National Affairs: Last Heffle

Most Senators thought they had heard the final heffling of James Thomas (“Tom-Tom”) Heflin, their hulking colleague for a decade, when on March 4, 1931 the 71st Congress was silenced. As the Capitol’s double doors closed on his flapping broadcloth coat tails, they believed that his creamy vest, his lush black tie, his florid face and droning voice had passed forever from the scene. Had Alabama not repudiated him in 1930 for political apostasy, electing John Hollis Bankhead in his place? Those who supposed they were through with heffling were mistaken. Last week, in full oldtime regalia, “Tom-Tom” Heflin was back upon the Senate floor, smashing a hamlike fist into a pink palm,’ ranting and roaring as of old, crying, “My God, Senators, think of that!”

Democrat Heflin contested the election of Senator Bankhead, claimed it had been stolen from him. For months he haunted the Capitol corridors while a Senate Committee investigated his charges. As a final courtesy he was extended the extraordinary privilege of addressing the Senate as a private citizen on why he should be seated over Mr. Bankhead. Given two hours, he took five hours, twelve minutes. His speech filled 27 pages in the Congressional Record, cost the Government $1,000 to print.

Of new facts he had none. He quoted Jesus Christ, Pontius Pilate, Byron, Bryan and a man named Bugg. He told funny stories (the widow at her husband’s funeral who was so surprised at the preacher’s eulogy that she sent her son up to look into the coffin to see if the dead man really was his “paw”); sad stories (the stepson who received a pair of brogans at Christmas while the other children got fine shoes and then complained that they hurt him not in the feet but in the heart). He treated the Senate to a long legendary account of Roland of Roncesvalles who “guarded the gate with drawn sword against all impostors.”

“Alabama!” he heffled in conclusion. “I’d give my life to protect its good name and honor. I’m fighting for the factory girls . . . the farmers . . . the schoolteachers . . . and the boys who go down into the bowels of the earth to dig for coal and iron. . . . I’ll fight on & on & on. . . .”

The Senate was unimpressed. It voted (6440-18) to seat Mr. Bankhead. Flushed, crushed. Citizen Heflin gave the chamber one last lingering look, rose from his chair, marched defiantly out. Democrats were gathering around Senator Bankhead with congratulations. Not one bade “Tom-Tom” Heflin goodbye. The 18 Senators who had voted for him were all Republicans.