mentor to future President Lyndon Johnson. But, he was proudest of his work on the Rural Electrification Act. | Source: http://history.house.gov/Download Original File
