75th United States Congress

75th United States Congress convened in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1937, to January 3, 1939, during the fifth and sixth years of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency. Dominated by large Democratic majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives, it was a pivotal period for New Deal legislation despite growing political and economic headwinds. This Congress is notably remembered for its contentious relationship with the White House, culminating in Roosevelt's unsuccessful "court-packing" plan and a sharp economic downturn known as the Recession of 1937–1938.

Major legislation

This session passed several significant acts central to the later New Deal and American infrastructure. Key economic measures included the Bankhead–Jones Farm Tenant Act, which established the Farm Security Administration to aid tenant farmers, and the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1937, which funded agencies like the Works Progress Administration. Major labor law was shaped by the Bituminous Coal Conservation Act of 1937 (Guffey-Vinson Act) and the landmark Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which instituted the first federal minimum wage and overtime pay standards. Other important acts were the Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, creating the Civil Aeronautics Authority, and the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938, which significantly strengthened the authority of the Food and Drug Administration.

Leadership

thumb|John Nance Garner, Vice President and President of the Senate Leadership in the Senate was led by Vice President John Nance Garner as President of the Senate, with Democratic President pro tempore Key Pittman of Nevada presiding in his absence. The House was led by Speaker William B. Bankhead of Alabama, who succeeded Joseph Taylor Robinson following his death. Key floor leaders included Senate Majority Leader Joseph Taylor Robinson (D) until his passing, succeeded by Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky, and House Majority Leader Sam Rayburn of Texas. The Republican minorities were led by Senate Minority Leader Charles L. McNary of Oregon and House Minority Leader Bertrand Snell of New York.

Major events

The period was dominated by political conflict and economic turmoil. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's February 1937 proposal to expand the Supreme Court of the United States—the Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937—sparked a massive political crisis, bitterly dividing the Democratic majority and ultimately failing in the Senate. This was followed by a severe economic contraction, the Recession of 1937–1938, which reversed many New Deal gains. Other significant events included the Memorial Day massacre of 1937 during the Little Steel strike, the passage of the Neutrality Act of 1937, and the creation of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), chaired by Martin Dies Jr.. The Congress also witnessed the Ludlow Amendment referendum on war and the Great Hurricane of 1938.

Party summary

The Democratic Party maintained overwhelming control, though its internal cohesion was tested by the Conservative Coalition of Southern Democrats and Republicans. In the Senate, Democrats held 76 seats to the Republicans' 16, with 4 seats held by other parties or independents like George W. Norris of Nebraska. The House saw a similar Democratic dominance with 334 seats, compared to 88 for the Republicans and 13 for other parties, including members from the Wisconsin Progressive Party and the Farmer–Labor Party of Minnesota. This lopsided division allowed for the passage of major legislation but also fueled significant intra-party dissent.

Members

The membership included many influential political figures of the era. The Senate roster featured veterans like Carter Glass of Virginia, Robert F. Wagner of New York, and Arthur H. Vandenberg of Michigan, alongside newer members such as Claude Pepper of Florida. The House contained future leaders including Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, first elected in a 1937 special election, and prominent committee chairs like Sol Bloom of New York on Foreign Affairs. Notable freshmen included John F. Kennedy's father, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., who was appointed as Ambassador to the United Kingdom during this term, removing him from the congressional roster.

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