Alben W. Barkley
A folksy Kentucky politician whose decades of congressional service culminated in becoming the oldest man to assume the vice presidency.
1877–1956 (age 79)·Vice President of the United States from 1949 to 1953·Birthday: November 24·The Gilded Age
Biography
Alben Barkley's story is one of enduring political stamina. Hailing from a log cabin in Graves County, Kentucky, he used a law degree as a springboard into public life, first as a prosecutor and then as a U.S. Representative in 1913. In Congress, he became a loyal New Deal Democrat, his oratory skills and unwavering support for Franklin D. Roosevelt earning him the Senate majority leader post. Barkley's defining moment came in 1948 when, frustrated with Truman's campaign, he delivered a barnstorming convention speech that reignited the party; Truman promptly selected him as a running mate. As vice president, he was an active and admired presiding officer of the Senate. His folksy 'Veep' persona and deep-rooted connection to the Senate made him a uniquely beloved figure in mid-century American politics.
The Gilded Age
1860–1882
Born during or after the Civil War, they built industrial America — the railroads, the steel mills, the first skyscrapers. An era of massive wealth, massive inequality, and the belief that the future belonged to whoever could build it fastest.
Alben was born in 1877, placing them squarely in The Gilded Age. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alben Was Born
The biggest hits of 1877
Alben's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1877Born
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
1882Started school
First electrical power plant opens in New York
President: Chester A. Arthur
1890Became a teenager
Wounded Knee massacre marks the end of the Indian Wars
President: Benjamin Harrison
1893Could drive
World's Columbian Exposition dazzles Chicago
President: Grover Cleveland
1895Could vote
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1898Turned 21
Spanish-American War; US emerges as a world power
President: William McKinley
1907Turned 30
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1917Turned 40
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Turned 50
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1937Turned 60
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 70
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1956Died at 79
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
Key Achievements
- Served as the 35th Vice President of the United States under Harry S. Truman from 1949 to 1953.
- Was the Senate Majority Leader from 1937 to 1947, shepherding much of Franklin D. Roosevelt's legislative agenda.
- His passionate speech at the 1948 Democratic National Convention is credited with revitalizing Truman's flagging campaign.
Did You Know?
He was the first vice president to be referred to by the informal title 'Veep,' a nickname he reportedly enjoyed.
Barkley married his second wife, Jane Hadley, when he was 71 and she was 38, causing a minor Washington scandal.
He is the oldest person to ever become vice president, taking office at age 71.
The phrase 'If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog' is often attributed to him.
“The best audience is intelligent, well-educated and a little drunk.”
