Andrew J. Transue
A Michigan attorney who seized a brief moment in Washington during the turbulent New Deal era, representing his district with conviction.
1903–1995 (age 92)·American politician·Birthday: January 12·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Andrew J. Transue stepped onto the national stage not as a career politician, but as a local lawyer who saw an opportunity to serve. Born in 1903, he built a legal practice in Flint, Michigan, grounding himself in the concerns of the industrial Midwest. His 1936 election to the U.S. House of Representatives placed him in the thick of Franklin D. Roosevelt's second term, a period of profound social and economic legislation. Though his tenure lasted only a single term from 1937 to 1939, it was a time of fierce debate over labor rights, economic recovery, and the growing shadows of war in Europe. After his time in Congress, Transue returned to Michigan law, his legacy defined by that focused period of advocacy during one of the nation's most transformative decades.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Andrew was born in 1903, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. 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 Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1903
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1903Born
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1908Started school
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1916Became a teenager
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1919Could drive
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Could vote
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1924Turned 21
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1933Turned 30
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1943Turned 40
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1953Turned 50
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 60
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 70
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 80
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1995Died at 92
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
Key Achievements
- Elected as a U.S. Representative from Michigan's 8th congressional district in 1936.
- Served a full term in the House during the pivotal 75th United States Congress.
- Maintained a legal career in Flint, Michigan, spanning decades beyond his political service.
Did You Know?
His full name was Andrew Jackson Transue, sharing a name with the seventh U.S. President.
He was a member of the Democratic Party during the height of the New Deal coalition.
He lived to be 91 years old, witnessing vast changes from the Great Depression to the dawn of the internet age.
“I came to Washington to represent the people of Flint, not the party bosses.”
