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Art & History

The “Comebacks” of the 64th Congress

December 05, 1915

On this date, as the House began to organize itself at the opening of the 64th Congress (1915–1917), a monumental number of former Members were sworn in as returning Members. Nearly one-third of the opening day roster had not served in the 63rd Congress (1913–1915).  One hundred nineteen were true freshman, most of whom were Republicans who picked up a large number of seats in the midterm election. Another 22 were Members who had lost re-election in 1912.  Most of this unusual group were Republicans who had been turned out of office in a tumultuous three-party election that catapulted the Democrats to a more than 60-seat gain in the House and propelled Woodrow Wilson to the White House. Collectively known as the “comebacks,” these 18 Republicans and four Democrats included many former House leaders and rising stars: former Speaker Joe Cannon of Illinois, future Speaker Nicholas Longworth of Ohio, former Chairman of the Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury Ebenezer Hill of Connecticut, and future Majority Leader John Q. Tilson of Connecticut. When “Uncle Joe” Cannon lost his campaign for re-election to the 63rd Congress (1913–1915), he commented that it was not wise to speak out against the