Jim Nance McCord
Encyclopedia
Jim Nance McCord was an American
journalist
and politician
who served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives
(from 1943 to 1945) and two terms as Governor of Tennessee (from 1945 to 1949).
McCord was born to a farm family in Unionville
in Bedford County, Tennessee, and was educated in the public schools and by private instructors. As early as 1894 he worked as a store clerk, and by the age of 17 he left home to work in a store in Lewisburg, Tennessee
and later to become a traveling salesman
. In 1901 he married Vera Kercheval of Lewisburg.
In 1910 he began a long newspaper
career as editor and publisher of the Marshall County Gazette in Lewisburg, the county seat
of Marshall County, where he was later to serve 13 terms as the city's mayor
.
In 1942 he ran for the United States House of Representatives
and won. Less of a supporter of E. H. Crump
, the Memphis
political boss, than his predecessor, Governor Prentice Cooper
, McCord pushed through the legislature
a politically unpopular sales tax
(2%). In the compromise that made this possible, the state property tax
was eliminated.
McCord was also a supporter of right-to-work legislation allowed under the Taft-Hartley Act
of 1947. This put him at odds with many core Democratic constituencies, particularly organized labor, and was a factor helping to lead to his defeat by former governor Gordon Browning
in the 1948 Democratic Primary
. However, McCord's career as a public servant was not over. He was a delegate to the limited state constitutional convention
of 1953, which submitted several important changes to the voters for approval, most notably extension of the gubernatorial term from two to four years. McCord also served in the cabinet
of Governor Frank G. Clement
as Commissioner of Conservation.
In 1958, at the age of 79, he opposed Buford Ellington
for election to the governorship again in the 1958 general, this time running as an Independent
, but received 32% to Ellington's 58%.
McCord died in Nashville
on September 2, 1968 at the age of 89, a decade after his last run for the governorship. At the time of his death, he was the third oldest governor in Tennessee history, behind John I. Cox
and Tom Rye, both of whom lived to age 90. McCord is buried in Lone Oak Cemetery in Lewisburg
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
(from 1943 to 1945) and two terms as Governor of Tennessee (from 1945 to 1949).
McCord was born to a farm family in Unionville
Unionville, Tennessee
Unionville is an unincorporated community in Bedford County, Tennessee, United States.Unionville is the site of a post office and three Bedford County public schools, the Community Elementary School , the Community Middle School , and Community High School .The community was the birthplace of...
in Bedford County, Tennessee, and was educated in the public schools and by private instructors. As early as 1894 he worked as a store clerk, and by the age of 17 he left home to work in a store in Lewisburg, Tennessee
Lewisburg, Tennessee
Lewisburg is a city in Marshall County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,413 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marshall County...
and later to become a traveling salesman
Vendor (supply chain)
A vendor, or a supplier, is a supply chain management term meaning anyone who provides goods or services to a company. A vendor often manufactures inventoriable items, and sells those items to a customer.- History :...
. In 1901 he married Vera Kercheval of Lewisburg.
In 1910 he began a long newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
career as editor and publisher of the Marshall County Gazette in Lewisburg, the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Marshall County, where he was later to serve 13 terms as the city's mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
.
In 1942 he ran for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and won. Less of a supporter of E. H. Crump
E. H. Crump
Edward Hull "Boss" Crump was an American politician from Memphis, Tennessee. He was mayor from 1910 through 1915, and again briefly in 1940; in the intervening years he effectively appointed the mayors.-Career:...
, the Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
political boss, than his predecessor, Governor Prentice Cooper
Prentice Cooper
William Prentice Cooper was an American politician and Governor of Tennessee from 1939 to 1945.-Life and career:A native of Bedford County, Tennessee, he attended Vanderbilt University and then Harvard University...
, McCord pushed through the legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
a politically unpopular sales tax
Sales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
(2%). In the compromise that made this possible, the state property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
was eliminated.
McCord was also a supporter of right-to-work legislation allowed under the Taft-Hartley Act
Taft-Hartley Act
The Labor–Management Relations Act is a United States federal law that monitors the activities and power of labor unions. The act, still effective, was sponsored by Senator Robert Taft and Representative Fred A. Hartley, Jr. and became law by overriding U.S. President Harry S...
of 1947. This put him at odds with many core Democratic constituencies, particularly organized labor, and was a factor helping to lead to his defeat by former governor Gordon Browning
Gordon Browning
Gordon Weaver Browning was an American politician who represented Tennessee in the United States Congress and was later Governor of Tennessee from 1937 to 1939 and again from 1949 to 1953.-Biography:...
in the 1948 Democratic Primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. However, McCord's career as a public servant was not over. He was a delegate to the limited state constitutional convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
of 1953, which submitted several important changes to the voters for approval, most notably extension of the gubernatorial term from two to four years. McCord also served in the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of Governor Frank G. Clement
Frank G. Clement
Frank Goad Clement served as Governor of Tennessee from 1953 to 1959, and again from 1963 to 1967.-Early life:...
as Commissioner of Conservation.
In 1958, at the age of 79, he opposed Buford Ellington
Buford Ellington
Earl Buford Ellington , a native of Mississippi, was the 42nd Governor of Tennessee from 1959 to 1963 and again from 1967 until 1971....
for election to the governorship again in the 1958 general, this time running as an Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
, but received 32% to Ellington's 58%.
McCord died in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
on September 2, 1968 at the age of 89, a decade after his last run for the governorship. At the time of his death, he was the third oldest governor in Tennessee history, behind John I. Cox
John I. Cox
John Isaac Cox was Governor of Tennessee from 1905 to 1907.-Biography:Cox was born in Sullivan County, Tennessee, on November 23, 1855, and was the son of a Confederate soldier, which was less common in East Tennessee than in the rest of the state, as East Tennessee was one of the Southern...
and Tom Rye, both of whom lived to age 90. McCord is buried in Lone Oak Cemetery in Lewisburg
Lewisburg, Tennessee
Lewisburg is a city in Marshall County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,413 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marshall County...
.