John Nance Garner
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About
American politician known for being the 32nd vice president of the United States and for serving two terms under President Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1941.
Before Fame
He had a modest formal education in small Texas schools. He briefly attended Vanderbilt University, then returned to Texas, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1890. He moved to Uvalde, Texas and practiced law before winning a election as county judge in 1893. He then served in the Texas House from 1899-1903 and then in the U.S. House from 1903 to 1933 before becoming vice president in 1933.
Trivia
His nickname "Cactus Jack" came from his push to make the prickly pear cactus the Texas state flower early in his political career. He lived to be 98 years old which makes him one of the longest-lived U.S. vice presidents. On his 95th birthday in 1963, President John F. Kennedy called to wish him well just hours before JFK's assassination.
Family Life
He was born near Detroit, Red River County, Texas. He married Mariette Elizabeth "Ettie" Rheiner in November 1895. They had one son together named Tully Charles Garner. He died from a respiratory illness just 15 days before his 99th birthday.
Associated With
He and Lyndon B. Johnson were both Texans who served as vice presidents.
