Thomas Riley Marshall

Politician, lawyer

• Born: March 14, 1854
• Birthplace: North Manchester, Indiana
• Died: June 1, 1925
• Place of death: Washington, DC

Education: Wabash College

Significance: Thomas Riley Marshall was the twenty-eighth vice president of the United States. He served under Woodrow Wilson for two terms from 1913 to 1921. Before this, he served one term as governor of Indiana, where he attempted to enact progressive legislative reforms. Marshall was widely known for his trademark wit, and many of his remarks were noted in various publications throughout his career.

Background

Thomas Riley Marshall was born on March 14, 1854, in North Manchester, Indiana. He was an only child. His father was a country doctor. His mother was sick for most of his childhood, and the family moved often. The Marshalls lived in Illinois and Kansas for a time before returning to Indiana. Marshall enrolled at Wabash College intending to become a lawyer. After graduating from Wabash in 1873, he studied law under Judge Walter Old and spent his weekends observing the courtroom cases of the period's prominent legal minds.

After being admitted to the bar in 1875, Marshall opened a successful practice in Columbia City, Indiana. Marshall was a heavy drinker in his early days and was known to show up to court hungover. Despite this behavior, he was a noted church leader and temperance lecturer, and his wit and judgment were highly respected among his peers. He became involved in politics soon after opening his practice. A traditional Democrat, Marshall was named secretary of the Democratic County Convention in 1876. In 1880 he ran in the election for his district's prosecuting attorney but lost. The defeat discouraged him from seeking public office for nearly two decades. He decided to reconsider a career in politics in 1908, when he chose to pursue the Democratic nomination for governor of Indiana. Marshall was elected governor in 1909 and served in the position for four years.

During his time as governor, Marshall attempted to draft a new state constitution, but his efforts were reproved. He was able to push a few progressive laws through during his tenure, such as a child labor law and a corrupt practices act. Many of his progressive initiatives were voted down, but these failures did not detract from the public's favor of him. His popularity earned him good standing with the state's Democratic backers, including Tom Taggart, who was considered Indiana's Democratic boss. Marshall's relationship with Taggart earned him the support of other Democrats when the time came to select a vice presidential candidate for the 1912 Democratic ticket.

Overview

Woodrow Wilson secured the Democratic nomination for president of the United States at the 1912 Democratic National Convention. Wilson chose Alabama Representative Oscar W. Underwood to be his vice president, but Underwood declined the position. After this, Taggart managed to secure Marshall's selection as Wilson's vice presidential candidate. The Wilson-Marshall ticket won with 435 electoral votes.

Marshall was not entirely confident in his ability to serve as vice president, a role that required him to lead the Senate. He had little legislative experience outside his Indiana governorship. He quickly discovered that the Senate was what he described as self-governing and showed little regard for its presiding official. He also was less than fond of Washington society, which he found judgmental. Marshall's wit and storytelling skills impressed those around him, however, and he gained a reputation as a jovial if modest politician.

Marshall's relationship with President Wilson was slightly strained. The president preferred to do his own congressional lobbying and regularly traveled to the Capitol to address the Senate and promote his reforms. He rarely consulted Marshall about political matters as they regularly disagreed, and the pair often did not see each other for months at a time. Feeling browbeaten and lacking influence, Marshall used humor to keep up his spirits. Reporters often wrote about Marshall's antics in the newspapers, and his remarks amused Wilson enough that he would repeat them to his dinner guests at parties. One of his most famous humorous comments was in response to a Senator's speech that repeatedly used the refrain "What this country needs…" Marshall leaned in to a Senate clerk and remarked that what the country needed was a "really good five-cent cigar." His joke was printed in newspapers, and cigar companies sent him their products in gratitude.

Although some Democrats wanted Marshall off the 1916 election ticket, Wilson decided to keep him on as vice president. Marshall's second term was more stressful because the United States entered World War I and later entered into negotiations to end the conflict. Wilson spent much time overseas during this period, leaving Marshall to preside over his cabinet. Marshall later withdrew from this position due to concerns over his ability to maintain confidentiality between the executive and legislative branches.

Tragedy struck again in 1919 when President Wilson had a severe stroke, which left him partly paralyzed and unable to govern. The president's advisors kept Wilson's condition from Marshall for a long time because they believed Marshall was unfit to assume the presidency. Marshall refused to take over the presidency without consent from Wilson or the approval of Congress. Wilson's condition was kept hidden from Congress and the public during his final year in office. Marshall was prevented from seeing Wilson during this time and never assumed the presidency. After his second term had ended, Marshall retired from politics and resumed his law career. In his later life, he served on the board of Wabash College, traveled the country as a lecturer, and published the book Recollections in 1925. He died on June 1, 1925, on a visit to Washington, DC, after having a heart attack.

Impact

Many historians have judged Marshall's career as vice president as ineffectual, but most agree that his personality made a big enough impression on his peers that he has come to be regarded as one of the most liked vice presidents in American history. His lectures and speeches were critically praised, and his many comical remarks have been recorded in various books and publications. Apart from his wit, Marshall was regarded for his progressive gubernatorial contributions and his steadfastness as vice president during troubled times.

Personal Life

Marshall married Lois Irene Kimsey in 1895. He and his wife took over the care of a young, sickly boy named Clarence Ignatius Morrison in the early 1900s. Unable to have children of their own, the pair hoped to nurse the boy back to health and raise him. The boy never fully recovered from his illness and died when he was three years old.

Bibliography

"Governor Thomas Riley Marshall." National Governors Association, www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page‗indiana/col2-content/main-content-list/title‗marshall‗thomas.html. Accessed 16 Jan. 2018.

Graf, Jeffrey. "What This Country Needs Is a Really Good 5-Cent Cigar." Indiana University Bloomington, www.indiana.edu/~librcsd/internet/extra/cigar.html. Accessed 16 Jan. 2018.

"Indiana Governor Thomas Riley Marshall (1854–1925)." State of Indiana, www.in.gov/history/2700.htm. Accessed 16 Jan. 2018.

Purcell, L. Edward. Vice Presidents: A Biographical Dictionary. Facts on File, 2010.

"Thomas Marshall Famous Native Son." North Manchester Historical Society, www.nmanchesterhistory.org/biographies-marshall.aspx. Accessed 16 Jan. 2018.

"Thomas R. Marshall, 28th Vice President (1913–1921).'" US Senate, www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/VP‗Thomas‗Marshall.htm. Accessed 16 Jan. 2018.