Born in Floyd County, Kentucky, Langley attended the common schools and then taught school for three years. He attended the law department of the National, Georgetown, and Columbian (now George Washington) Universities in Washington, D.C., for an aggregate period of eight years.
He was Examiner in the Pension Office and a member of the Board of Pension Appeals, Law Clerk in the General Land Office, and from 1899 to 1907, he was Disbursing and Appointment Clerk of the Census Office. He served in the State House of Representatives from 1886 to 1890.[1]
Langley was elected on March 4, 1907, as a Republican to the Sixtieth and to the nine succeeding Congresses where he became known as "Pork Barrel John." He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds (Sixty-sixth through Sixty-eighth Congresses).[2]
He resigned on January 11, 1926, after being convicted of illegally selling alcohol. Langley had deposited $115,000 in his bank account over a three-year period despite earning only $7,500 a year as a congressman. He had arranged for "medicinal" alcohol to be released to New York–based bootleggers during prohibition. He also tried to bribe a Prohibition officer. For these crimes, Langley was sentenced to two years in prison.[3][4][5]
His wife Katherine, then ran for his seat and won in the next election, declaring that her husband had been the victim of a conspiracy and resolving to clear his name. She also won the next election. He was paroled from the Atlanta Penitentiary in 1929, and with Katherine's intervention, President Calvin Coolidge granted John Langley a pardon on December 20, 1928. He sent out a Christmas message to his wife's constituents and a week later declared his intention to run for office (even though the President had stipulated his clemency was predicated on never running for office again).[6] He self-published a book They Tried to Crucify Me (1929) hoping to gain back his political clout.[7]
He resumed the practice of law in Pikeville, Kentucky, where he remained in good favor with his former constituents. Polly V. Hall, a Republican who was 98 years old in 1987 when she was interviewed, could remember his name (though not his wife's), and she stated emphatically that "... he was a good man ... never heard nothing bad said about him."[8]
John Langley died on January 17, 1932, from pneumonia.[6] He was interred in Floyd County, Kentucky.
^Okrent, Daniel (2011). Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. NY: Scribner. p. 275.
^"LANGLEY, Katherine Gudger | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives".
^Tabler, Dave (15 July 2013). "He wears the breeches but the lady has brains". Appalachian History Stories, quotes and anecdotes. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
^History, Art and Archives, United States House of Representatives. "LANGLEY, Katherine Gudger". history.house.gov.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Investigation of Bureau of Internal Revenue: Hearings Before the Select Committee on Investigation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, United States Senate, Sixty-eighth Congress, First[-second] Session, Pursuant to S. Res. 168, Authorizing the Appointment of a Special Committee to Investigate the Bureau of Internal Revenue". 1925.
^ ab"Women in Congress, 1917-2006" (PDF). Office of History and Preservation, Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Washington, D.C.: Prepared Under the Direction of The Committee on House Administration of the U.S. House of Representatives (House document 108-223). 2006. p. 76. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
^Harrison, Lowell H.; Klotter, James C. (1997). A New History of Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky. p. 355.
^"Interview with Polly V. Hall, July 29, 1987". Interview by Linda Wireman. 1987OH228 WS 083. "Remembering the Vote Oral History Project". Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
January 07, 2024
john, langley, other, people, named, john, langley, john, langley, disambiguation, john, wesley, langley, january, 1868, january, 1932, representative, from, kentucky, husband, katherine, gudger, langley, john, langleymember, house, representatives, from, kent. For other people named John Langley see John Langley disambiguation John Wesley Langley January 14 1868 January 17 1932 was a U S Representative from Kentucky husband of Katherine Gudger Langley John LangleyMember of the U S House of Representatives from Kentucky s 10th districtIn office March 4 1907 January 11 1926Preceded byFrancis A HopkinsSucceeded byAndrew Jackson KirkMember of the Kentucky House of RepresentativesIn office 1886 1890Personal detailsBornJohn Wesley Langley 1868 01 14 January 14 1868Floyd County Kentucky U S DiedJanuary 17 1932 1932 01 17 aged 64 Pikeville Kentucky U S Political partyRepublicanSpouseKatherine Gudger m 1905 wbr Children3EducationNational UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGeorge Washington UniversityBorn in Floyd County Kentucky Langley attended the common schools and then taught school for three years He attended the law department of the National Georgetown and Columbian now George Washington Universities in Washington D C for an aggregate period of eight years He was Examiner in the Pension Office and a member of the Board of Pension Appeals Law Clerk in the General Land Office and from 1899 to 1907 he was Disbursing and Appointment Clerk of the Census Office He served in the State House of Representatives from 1886 to 1890 1 Langley was elected on March 4 1907 as a Republican to the Sixtieth and to the nine succeeding Congresses where he became known as Pork Barrel John He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds Sixty sixth through Sixty eighth Congresses 2 He resigned on January 11 1926 after being convicted of illegally selling alcohol Langley had deposited 115 000 in his bank account over a three year period despite earning only 7 500 a year as a congressman He had arranged for medicinal alcohol to be released to New York based bootleggers during prohibition He also tried to bribe a Prohibition officer For these crimes Langley was sentenced to two years in prison 3 4 5 His wife Katherine then ran for his seat and won in the next election declaring that her husband had been the victim of a conspiracy and resolving to clear his name She also won the next election He was paroled from the Atlanta Penitentiary in 1929 and with Katherine s intervention President Calvin Coolidge granted John Langley a pardon on December 20 1928 He sent out a Christmas message to his wife s constituents and a week later declared his intention to run for office even though the President had stipulated his clemency was predicated on never running for office again 6 He self published a book They Tried to Crucify Me 1929 hoping to gain back his political clout 7 He resumed the practice of law in Pikeville Kentucky where he remained in good favor with his former constituents Polly V Hall a Republican who was 98 years old in 1987 when she was interviewed could remember his name though not his wife s and she stated emphatically that he was a good man never heard nothing bad said about him 8 John Langley died on January 17 1932 from pneumonia 6 He was interred in Floyd County Kentucky See also editList of American federal politicians convicted of crimes List of federal political scandals in the United StatesReferences edit Okrent Daniel 2011 Last Call The Rise and Fall of Prohibition NY Scribner p 275 LANGLEY Katherine Gudger US House of Representatives History Art amp Archives Tabler Dave 15 July 2013 He wears the breeches but the lady has brains Appalachian History Stories quotes and anecdotes Retrieved 25 May 2016 History Art and Archives United States House of Representatives LANGLEY Katherine Gudger history house gov a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Investigation of Bureau of Internal Revenue Hearings Before the Select Committee on Investigation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue United States Senate Sixty eighth Congress First second Session Pursuant to S Res 168 Authorizing the Appointment of a Special Committee to Investigate the Bureau of Internal Revenue 1925 a b Women in Congress 1917 2006 PDF Office of History and Preservation Office of the Clerk U S House of Representatives Washington D C Prepared Under the Direction of The Committee on House Administration of the U S House of Representatives House document 108 223 2006 p 76 Retrieved 27 May 2016 Harrison Lowell H Klotter James C 1997 A New History of Kentucky Lexington University Press of Kentucky p 355 Interview with Polly V Hall July 29 1987 Interview by Linda Wireman 1987OH228 WS 083 Remembering the Vote Oral History Project Louie B Nunn Center for Oral History University of Kentucky Libraries Retrieved 27 May 2016 Bibliography editUnited States Congress John W Langley id L000072 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress John W Langley With Others on Courthouse Steps photo Getty Images Retrieved 27 May 2016 Langley John Wesley 1929 They tried to crucify me or The smoke screen of the Cumberlands Pikeville KY John Wesley Langley OCLC 714917435 U S House of RepresentativesPreceded byFrancis A Hopkins Member of the U S House of Representativesfrom Kentucky s 10th congressional district1907 1926 Succeeded byAndrew J KirkPreceded byFrank Clark Chair of the House Public Buildings Committee1919 1925 Succeeded byRichard N Elliott nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John W Langley amp oldid 1178437366, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
