Joe T Robinson for Vice-President 1928 Poster Al Smith FDR Governor New Deal AR

Born in Lonoke, Arkansas, Robinson attended the University of Arkansas and studied law at the University of Virginia.

In 1894 Robinson was elected to the Arkansas Legislature and served one term. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1902 from the Sixth District of Arkansas, and was re-elected to four subsequent terms, serving until 1913.

In 1912 Robinson was elected Governor of Arkansas. He resigned his U.S. House seat on January 14, 1913 and took office as governor on January 15. However, U.S. SenatorJefferson Davis had died on January 3, after the legislature had re-elected him to a new term beginning March 4, 1913; his seat was now open. On January 27, 1913, only 12 days after Robinson took office as governor, the legislature elected him to the U.S. Senate to replace Davis.

Robinson became the very last U.S. Senator elected by a state legislature rather than by direct popular vote. The Seventeenth Amendment, which required direct election, took effect on April 8, 1913. All the other Senators elected to terms starting in 1913 had been elected earlier; Senator James H. Brady of Idaho was elected to fill a vacancy on January 24; he was next to last.

Robinson resigned as governor on March 10, 1913. Although he served as governor for only 55 days, he worked to provide funds to complete the new state capitol building, create a labor statistics board, adopt an official state flag, and create a highway commission.

[edit]Senate career

From the outset, Robinson impressed other Senators with carefully crafted speeches. He mastered the Senate's complex rules and practices; he possessed tenacious loyalty to friends and party, a passion for detail, and a killer's instinct in debate. Wedded to his job, he arrived early each day, stayed late, and studied legislation at home.^[1]

He staunchly supported the policies of President Woodrow Wilson even as other Democrats faltered. He championed the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act and worked to enact bills to regulate railroads and other key industries. He led the Senate to arm merchant ships and voted to declare war on Germany.^[2] He also led the unsuccessful effort in the Senate to ratify the Treaty of Versailles.^[3][4]

Robinson was regarded as a progressive in Woodrow Wilson's image.^[3][5] Robinson gained influence in the Senate and later served as Chairman of the 1920 Democratic National Convention.^[4] Robinson was re-elected to the Senate in 1918, 1924, 1930, and 1936. In 1923, the Senate Democrat floor leader Oscar Underwood, who served as the Senate Minority Leader, resigned due to illness.^[4] Senior Democratic Senator was expected to take Underwood's place, but withdrew his name from consideration after Robinson challenged him for the position.^[4] By unanimous acclamation, Robinson became the Democratic leader, a position he would hold until his death in 1937.^[4]

As minority leader, Robinson took over the distribution of patronage appointments and reformed the committee assignment process, decreeing that no senator would hold the top Democratic position in more than one important committee.^[4] A Capitol Hill resident, he never strayed far from the Senate chamber, but kept a constant watch over the proceedings in order to capitalize on any dissension within the Republican ranks.^[4] Known as a "horse trader," he made deals on both sides of the aisle and helped facilitate negotiations with the era's GOP presidents.^[4]

Robinson had presidential aspirations of his own.^[4] In 1924, he was a minor contender for the Democratic nomination. A "favorite son" candidate, he drew the support of his Arkansas constituents and the southern conservative members of his party.^[4] That year, however, his performance on a golf course brought him more attention than his short-lived race for the presidency.^[4] At the Chevy Chase Country Club (a favorite haunt for Washington politicians), a fellow golfer asked to move ahead of the senator's slow-playing foursome.^[4]Robinson refused to extend the courtesy to the local surgeon.^[4] After a few angry words, he hit the doctor, knocking him to the ground.^[4] The club expelled Robinson from its membership, and the press gave him a new title; he was now the "pugilist" senator.^[4]

Robinson was the Democratic candidate for Vice President in 1928, as the running mate of Alfred E. Smith (see: U.S. presidential election, 1928). Early in 1928, Robinson clashed with Senator James Heflin, a Democrat from Alabama, who frequently inserted anti-Catholic sentiments into many of his speeches.^[4] When New York's Catholic governor, Alfred E. Smith, announced his candidacy for president, Heflin made Smith the target of his criticism.^[4] Robinson admonished his views, stating that religious affiliation had no bearing on a person's credentials for higher office.^[4] On one famous occasion, he declared, "I have heard [the senator] denounce the Catholic Church and the Pope of Rome and the cardinal and the bishop and the priest and the nun until I am sick and tired of it, as a Democrat."^[4] Helfin retorted, "The Senator from Arkansas can not remain leader of the Democrats and fight the Roman Catholics' battle every time the issue is raised in this body."^[4] Interpreting the remark as a challenge to his authority, Robinson held a vote of confidence to gauge his colleagues' loyalty.^[4] By a near unanimous vote (Heflin was absent), the senators pledged their support to their leader and his stance against bigotry.^[4]

After Smith lost to Republican candidate Herbert Hoover,^[4] Robinson emerged from the campaign a national figure, now known for the impassioned speeches he had made around the country on behalf of Smith and the Democratic platform.^[4] He continued to score victories as the Senate's minority leader, but his cooperative relationship with Hoover riled the members of his party.^[4] They understood that no other senator possessed Robinson's tenacity and influence, however, so they accepted his leadership, infuriating as it could be.^[4]

Robinson became Senate Majority Leader by a unanimous vote in 1933 when the Democrats became the majority.^[4] He was the first Democrat to serve as formally designated Majority Leader.^[4] He took his duties seriously, refusing to delegate his numerous responsibilities.^[4] Some Senators resented his autocratic style. In debate he could be terrifying. He would grow red in the face, pound his desk, gesture wildly, and stamp his feet.^[1]

Richard L. Riedel, a Senate press gallery attendant in the 1920s and 1930s, recalled, "When [Robinson] would go into one of his rages, it took little imagination to see fire and smoke rolling out of his mouth like some fierce dragon. Even when he kidded me, he spoke in loud gasps while puffing his cigar. Robinson could make Senators and everyone in his presence quake by the burning fire of his eyes, the baring of his teeth as he ground out the words, and the clenching of his mighty fists as he beat on the desk before him."^[6]

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