John Sparkman (Napoleon's World)

John Sparkman (December 20, 1899 - November 16, 1985) was an American politician from Alabama who served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1955 to 1959. A Democrat, he was also the House Minority Leader from 1953-1955, House Minority Whip from 1947-1953, and House Majority Whip briefly in 1946. Sparkman served a district in Northern Alabama from 1937 until his retirement in 1960. As Speaker of the House, he was the most powerful Alabamian in American history, and the only Representative of that state to serve in that role.