*Party division totals are based on election day results.
The 1874 elections put Democrats in control of the House for the first time since the eve of the Civil War. The 44th Congress (1875–1877) impeached the Secretary of War for bribery, and investigated both the President’s private secretary for defrauding the government and the reckless speculation which squandered the life savings of former slaves. In January 1877 Congress created a special commission to divvy up disputed Electoral College votes from the previous fall’s presidential election. The Electoral Commission awarded all of the disputed votes to Republican candidate Rutherford B. Hayes, who became President by one electoral vote.
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To view complete lists of individuals who have served in these leadership and official positions since the 1st Congress, visit the People section
1Died in office, August 19, 1876.