Martin, Joseph, Jr.

Martin, Joseph (William), Jr. (1884–1968) U.S. representative; born in North Attleboro, Mass. Son of a blacksmith, he turned down a Dartmouth scholarship to become a journalist, buying the North Attleboro Evening Chronicle in 1908. A Republican, he served in the Massachusetts legislature (1911–17) before going to the U.S. House of Representatives (1925–67), serving as Speaker, 1947–49. He forged a coalition with conservative Democrats to limit New Deal legislation, and in 1946 he helped pass the Taft-Hartley Act over President Truman's veto.