Sam Rayburn was a good man, a good American, and, third, a good Democrat.

Mr. Rayburn was not an easy man to classify or to label.

Sam Rayburn took unnumbered secrets with him to the grave, for he was never loquacious, and his word, once given, was not subject to retraction.

Mr. Dwyer said that although it was obvious that Mr. Rayburn was not well he stopped, gave the youngster his autograph, asked where he was from and expressed the hope that he would enjoy his visit to Congress.

) But Speaker Sam Rayburn, after huddling in Palm Beach with President-elect Kennedy, decided that this year something had to be done about the Rules Committee -- and that he was the only man who could do anything effective.

One of the most influential Speakers in history was Democrat Sam Rayburn.

Rayburn was the longest-serving Speaker in history, holding office from 1940 to 1947, 1949 to 1953, and 1955 to 1961.

Johnson's father had served six terms in the Texas legislature and was a close friend of one of Texas's rising political figures, Congressman Sam Rayburn.

His lack of influence was thrown into relief later that year when Kennedy appointed Johnson's friend Sarah T. Hughes to a federal judgeship ; whereas Johnson had tried and failed to garner the nomination for Hughes at the beginning of his vice presidency, House Speaker Sam Rayburn wrangled the appointment from Kennedy in exchange for support of an administration bill.

The only regular panelist was Match Game host Gene Rayburn, who occupied the lower-left square ; Bauman, in turn, filled that seat during Match Game.

Gene Rayburn ( December 22, 1917 – November 29, 1999 ) was an American radio and television personality.

Rayburn was married to Helen Ticknor from 1940 until her death in October 1996.

Before appearing in television, Rayburn was a very successful actor and radio performer.

Rayburn was also a frequent panelist in the 1960s and ' 70s on What's My Line?

Rayburn was nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Game or Audience Participation Show.

In addition, many of the frequent panelists on the early episodes were not regulars later in the series, including Klugman, Arlene Francis, Bert Convy and Steve Allen, who was host of The Tonight Show when Rayburn served as announcer.

In the very start of the 1970s series, Rayburn read the question before choosing a celebrity, but was changed after a few weeks.

Among those considered to replace Convy was Gene Rayburn, who had just finished The Movie Masters for AMC and had expressed interest in returning.

Lake used the same signature long-thin Sony ECM-51 telescoping microphone Rayburn used during the CBS version, and the set was rebuilt to be almost an exact match of that used from 1973 – 1978.

Rayburn was once again to serve as host, but he had already committed to Break the Bank at the time, and was unavailable.

Rayburn was fired from Break the Bank after 13 weeks and several disputes with the producers, and by late 1986 was once again available.

William Colmer, the mentor of later Representative and U. S. Senator Trent Lott, described McCormack as being far less effective as Speaker than Rayburn, with Colmer saying that McCormack " wanted to be liked " by his colleagues.

These terms represented two Republican short-term majorities in the House, and Martin's two terms were bookended by Sam Rayburn, The Texas Democrat and mentor of Lyndon Johnson with whom Martin enjoyed a warm personal relationship.

Himself a protege of Vice President of the United States John Nance Garner, Rayburn was a close friend and mentor of Lyndon B. Johnson and knew Johnson's father Sam from their days in the Texas Legislature.

" William Colmer, another Mississippian and the mentor of later Representative and U. S. Senator Trent Lott, described Rayburn as a " very strong parliamentarian " who was far more effective than his successor, John McCormack of Massachusetts, whom Colmer found " wanted to be liked " by his colleagues.

Kerosene is still often the fuel of choice for range cookers such as Rayburn.

Frequently, the audience responded appropriately as Rayburn critiqued the contestant's answer ( for the " world's biggest " question, Rayburn might show disdain to an answer such as " fingers " or " bag " and compliment an answer such as " rear end " or " boobs ", often also commenting on the audience's approving or disapproving response ).

Rayburn always played the action for laughs, and frequently tried to read certain questions in character, such as " Old Man Periwinkle " or " Old Mrs. Pervis ".

Aga cookers can also make a contribution to space heating, although it is not true that they can heat an entire house, despite persistent claims to the contrary, presumably arising because the cookers look similar to the many types of central-heating range such as the ' Stanley ' or the ' Rayburn ' Range, also made by the AGA Rangemaster Group.

More modern versions such as the popular Rayburn Range offer a choice between using wood or gas as the fuel source.

At around this time Rayburn introduced various Rayburn brand cooking implements such as pans.

Some of the most important American political figures of the 20th Century, such as President Lyndon B. Johnson, Vice-President John Nance Garner, Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn and Senator Ralph Yarborough were Texas Democrats.

From 1944-1947, he worked as chief speechwriter for the Democratic National Committee, where he was a special assistant to its chairman Robert E. Hannegan, and prepared speeches for him, as well as for various Democratic politicians, such as Harry Truman, Tom Clark, Henry Wallace, Lyndon Johnson, Sam Rayburn and Estes Kefauver.

For construction of the Rayburn House Office Building, the Congressional bill appropriated $ 2 million plus " such additional sums as may be necessary.

In a tense, closed-door session with Judge Smith, Rayburn attempted to work out a compromise: to add three new members to the Rules Committee ( two Democrats, including one Southerner, and one Republican ).

In the original version, which aired from New York on NBC, Rayburn read questions to two panels, each consisting of a celebrity and two audience members.

On January 31, 1961, Brooks voted with a narrow majority of 217-212 to increase the size of the House Rules Committee to permit Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas to appoint newer, more liberal members to the panel, which determines the legislation brought to the House floor.

He was himself readily accessible to members ; historian Anthony Champagne of the University of Texas at Dallas, a Rayburn scholar, views the Speaker as a " bridge between the northern and southern members " of the Democratic Party.

Champagne recalled a report that Rayburn so understood the House that he was " married " to the body and could " feel the sentiment of the members " by merely being in their presence.

* The Rayburn House Office Building, which contains offices of House members adjacent to the United States Capitol.

In 1961, Speaker Sam Rayburn ( D-Texas ), acting on the wishes of the new President John F. Kennedy and the Democratic Study Group, introduced a bill to enlarge the committee from 12 members to 15, to decrease the power of the arch-conservative chairman, Howard W. Smith ( D-Virginia ).

Among the young pages who've helped the NBC-tour customers and studio-audience members at the Radio City Studios before going on to media success have been original Today Show host Dave Garroway and longtime Today personality Willard Scott ; original Tonight Show creator / host Steve Allen and his announcer / sidekick Gene Rayburn ; broadcast journalist Ted Koppel ; TV host Regis Philbin ; TV producer Marcy Carsey ; actress Kate Jackson ; and movie / broadcasting mogul Michael Eisner.