Chairmen`s Portraits :Committee on Ways & Means :: U.S. House of Representatives :

HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON
FORMER COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS MEMBERS
THAT HAVE ATTAINED HIGHER OFFICE

Throughout its history, many famous Americans have served on the Committee on Ways and Means. The long and distinguished list includes 8 Presidents of the United States, 8 Vice Presidents, 4 Justices of the Supreme Court, 34 Cabinet members, and quite interestingly, 21 Speakers of the House of Representatives. This latter figure represents nearly one-half of the 51 Speakers who have served since 1789 through the present.

Click on the link for a full list of major positions held by former members of the Committee on Ways and Means.

The following Presidential portraits have already been included in the Chairmen`s portrait pages: James K. Polk (D-TN), Millard Fillmore (W-NY), William McKinley, Jr. (R-NY).

[Click on the portraits or picture for a larger view and some interesting facts.]

JR= Jeffersonian Republican | W=Whig | R=Republican | D=Democrat |
PAU = Party Affiliation Unknown

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James Madison, 4th President of the United States
James Madison, 4th President of the United States; and Ways & Means Member 1st Congress (1789-1791), 3rd-4th Congresses (1794-1797) James Madison of Virginia was the first member to become President. He initially sided with Hamilton on the need for a strong central government. But in early 1790`s, Madison broke with Hamilton. HE then played a prominent role in the evolution of a permanent ways and means committee by supporting the creation of a select House panel that would loosen Hamilton`s grip on revenue matters. Madison served on the committee as a minority member. He left Congress in 1800, became Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson, and succeeded him as President in 1809. Click here for a biography



(Click photo to enlarge)
James Madison, 4th President of the United States	Andrew Jackson (JR-TN) 7th President of the United States	John Tyler (JR-VA) 10th President of the United States
James Garfield (R-OH), 20th President of the United States	George H.W. Bush (R-TX) 41st President of the United States	Elbridge Gerry (PAU-MA) Vice President to James Madison;
Albert Gallatin (JR-PA) Secretary of the Treasury (1801-1814	Thomas Brackett Reed (R-ME) Speaker of the House 51st, 54th-55th Congresses	Cordell Hull* (D-TN) Secretary of State 1933-1944
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