A packed Chamber attended the opening of the 72nd Congress. John Nance Garner presided, marking the beginning of his one term as Speaker of the House. He went on to serve as Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Vice President for two terms. Although the Republicans has a slim majority following the election in 1930, but in the intervening 13 months, 14 Representatives-elect died, and the subsequent special elections to fill the vacancies gave the Democrats control.
