Background
Joseph William Martin Jr. was born on November 3, 1884, in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, one of seven children of Joseph William Martin, a blacksmith who earned $15 a week and Catherine (Katon).
Joseph William Martin Jr. was born on November 3, 1884, in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, one of seven children of Joseph William Martin, a blacksmith who earned $15 a week and Catherine (Katon).
He graduated from North Attleborough High School.
Though Martin had intended to attend Dartmouth College, he instead remained with his newspaper work, where his future prospects seemed promising.
At the age of 18 he entered the field of journalism, becoming publisher of the local paper when he was 24. His political ascent began in 1911, when he won election to the state legislature. In 1924 he went to Washington to represent his Massachusetts congressional district, and it continued to return him to Congress in every election for 40 years.
Martin, universally known as Joe, offered his unstinting efforts to the party and filled a series of important posts: Eastern presidential campaign manager in 1936; congressional campaign committee chairman, 1937; national chairman, 1940-1942; and permanent chairman of five successive national conventions beginning in 1940.
His most important posts were in Congress, where he served as minority leader from 1940 to 1959, except for two sessions (1947-1949 and 1953 - 1955), in which he was elected speaker. On January 6, 1959, he was unseated as minority leader by Representative Charles A. Halleck (R. , Ind. ) by four votes. The veteran Republican did not conceal his "bitterness and heartache" over a defeat that he attributed in part to lack of support from the White House and from then Vice-President Richard M. Nixon.
Despite his defeat, Martin continued to be esteemed by his colleagues as both a man of his word and a masterly politician. He was therefore permitted by vote of Congress to retain such privileges of his former office as the use of his official car. Martin served in the House of Representatives for another three terms. In 1966, however, he was defeated in the Republican primary election.
