Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, is currently facing a threat from members of his own party who are determined to oust him from his leadership role. This is not a new phenomenon within the Republican Party, as previous speakers such as Kevin McCarthy and John Boehner have also faced similar challenges. However, the first speaker to face an intraparty revolt against his leadership was Joseph Cannon over 100 years ago. Cannon, also known as “Uncle Joe,” served as Speaker of the House from 1903 to 1911 and clashed with the progressive movement within his own party.
At the time, the role of the House speaker had evolved from a presiding officer to a powerful party leader. Cannon’s control over the House was so strong that he was often referred to as “Czar” Cannon. He had the authority to name all committee chairmen and chaired the Rules Committee, which directed legislation to the House floor. While Cannon was popular among his peers, he faced resistance from Republican progressives who believed he was stifling their efforts to introduce legislation.
The revolt against Cannon came to a head in March 1910 when Rep. George Norris, a progressive Republican, introduced a resolution to reorganize the Rules Committee by expanding its membership and removing the speaker from it. Cannon, faced with the challenge to his authority, engaged in days of intense debate in the chamber. The controversy attracted widespread attention, with newspapers across the country closely following the events. Even President William Howard Taft was said to be following the fight closely through press reports.
After days of debate, Cannon was forced to make a decision on whether Norris’ resolution was privileged. In a blow to his authority, the House overruled him and adopted the change to the Rules Committee. Cannon then presented the chamber with a choice: resign or declare a vacancy in the office of the speaker and let a new coalition of progressive Republicans and Democrats pick his replacement. When given the chance to remove Cannon from office, only nine members voted to oust him, leading to the failure of the vote. Cannon remained as speaker for the rest of the session, but control of the chamber shifted to Democrats following the 1910 midterm elections.
Despite the challenge to his leadership, Cannon continued to serve in Congress until his retirement in 1923. The events of the 1910 revolt against Cannon serve as a historical example of the tensions that can arise within a political party when leaders clash with dissenting members. The outcome of the revolt demonstrated the complexities of internal party dynamics and the challenges that leaders face in maintaining their positions of power. As Speaker Mike Johnson faces the threat of being ousted by his own party, the lessons of the past may provide insights into how such conflicts can be resolved.
