John F. Thompson (politician)

John Forbes Thompson (May 20, 1920 – August 12, 1965) was a U.S. politician who was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1949–1964. He served as the House Majority Leader from 1955–1957 and Speaker of the House from 1958 to 1964.

John F. Thompson
John Forbes Thompson, circa 1953
Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
1958–1964
Preceded byMichael F. Skerry
Succeeded byJohn Davoren
Personal details
BornMay 20, 1920
Ludlow, Massachusetts[1]
DiedAugust 12, 1965(1965-08-12) (aged 45)
Norwood, Massachusetts[2]
Political partyDemocratic Party
ResidenceLudlow, Massachusetts
Alma materBoston University
Boston College Law School
ProfessionPublic relations

Thompson continued to hold the office of speaker in 1964 following a bribery indictment,[3] but did not preside during a debate on a motion to declare the office vacant, which was defeated on May 11, 1964. Nor did he preside from the rostrum for the remainder of the annual session that ended in the early morning of July 4, 1964. He was reelected as State Representative in November, 1964. He was not a candidate for Speaker when the House convened in 1965. He died before the bribery case was resolved.[4]

John F. Thompson Hall, a center for social and behavioral science classrooms and offices at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is named after him.

See also

References
  1. Thomas A. Chadwick and William C. Maiers. 1963-1964 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  2. "John Thompson Dies; Led Bay State House". The Hartford Courant. Aug 14, 1965. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  3. "Massachusetts Speaker and 25 Indicted in Corruption Inquiry", New York Times, May 9, 1964
  4. Brian C. Mooney (June 3, 2009). "Concentration of power held by speaker blamed as a key factor". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2010-03-06.
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Preceded by
Michael F. Skerry		 Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
1958 — 1964		 Succeeded by
John Davoren


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