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and he spoke out against "religious bigots." Hoover won the presidency in an overwhelming national landslide with 58% of the popular vote. In
Oklahoma, Hoover did even better and trounced Smith with 63.7% of the vote and many Oklahoma Republicans won state offices on his coattails, including seats on
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As governor, Johnston successfully proposed the establishment of a crippled children's hospital and a large increase to school aid funds. His trouble began with complaints about his private secretary holding too much power and making executive decisions that he should be making. After an unsuccessful
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began on
February 6 and would last over six weeks. The trial came to an end on March 20 with the State Senate removing Johnston from office on the eleventh charge: general incompetence. The ten other charges were dismissed. On the same day, Holloway became the eighth governor of Oklahoma. He was the
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However, problems would haunt
Johnston's governorship from the beginning. Before the state legislature adjourned in May 1927, complaints were raised against Johnston's private secretary, Mrs. O. O. Hammonds. The legislative leaders believed Hammonds held too much power over the governor. It was even
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On
January 10, 1927, Johnston was inaugurated as the seventh Governor of Oklahoma with all the hopes of a successful administration. Immediately, the Oklahoma Legislature approved Johnston's appropriation proposals to establish a crippled children's hospital and increased school aid funds to over $
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The removal of
Johnston proved to be the Oklahoma Legislature's apex of dominance against the other two branches of state government. Over the first two decades of Oklahoma's state existence, the state legislature had brought impeachment charges against four governors and had removed two. Only
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Following impeachment, Johnston returned to practice law in Perry. Four years later, he would win a term in the state senate, serving from 1933 to 1937. After leaving the Senate, he would once again return to practice law in Perry, where he died at the age of 97 on
January 7, 1965. He was the
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agreed to, against
Governor Johnston and many members of his administration. However, realizing that the judicial branch sided with the executive branch on this matter and that the courts were concerned over the legality of their session, the state senate dismissed the issues and the state
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believed that she went so far to make executive decisions and appointments in her own right. Believing that
Johnston was neglecting his duties, the leaders of the state legislature's demanded that she be immediately discharged from the governor's services.
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troops, under the orders of
Johnston, prevented them from entering the Capitol. This did not stop the Legislature from acting. The Legislature convened on December 13, 1927 in the Huckins Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. There, the
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accepted the
Oklahoma Constitution. On the same day, Charles N. Haskell was inaugurated as the state's first governor. Before the state constitution was approved, Johnston ran and was elected to the
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Johnston for neglect of his duties by the end of 1927, the legislative leaders met in special session under a newly adopted initiative proposition. This measure was introduced to deal with Governor
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that the Legislature's actions were unconstitutional and that they could only meet during regular sessions or at the call of the governor in special session. Following the Supreme Court's example,
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Johnston returned to serve for several months without any harassment from the state legislature. However, everything changed toward the end of 1928. That year, the Democrats had selected
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legislature adjourned. The whole event only made Johnston more popular and powerful. The people loved him for using the courts to decide the issue, rather than
558:. During the campaign, Johnston was supported by the Ku Klux Klan. Winning the general election, Johnston was inaugurated as the seventh governor of Oklahoma.
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and unconstitutional special session to impeach the governor in 1927, a new group of state lawmakers impeached the governor in 1929.
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Territories were to combine into one state, Johnston was elected in 1906 to represent Noble and the surrounding counties at the
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second lieutenant governor to become governor through the gubernatorial succession process in state history, the first being
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When the state legislature met in regular session in 1929, both Democrats and Republicans crafted a second wave of
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1,500,000 a year. As one observer cited, it was the "highest public school subsidy in state history at the time."
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Nationwide, it would be nearly 60 years before another U.S. governor was impeached—Governor
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longest-lived governor in Oklahoma history, before or since. Johnston is buried in Perry.
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Ignoring both courts, the state legislature proceeded with its plans and headed for the
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to continue with impeachment charges. The Oklahoma Legislature was only stopped when
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Impeached state and territorial governors of the United States removed from office
802:| Oklahoma Historical Society | JOHNSTON, HENRY SIMPSON (1867–1965) | Bob Burke |
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against the Oklahoma Legislature, preventing state lawmakers from convening.
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where he would become a powerful and popular figure throughout the area of
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of Oklahoma. So popular was Johnston that he placed his name in the
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intervened to the benefit of Johnston. The court ruled in the case
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519:. A popular figure, Johnston was selected to serve as the first
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in 1891. After a few years in Colorado, Johnston would move to
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Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Johnston, Henry
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542:. Johnston himself would serve as the Grand Master of the
406:(December 30, 1867 – January 7, 1965) was an American
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would wield great executive power during this time.
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as their U.S. presidential nominee to challenge the
691:charges. Of the thirteen charges presented by the
527:, who serves as President of the Oklahoma Senate.
1358:Members of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention
523:, the state senate's highest official behind the
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1363:Members of the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature
453:on December 30, 1867, Johnston was a native of
1348:Candidates in the 1908 United States elections
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247:November 16, 1932 – November 16, 1936
214:November 16, 1907 – November 16, 1908
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918:President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
521:President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
420:president pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
157:President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate
782:Oklahoma Supreme Court Case Simpson v. Hill
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118:January 10, 1927 – March 20, 1929
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69:Learn how and when to remove this message
1318:Democratic Party Oklahoma state senators
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530:Among his most powerful supporters were
32:This article includes a list of general
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437:Johnston died in 1965 and is buried in
1313:Democratic Party governors of Oklahoma
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815:"Johnston, Henry Simpson | 1938"
1343:Politicians from Evansville, Indiana
480:Upon announcement that Oklahoma and
461:where he studied law and passed the
457:. At age 24, Johnston would move to
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844:"Impeachment of Oklahoma Governors"
702:became acting governor. Johnston's
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486:Oklahoma Constitutional Convention
416:Oklahoma Constitutional Convention
38:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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1353:20th-century Oklahoma politicians
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848:American Political Science Review
693:Oklahoma House of Representatives
616:Oklahoma House of Representatives
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758:Second State of the State Speech
414:who served as a delegate to the
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753:First State of the State Speech
697:Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
525:Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
1333:People from Oklahoma Territory
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554:to replace outgoing Governor
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842:Ewing, Cortez A. M. (1930).
278:Oklahoma Territorial Council
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53:more precise citations.
674:Oklahoma Supreme Court
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643:Johnston's support of
607:Oklahoma State Capitol
584:Oklahoma Supreme Court
509:United States Congress
404:Henry Simpson Johnston
329:Henry Simpson Johnston
203:from the 10th district
1035:Governors of Oklahoma
715:Later life and legacy
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280:from the 2nd district
986:Governor of Oklahoma
952:Governor of Oklahoma
624:Court of Impeachment
562:Governor of Oklahoma
552:Governor of Oklahoma
536:Protestant churchmen
424:governor of Oklahoma
392:Southwestern College
224:Position established
179:Position established
106:Governor of Oklahoma
996:William J. Holloway
700:William J. Holloway
647:earned him enemies.
455:Evansville, Indiana
342:Evansville, Indiana
149:William J. Holloway
126:William J. Holloway
16:American politician
971:Political offices
775:2006-06-24 at the
730:Robert L. Williams
726:Charles N. Haskell
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498:Robert L. Williams
490:Charles N. Haskell
471:Oklahoma Territory
422:, and the seventh
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1046:(1890–1907)
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964:William H. Murray
961:Succeeded by
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892:Henry S. Johnston
704:impeachment trial
494:William H. Murray
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258:Jo Ferguson
253:Preceded by
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51:introducing
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123:Lieutenant
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1197:J. Murray
1172:W. Murray
1147:Robertson
870:0003-0554
743:in 1988.
659:nominee,
451:log cabin
428:impeached
384:Education
291:1897–1899
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243:In office
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344:, U.S.
36:, but
1267:Stitt
1257:Henry
1232:Boren
1157:Trapp
1137:Cruce
467:Perry
1237:Nigh
1227:Hall
1212:Nigh
1202:Gary
1187:Kerr
1068:Seay
957:1926
866:ISSN
728:and
672:the
496:and
410:and
349:Died
325:Born
155:1st
104:7th
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856:doi
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