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House History

Democratic Whips

(1899 to Present)

The Democratic Whip assists the Democratic leadership in managing the party's legislative program on the House floor. The Whip keeps track of all legislation and ensures that all party members are present when important measures are to be voted upon. Information on the current activities of the Democratic Whip is available at the House Democratic Whip's Web site.

Congress Name State Years of Service
56th Oscar W. Underwood Alabama 1899-1901
57th James T. Lloyd Missouri 1901-1903
58th James T. Lloyd Missouri 1903-1905
59th James T. Lloyd Missouri 1905-1907
60th James T. Lloyd Missouri 1907-1909 1
61st N/A 1909-1911 2
62nd N/A 1911-1913 3
63rd Thomas M. Bell Georgia 1913-1915
64th N/A 1915-1917 4
65th N/A 1917-1919 5
66th N/A 1919-1921 6
67th William A. Oldfield Arkansas 1921-1923
68th William A. Oldfield Arkansas 1923-1925
69th William A. Oldfield Arkansas 1925-1927
70th William A. Oldfield Arkansas 1927-1929 7
70th John McDuffie Alabama 1927-1929 8
71st John McDuffie Alabama 1929-1931
72nd John McDuffie Alabama 1931-1933
73rd Arthur H. Greenwood Indiana 1933-1935
74th Patrick J. Boland Pennsylvania 1935-1937
75th Patrick J. Boland Pennsylvania 1937-1939
76th Patrick J. Boland Pennsylvania 1939-1941
77th Patrick J. Boland Pennsylvania 1941-1943 9
77th Robert Ramspeck Georgia 1941-1943
78th Robert Ramspeck Georgia 1943-1945
79th Robert Ramspeck Georgia 1945-1947 10
79th John J. Sparkman Alabama 1945-1947
80th John W. McCormack Massachusetts 1947-1949
81st J. Percy Priest Tennessee 1949-1951
82nd J. Percy Priest Tennessee 1951-1953
83rd John W. McCormack Massachusetts 1953-1955
84th Carl Albert Oklahoma 1955-1957
85th Carl Albert Oklahoma 1957-1959
86th Carl Albert Oklahoma 1959-1961
87th Carl Albert Oklahoma 1961-1963
87th Thomas Hale Boggs Louisiana 1961-1963
88th Thomas Hale Boggs Louisiana 1963-1965
89th Thomas Hale Boggs Louisiana 1965-1967
90th Thomas Hale Boggs Louisiana 1967-1969
91st Thomas Hale Boggs Louisiana 1969-1971
92nd Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Massachusetts 1971-1973
93rd John J. McFall California 1973-1975
94th John J. McFall California 1975-1977
95th John W. Brademas Indiana 1977-1979
96th John W. Brademas Indiana 1979-1981
97th Thomas S. Foley Washington 1981-1983
98th Thomas S. Foley Washington 1983-1985
99th Thomas S. Foley Washington 1985-1987
100th Tony Coelho California 1987-1989
101st Tony Coelho California 1989
101st William (Bill) H. Gray, III Pennsylvania 1989-1991 12
102nd William (Bill) H. Gray, III Pennsylvania 1991-1993 13
102nd David E. Bonior Michigan 1991-1993 14
103rd David E. Bonior Michigan 1993-1995
104th David E. Bonior Michigan 1995-1997
105th David E. Bonior Michigan 1997-1999
106th David E. Bonior Michigan 1999-2001
107th David E. Bonior Michigan 2001-2003 15
107th Nancy Pelosi California 2001-2003 16
108th Steny Hoyer Maryland 2003-2005
109th Steny Hoyer Maryland 2005-2007
110th James Clyburn South Carolina 2007-2009
111th James Clyburn South Carolina 2009-2011
112th Steny Hoyer Maryland 2011-2013

1 Resigned from post, 1908. 2 For this period, there is no official record in the minutes of the Democratic Caucus or elsewhere of the name of the Democratic Whip. 3 For this period, there is no official record in the minutes of the Democratic Caucus or elsewhere of the name of the Democratic Whip. 4 For this period, there is no official record in the minutes of the Democratic Caucus or elsewhere of the name of the Democratic Whip. 5 For this period, there is no official record in the minutes of the Democratic Caucus or elsewhere of the name of the Democratic Whip. 6 For this period, there is no official record in the minutes of the Democratic Caucus or elsewhere of the name of the Democratic Whip. 7 Died in office, November 19, 1928. 8 Elected Sunday March 3, 1929. 9 Died in office, May 18, 1942. 10 Resigned from office December 31, 1945. 11 Resigned from the House, June 15, 1989. 12 Elected Whip on June 14, 1989. 13 Resigned from the House, September 11, 1991. 14 Elected July 11, 1991, but did not assume office until September 11, 1991. 15 Resigned from office, January 15, 2002 16 Elected October 10, 2001, but did not assume office until January 15, 2002.


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