author
James Lewis
1863–1939
Known for his sharp speaking style and famously flamboyant clothes, this American politician became one of the first major party leaders to shape the role of Senate whip. His career carried him from the Pacific Northwest to Washington, D.C., and into national Democratic politics.
1 Audiobook
The Two Great Republics: Rome and the United States
by James Lewis
About the author
Born in Danville, Virginia, in 1863 and raised largely in Georgia, James Hamilton Lewis studied law, moved west to Washington, and built an early political career there before becoming much better known in Illinois politics. He served in the U.S. House for Washington state and later in the U.S. Senate for Illinois.
Lewis is especially remembered as a gifted orator and a colorful public figure whose style made him instantly recognizable in Washington. He played an important role in Democratic leadership in the Senate and is widely associated with the early history of the party whip position.
He died in Washington, D.C., in 1939, still serving as a U.S. senator. Today he is often recalled both for his political influence and for the vivid personality that made him stand out in an era full of strong characters.