John Stephens Wood
Encyclopedia
John Stephens Wood was an American politician
from the state of Georgia
, USA
. He served in the United States House of Representatives
, 1931–1935 and 1945–1953.
Wood was born on a farm near Ball Ground
, Cherokee County, Georgia
, February 8, 1885. He attended the public schools, North Georgia Agricultural College, Dahlonega, Georgia
, and graduated with a law degree from Mercer University
, Macon, Georgia
, in 1910. He was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced the practice of law in Jasper County, Georgia
.
In 1915, he turned up at the scene of the lynching of Leo Frank
with Judge Newt Morris the morning after the lynching, and he drove the vehicle which took away Frank's body to the undertaker. Whether he had any prior knowledge of or involvement with the lynching is open to dispute.
Entering politics, Wood was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives
in 1917; served as Solicitor General of the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, 1921–1925; and was a Superior Court Judge, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, 1925–1931.
In 1931, Wood was elected as a Democrat
from Georgia's 9th congressional district
to the 72nd United States Congress
and was reelected to the 73rd Congress
as well (March 4, 1931 – January 3, 1935). He was unsuccessful in seeking renomination in 1934 and resumed the practice of law.
Ten years later, in 1944, Wood was elected to the 79th United States Congress
serving until the 82nd Congress
(January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1953). As chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee
, he had a prominent role in investigating the American Communist Party and the entertainment industry; the investigation resulted in the Hollywood Blacklist
. Wood was criticized for failing to investigate the Ku Klux Klan
. He did not seek reelection in 1952 and resumed the practice of law in Canton, Georgia
until failing health forced his retirement. Wood died in Marietta, Georgia
, September 12, 1968, and was interred in Arlington Cemetery, Sandy Springs, Georgia
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He served in 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...
, 1931–1935 and 1945–1953.
Wood was born on a farm near Ball Ground
Ball Ground, Georgia
Ball Ground is a city in Cherokee County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1433 at the 2010 census.Ball Ground is at the northernmost end of Georgia Interstate 575, north of Canton at exit 20 on I-575, and ending seven miles north at exit 27...
, Cherokee County, Georgia
Cherokee County, Georgia
As of the census of 2000, there were 141,903 people, 49,495 households, and 39,200 families residing in the county. The population density was 335 people per square mile . There were 51,937 housing units at an average density of 123 per square mile...
, February 8, 1885. He attended the public schools, North Georgia Agricultural College, Dahlonega, Georgia
Dahlonega, Georgia
Dahlonega is a city in Lumpkin County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,242....
, and graduated with a law degree from Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
, Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, in 1910. He was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced the practice of law in Jasper County, Georgia
Jasper County, Georgia
Jasper County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 11,426. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 13,660...
.
In 1915, he turned up at the scene of the lynching of Leo Frank
Leo Frank
Leo Max Frank was a Jewish-American factory superintendent whose hanging in 1915 by a lynch mob of prominent citizens in Marietta, Georgia drew attention to antisemitism in the United States....
with Judge Newt Morris the morning after the lynching, and he drove the vehicle which took away Frank's body to the undertaker. Whether he had any prior knowledge of or involvement with the lynching is open to dispute.
Entering politics, Wood was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
in 1917; served as Solicitor General of the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, 1921–1925; and was a Superior Court Judge, Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, 1925–1931.
In 1931, Wood was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
from Georgia's 9th congressional district
Georgia's 9th congressional district
Georgia's 9th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. The district contains many of the mountainous counties in the northern part of the state along the Appalachian Range and includes Gainesville...
to the 72nd United States Congress
72nd United States Congress
The Seventy-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1931 to March 4, 1933, during the last two years...
and was reelected to the 73rd Congress
73rd United States Congress
The Seventy-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1933 to January 3, 1935, during the first two years...
as well (March 4, 1931 – January 3, 1935). He was unsuccessful in seeking renomination in 1934 and resumed the practice of law.
Ten years later, in 1944, Wood was elected to the 79th United States Congress
79th United States Congress
The Seventy-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1945 to January 3, 1947, during the last months of...
serving until the 82nd Congress
82nd United States Congress
The Eighty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1951 to January 3, 1953, during the last two years...
(January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1953). As chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
, he had a prominent role in investigating the American Communist Party and the entertainment industry; the investigation resulted in the Hollywood Blacklist
Hollywood blacklist
The Hollywood blacklist—as the broader entertainment industry blacklist is generally known—was the mid-twentieth-century list of screenwriters, actors, directors, musicians, and other U.S. entertainment professionals who were denied employment in the field because of their political beliefs or...
. Wood was criticized for failing to investigate the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
. He did not seek reelection in 1952 and resumed the practice of law in Canton, Georgia
Canton, Georgia
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Cherokee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 22,958.-Geography:Canton is located at ....
until failing health forced his retirement. Wood died in Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
, September 12, 1968, and was interred in Arlington Cemetery, Sandy Springs, Georgia
Sandy Springs, Georgia
Sandy Springs is a city in north Georgia, United States. It is a northern suburb of Atlanta. With a 2010 population of 93,853, Sandy Springs is the sixth-largest city in the state and the second-largest city in Metro Atlanta. Sandy Springs is located in north Fulton County, Georgia, just south of...
.