{{Officeholder
|name=John Jennings, Jr.
|image=John Jennings, Jr..png
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Pearnie Ethel Hamby
|religion=
|offices=
{{Officeholder/representative
|state=Tennessee
|district=2nd
|terms=December 30, 1939 – January 3, 1951
|preceded=[[J. Will Taylor]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Howard Baker, Sr.]]
}}
}}
'''John Jennings, Jr.''' (June 6, 1880 – February 27, 1956) was a [[Tennessee]] [[Republican]] who represented the state's 2nd congressional district mostly during the 1940s, succeeding [[James Willis Taylor]], who died in office. He was previously a delegate to the Republican National Conventions three times during the 1910s, in addition to being a special assistant to the [[United States Attorney General]].
==U.S. House of Representatives==
[[File:John Jennings, Jr. bioguide picture.jpg|thumb|left|160px]]Following the death of incumbent popular congressman [[J. Will Taylor|James Willis "J. Will" Taylor, Jr.]] in 1939, Jennings was among several Republican contenders for the seat, which included Taylor's older daughter Elizabeth.<ref>Hill, Ray (September 3, 2018). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/this-weeks-focus/mystery-j-will-taylors-death-ii/ The Mystery After J. Will Taylor’s Death, II]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> However, Elizabeth Taylor ultimately decided against running for her late father's seat, citing her mother's ill health. Jennings, who previously unsuccessfully sought to primary Taylor, subsequently received the GOP nomination and faced [[Democrat]] Hammond Fowler, who attacked the authenticity of his support for the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]] ([[TVA]]),<ref>Hill, Ray (September 9, 2018). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/this-weeks-focus/fight-succeed-j-will-taylor/ The Fight To Succeed J. Will Taylor]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> an extremely popular [[New Deal]] agency in the state. HoweverDespite such, Jennings still defeated Fowler by a landslide.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=310771 TN - District 02 - Special Election Race - Dec 30, 1939]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> He would be re-elected five times in 1940, 1942, 1944, 1946, and 1948.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=129423 Candidate - John Jennings]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref>
Jennings voted for the 1940 Gavagan-Fish<ref>FascinatingPolitics (July 1, 2018). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2018/07/01/on-ideology-and-anti-lynching-legislation/ On Ideology and Anti-Lynching Legislation]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> [[anti-lynching bill]].,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/76-3/h96 TO PASS H.R. 801, A BILL TO MAKE LYNCHING A FEDERAL CRIME.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> in addition to an anti-[[poll tax]] measure two years later.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/77-1942/h150 TO PASS H.R. 1024 WHICH DECLARES ILLEGAL THE REQUIREMENT OF A POLL TAX AS A PREREQUISITE FOR VOTING OR REGISTERING TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT, OR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref>
In the [[1950 Midterm Elections]], Jennings faced a primary challenge from [[Howard Baker, Sr.]] (the father of later Tennessee U.S. senator [[Howard Baker, Jr.]]), and lost renomination in a landslide.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=417671 TN District 2 - R Primary Race - Aug 03, 1950]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref> He missed five percent of all [[roll call vote]]s during his congressional tenure.<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/john_jennings/405998 Rep. John Jennings Jr.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved August 5, 2021.</ref>
==See also==
*[[Brazilla Carroll Reece]], Republican U.S. representative from Tennessee's 1st congressional district
==References==
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Civil Rights]]
[[Category:1930s]]
[[Category:1940s]]