James Edward Ferguson: James E. Ferguson Born Bell County, Texas August 31, 1871 Died Austin, Texas September 21, 1944 Governor of the State of Texas . Unable to run under his own name, Ferguson ran his wife's campaign for Governor; Miriam A. Ferguson, known as "Ma" Ferguson, was twice elected as governor, serving two non-consecutive terms, from 1925 to 1927 and 1933 to 1935. Meanwhile, Winkler fought for his job by enlisting the help of his colleagues. Although he had never held office, he was not a stranger to political problems; he had done much work in keeping local-option prohibition from Bell County, had been one of the Bell County managers in the campaign of Robert L. Henry for Congress in 1902, had helped carry Bell County for Cone Johnson in his contest with Joseph Weldon Bailey in 1908, had served as a campaign manager for Robert V. Davidson in 1910, and had aided Oscar B. Colquitt in his successful gubernatorial campaign (1912). The anti-prohibitionists attempted to have a similar convention, but Ferguson, whose statements and Bell County record identified him as an anti-prohibitionist, refused to submit his name to it. Its president is in the crosshairs. . And this current flap is far from over. Oklahoma has impeached and removed two governors, and West Virginia impeached four members of its State Supreme Court at the same time in 2018. No. . The founders did not invent impeachment. As a result it was impossible for the convention to eliminate him and obviously unwise to divide the vote by naming a rival candidate. Though he had signed legislation creating three new colleges, he found himself in a feud with professors at the University of Texas. Lewis L. Gould, Progressives and Prohibitionists: Texas Democrats in the Wilson Era (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1973; rpt., Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1992). In 1918 he sought the Democratic party nomination for the governorship but was defeated by William P. Hobby. Though as of this writing, three presidents have been impeached, none have ever been removed from office. In 1917, barely into his second term as governor of Texas, James E. Ferguson was impeached, convicted, and removed from office. As Hamilton wrote in the Federalist Papers, a core source of original meaning, the framers "borrowed" the model from the English.And, as Raskin pointed . Of course, her husband was the only one the amnesty applied to. Committee member Dan Flynn said he was not surprised by the findings and was pleased the university counsel reached a conclusion.[21][22][23][24]. As a result of his actions, in 1917, Ferguson became the only Texas governor impeached and removed from office. He entered Salado College, a local preparatory school, at age twelve but was eventually expelled for disobedience. He was re-elected in 1916. Ferguson did some good things. This call was of doubtful legality, but Ferguson removed all question by calling the legislature to meet for the purpose of making appropriations for the University of Texas. He loaned himself so much money that he practically bankrupted his own bank. Jordan, Barbara Charline Texas History Minute: Jim Ferguson only Texas governor to be impeached, removed. [12], [13] In addition, Cigarroa wrote: "During testimony before the Select Committee, some early witnesses implied that the U.T. Double your gift when you give by 6 p.m. Thursday. Apply today! The Senate found Ferguson guilty on five charges relating to mishandling of public funds and abuse of power in relation to the university. The tenant law was passed but remained on the statute books only a short time before being declared unconstitutional. To impeach, the House simply needs a majority vote on the different charges involved. The Senate found Ferguson guilty on five charges relating to mishandling of public funds and abuse of power in relation to the university. The impeachment process begins with the House of Representatives. Ferguson made bond of $13,000 and announced his candidacy for a third term as governor. He left home at sixteen and wandered for two years through the states of the Far West, where he lived by accepting any employment offered. [5], In 2013, the Texas State Legislature began an impeachment trial for Regent Wallace Hall. How to run for office | Although Ferguson was disqualified from holding public office, he did try to run in the 1924 elections to redeem his reputation. There are 31 members of the Texas State Senate. James Edward Ferguson Jr. (August 31, 1871 - September 21, 1944), known as Pa Ferguson, was an American Democratic politician and the 26th Governor of Texas, in office from 1915 to 1917. Three others dealt with the veto of university funding as an abuse of power and official oppression. Scandals of all sorts, from the brazen to the bizarre, have occurred for decades at all levels. He maintained his. [4], In Texas, two officials have been successfully impeached -- Governor James Ferguson in 1917 and Judge O.P. The accusations, apparently true, were typical of the corruption, graft, and manipulations of American public life. General Libraries at the University of Texas at Austin, Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services. Join us! Jim Ferguson got in trouble for throwing his weight around, and for using the publics money as a personal slush fund. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Senators will then act as jurors while the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the proceedings. Millions of Texans have rare diseases. The incumbent State Librarian was Ernest Winkler, who was a professional historian with years of experience as a librarian. The day before he was thrown out of office he resigned, saying it didn't count. Only the governor can do that. If the state legislature is not in regular session during the time of impeachment, a special session can be called specifically to handle impeachments. Though no Texas official has been impeached and removed from office at the state level since Ferguson, Texas politics has hardly been scandal-free. Throughout his years in banking he took an active interest in county and local politics. When the House is not in session, there are three ways that the House may be convened for purposes of impeachment. A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin | Contact us, A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, Despite High-Profile Endorsements, Democrat Eliz Markowitz Loses Houston-Area Special Election. It proved his undoing. Carillo in 1975. Which Way Will Harris County Precinct 3 Turn In 2020? In 1925, Miriam became the first female governor of Texas after campaigning as a stand-in for her husband, and James E. Ferguson became the first gentleman of Texas for her two terms. In sum, his down-home authenticity faded away to reveal a man who was mostly a fraud. He is interred next to his wife at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. The Texas House of Representatives prepared 21 charges against Ferguson, and, in his impeachment trial, the Texas Senate convicted him on 10 of those charges, including misapplication of public funds and receiving $156,000 from an unnamed source.[12][13]. Hall investigated the university's forgivable-loans program and admissions policies and preferential treatment to politically-connected individuals. The 1920 presidential election was won by Republican candidate Warren Harding. He was elected governor in 1914, his first election. In 1917, Gov. She even used the word Christian in the law, implying that Christian forgiveness was appropriate here. Though he was kicked out of office and disgraced in front of his colleagues, Ferguson was still popular among his hardcore supporters and rallied back. Proclamation signed by a majority of the members of the House. He moved to Temple and in 1907 joined with others in establishing the Temple State Bank. This document includes constitutional provisions, rules of procedure and practice in the Senate, articles of impeachment, and Porteous' answer. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Thats how she likes it. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/ferguson-impeachment, "Ferguson Impeachment Similarly, the Texas constitution gives the lower house of the legislature power to impeach judges, the governor, and statewide elected officials. Found in volume 15,291 (available at govinfo). Sam Houston's life was, Ann Willis Richards (born 1933) was elected Democratic governor of Texas in 1990, the second woman ever to hold that position in the state's history., American politician Nellie Tayloe Ross (1876-1977) gained fame in the 1920s when she was elected governor of Wyoming, becoming the first woman in the, Barbara Jordan (american Congressional Representative), Jordan, Barbara Charline Against a lawsuit filed to prevent the Texas Democratic Party from listing him on the primary ballot, Ferguson argued that his impeachment trial ended without a conviction or judgment because he resigned his office before the Senate decided the case. The Texas Senate reduced the charges to 10, half of which dealt with the transfer of the $5,600. Has Austin Eliminated All Restrictions On People Experiencing Homelessness? Ferguson was born to the Reverend James E. Ferguson, and Fannie Ferguson near Salado in south Bell County, Texas. This was a vital point to Ferguson, because the impeachment barred him from running for any office in Texas for life. "[19] Texas state legislators have never previously tried to remove an appointed official. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. In 1924, unable to run under his own name, he Mr. Ferguson, known as "Pa", ran his wife's campaign for the governorship against Judge Felix Robertson, the candidate endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan. Eight governors have been removed from office through impeachment. Ferguson was indicted on nine charges in July 1917. Both elected and non-elected officials can be impeached in Texas. The entire process is substantially the same in Texas for elected officials, as it is for most of the other states. [5], He also became active in the Democratic Party and managed several local political campaigns. [7], In 1914, Ferguson was elected as governor of Texas by running as an anti-prohibitionist Democrat. He only made the ballot in Texas, winning just under 10% of the vote. He decided that the university president must resign, and when Vinson refused, Ferguson vetoed the universitys entire budget. ." Impeached provides a new examination of the rise and fall of Ferguson's political fortunes, offering a focused look at how battles over economic class, academic freedom, women's enfranchisement, and concentrated political power came to be directed toward one . Jessica Brannon-Wranosky and Bruce A. Glasrud, eds. He often said, civilization begins and ends with the plow. Ferguson was a mesmerizing speaker and storyteller and was splendidly fluent in the dialects of rural Texas. Why was Governor James E. Ferguson impeached and convicted in 1917? Please subscribe to keep reading. Ferguson was removed from office and deemed ineligible to hold any position of honor, trust, or profit under the laws of Texas by the Court of Impeachment by a vote of twenty-five to three. Ferguson was on the ballot only in Texas, where he received 47,968 votes (9.9 percent of the vote in Texas, 0.2 percent of the vote nationwide). Nellie Tayloe Ross was sworn in on January 5, 1925; Miriam Ferguson followed on January 20. At age 12 he entered Salado College (a preparatory school) but was eventually expelled for disobedience. Scandals of all sorts, from the brazen to the bizarre, have occurred for decades at all levels. [10][11] However, a letter from University chancellor Francisco Cigarroa in February 2014 said that Hall likely requested fewer than 100,000 pages. The account said Ferguson accused the student protesters of committing treason against him. It appears that there were no criminal proceedings in this case. 1. so that gubernatorial elections will not be influenced by a presidential election 2. so that candidates cannot run for governor and a federal office at the same time 3. so that voters will not become overwhelmed by too many candidates in one year 4. because Texas happened to become part of the US during an off-year In 1930 he conducted the unsuccessful campaign of his wife for the governorship, and in 1932 he conducted her successful campaign for the same office. Low 54F. He liked to say he was no city slicker and no college dude. A government doesnt require educated fools to run properly. James Ferguson. When Vinson refused to fire the professors, Ferguson went after the Board of Regents to get them to do his bidding. He told the UT president, Dr. Robert E. Vinson, that he wanted them fired. Prohibition was a major issue in the campaign of 1914, with several aspirants for the governorship on both sides of the question. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. "[3] In general, impeachments are a rare occurrence. He claimed to be painstakingly honest; he was an embezzler. He lost the 1922 Democratic Primary race for U. S. Senate by a wide margin. After 20 days have elapsed from article adoption, if the Governor, Lt. Leah LaGrone Ochoa then explores Fergusons hot-and-cold relationship with the Texas press, and Mark Stanley examines the impact of the impeachment on Texas politics in the decades that followed. Norman Kittrell, Governors Who Have Been and Other Public Men of Texas (Houston: Dealy-Adey-Elgin, 1921). James "Pa" Ferguson was the Governor of Texas from 1915 to 1917, when he was impeached and convicted on several charges. The Freddy's Glass legacyPeople who knew our dad and his story say he would be proud of us, but we say, Man, were proud of himHe truly. The convention did not endorse Ferguson, but the other anti-prohibition candidates withdrew from the race. Impeached. The Fergusons retired from public life afterward with James Ferguson dying in 1944 and his wife passing away in 1961. Their campaign slogan: Two governors for the price of one.. The Texas Supreme Court disagreed, so he had his wife run in his place. He believed that "a Negro has no business whatever taking a part in the political affairs of the Democratic party, the white man's party." 2] THE IMPEACHMENT OF JAMES E. FERGUSON I85 there, was immediately converted to the legal profession. In the United States legal tradition, impeachment is comparable to an indictment in a criminal court. In his eyes, the university was made up of corruptionists, draft dodgers, two-bit thieves and butterfly chasers, according to a historical account compiled by what is now the Texas Exes. by Nicole Shealy This might sound like the controversy involving UT System Regent Wallace Hall, an appointee of Gov. Basically, he wanted five professors fired, for the unstated reason that they had spoken out publicly against his candidacy for governor. Dictionaries thesauruses pictures and press releases. James Edward (Pa) Ferguson (1871-1944), Texas governor, son of James Edward and Fannie (Fitzpatrick) Ferguson, was born on August 31, 1871, near Salado, Bell County, Texas. The following sections are outlined in Article 15 of the Texas Constitution. Dan Moody. Copyright 2022 Coordinating Council for Women in History. In 1917, James E. Ferguson, nicknamed "Pa Ferguson," was impeached and removed from the governorship of Texas. The charges were then sent to the state Senate for trial. During the events that led up to the final quarrel, the University of Texas Board of Regents had repeatedly refused to remove certain faculty members whom Ferguson found objectionable. The second was state District Judge OliveroCarrilloin 1976, who was impeached for income tax fraud. His father died when he was 4. The Constitution gives the House power to impeach the president, officials appointed by the president (including cabinet officers), and judges. While there, legislators legally took up another matter, impeachment. James Ferguson Dr. Ken Bridges An argument over spending tax. As a result of these developments, the speaker of the House called a special session to consider charges of impeachment against the governor. Barred from state office, he ran for president in 1920 on the American Party ticket. He is the author, coauthor, or editor of more than two dozen books, most recently Anti-Black Violence in Twentieth-Century Texas. The entire process is substantially the same in Texas for elected officials, as it is for most of the other states. He ended up back in the Governors Mansion for a third time when she became the first woman governor in Texas history. He submitted his resignation the day before he was scheduled to be formally convicted. After a trial, the Senate voted him out of office by a vote of 25-3 and banned him from holding any state office. FERGUSON IMPEACHMENT FERGUSON IMPEACHMENT. In 1913, William Sulzer was impeached and removed from office as governor of New York. Federal courts | In 1924, his wife, Miriam Ma Ferguson won election as governor as a stand-in candidate in a tightly-contested race. James Edward Ferguson Jr. (August 31, 1871 September 21, 1944), known as Pa Ferguson, was an American Democratic politician and the 26th Governor of Texas, in office from 1915 to 1917. The Board of Regents hired the firm to review whether Hall may have violated any federal privacy laws in his handling of student information. The Ferguson controversy with the university brought renewed interest in the old charges, however, and at about the same time a number of new charges were made. His father died when he was four. The United States Constitution provides that the President of the United States shall only be removed from office upon "Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. Ferguson declared that the Legislature was nothing more than a kangaroo court," resigned a day before the official conviction, and was steadfast in his beliefs that the judgment didnt apply to him, according to Rutherford. James Ferguson. In her first term, Miriam Ma Ferguson, as she was known, had a law passed that gave amnesty to all Texas officials formerly impeached. The movement to impeach and remove James Ferguson as governor ultimately ended with Ferguson _____. Soon the talk of impeachment is echoing through the halls of the Capitol. The charges of impeachment grew from a controvesy with the University of Texas administration, and resulted in Ferguson being charged with misapplication of public funds among nine other charges. If that is the case, then the state house must follow procedures outlined regarding calling a special session specifically for the process of impeachment. He said the governor served the people, but he used the power of the office to reward his friends and crush not just his political enemies, but good servants of the state whose only offense was not voting for him. However, the judgment to impeachhanded down one day after his resignation-was upheld, preventing him from holding public office in Texas. You can cancel at any time. 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