George W. Norris

George William Norris (July 11, 1861 – September 2, 1944) was an American politician from the midwestern state of Nebraska. Norris served five consecutive terms as a Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, from 1903-1917. During his tenure in the House he was elected to the Speakership four consecutive times. Later he moved to the Senate and served from 1917 to 1929, when he was elected to President of the United States. Norris' final political role would be to serve as President during the Great Depression. Afterwards, despite Republican attempts to draft him for a third term, he would gradually retire from politics after returning to his home state of Nebraska.

Early life
Norris was born in 1861 in York Township, Ohio. He was one of eleven children of poor rural farmers of Scots-Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch descent. He graduated from Baldwin University and later earned his law degree in 1883 at Valparaiso University. Moving west to practice law, Norris moved to Beaver City, Nebraska. In 1889 he met and later married Pluma Lashley; the couple had three daughers, named Gertrude, Hazel, and Marian, before Lashley died in 1901. Several years later, the widower Norris later married Ellie Leonard, though they had no children.

Early career
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Presidency
Main article: Presidency of George W. Norris

Elected on a program of ending the Great Depression, Norris presided over the New Square Deal, which fundamentally altered the shape of financial and social programs within the United States. A committed idealist, Norris garnered as much praise for his unwavering commitment to his ideas as he did criticism concerning his inability to compromise on his ideals. Despite internal party squabbling, Norris successfully led the Republican party through a string of defining victories in all levels of government.

Election
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New Square Deal
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Later life
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Death
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Political views
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Legacy
Though he is remembered fondly, many aspects of his administration faced criticism for empowering state development which led to growing corruption and local stagnation, pandering to unions, and his strict reverance and following of isolationism. Despite these criticisms the general consensus is that he heralded a politcal realignment not seen since the Election of 1896.