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79th Congress (1945–1947)

Congressional Profile

Total Membership:

435 Representatives
2 Delegates
2 Resident Commissioners

Party Divisions:^*

244 Democrats
189 Republicans
1 American-Labor
1 Progressive

^*Party division totals are based on election day results.

Election Statistics, 1944 [PDF]

/tiles/non-collection/C/CapitolPostcard_2006_044_000.xml Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object The postcard depicts the Capitol prior to its 1950s renovation.

Congress Overview

The wartime 1944 elections bolstered Democratic majorities in Congress. Franklin Roosevelt won a fourth term as President but died just months after his inauguration; Vice President Harry S. Truman succeeded him. As World War II ended, the 79th Congress (1945–1947) reinforced the country’s international role with membership in the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. It also instituted the Fulbright scholars program. Congress increased the federal government’s involvement in the economy with full employment legislation, new airports and hospitals, and atomic energy development. Congress also streamlined bureaucratic procedures as government modernized.

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 79th Congress [PDF]
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Committee Information

Leadership & Officers

Speaker of the House:: Sam Rayburn (D–Texas)
Majority Leader:: John W. McCormack (D–Massachusetts)
Minority Leader:: Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (R–Massachusetts )
Democratic Whip:: John J. Sparkman (D–Alabama)
Robert Ramspeck (D–Georgia) ¹
Republican Whip:: Leslie C. Arends (R–Illinois)
Democratic Caucus Chairman:: Jere Cooper (D–Tennessee)
Republican Conference Chairman:: Roy O. Woodruff (R–Michigan)
Clerk of the House:: South Trimble
Sergeant at Arms:: Kenneth Romney
Chaplain of the House:: James Shera Montgomery – Methodist
Doorkeeper:: Ralph R. Roberts
Postmaster:: Finis E. Scott
Parliamentarian:: Lewis Deschler