United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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70th Congress (1927–1929)

Congressional Profile

Total Membership:

  • 435 Representatives
  • 2 Delegates
  • 3 Resident Commissioners

Party Divisions:*

  • 194 Democrats
  • 238 Republicans
  • 2 Farmer-Labor
  • 1 Socialist

*Party division totals are based on election day results.

  • Election Statistics, 1926 [PDF]

Congress Overview

Republican congressional majorities weakened after the 1926 elections. The 70th Congress (1927–1929) tackled a number of natural resources initiatives: flood control along the Mississippi River; a survey of national forest reserves; and a dam project along the Colorado River. President Calvin Coolidge again vetoed the McNary—Haugen farm-subsidy bill and later pocket vetoed a bill to complete a major government power facility at Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in the Tennessee Valley.

Historical Highlights

See more Historical Highlights.

Member Information

  • Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, (1774–2005), Official Annotated Membership Roster by State with Vacancy and Special Election Information for the 70th Congress. [PDF]
  • Learn more about the House of Representatives with an interactive map

Learn more about the People of the People's House

Committee Information

Leadership & Officers

Speaker of the House:
Nicholas Longworth (R–Ohio)
Majority Leader:
John Q. Tilson (R–Connecticut)
Minority Leader:
Finis J. Garrett (D–Tennessee )
Democratic Whip:
John McDuffie (D–Alabama) 1
William A. Oldfield (D–Arkansas) 2
Republican Whip:
Albert H. Vestal (R–Indiana)
Democratic Caucus Chairman:
Arthur H. Greenwood (D–Indiana)
Republican Conference Chairman:
Willis C. Hawley (R–Oregon)
Clerk of the House:
William Tyler Page
Sergeant at Arms:
Joseph G. Rogers
Chaplain of the House:
James Shera Montgomery – Methodist
Doorkeeper:
Bert W. Kennedy
Postmaster:
Frank W. Collier
Clerk at the Speaker's Table:
Lehr Fess 3
Parliamentarian:
Lewis Deschler 4

To view complete lists of individuals who have served in these leadership and official positions since the 1st Congress, visit the People section

Session Dates

Saturday/Sunday Sessions

Joint Meetings, Joint Sessions, & Inaugurations

Footnotes

1Elected Sunday March 3, 1929.

2Died in office, November 19, 1928.

3Resigned February 1, 1927. See, Washington Post, February 1, 1927: 4.

4Appointed due to Fess' retirement. See, Washington Post, February 1, 1927: 4.

Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov