On this episode of Our American Stories, John McCormack spent decades telling Americans he was the son of Irish immigrants who overcame poverty to become Speaker of the House. The truth was more complicated. To make his way to the top, McCormack reinvented his own family story before rising to become the first Catholic Speaker in American history.

Professor and Jack Miller Center fellow, Jeff Bloodworth, shares the story of why McCormack reshaped his past, how he helped bridge the nation's Protestant-Catholic divide, and how his leadership helped make possible one of the most consequential immigration laws in American history.

Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)

On this episode of Our American Stories, John McCormack spent decades telling Americans he was the son of Irish immigrants who overcame poverty to become Speaker of the House. The truth was more complicated. To make his way to the top, McCormack reinvented his own family story before rising to become the first Catholic Speaker in American history. Professor and&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jackmillercenter.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CUraelBlackshear%40iheartmedia.com%7C48042c9030454a4c991908deebfdec25%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639207672997267923%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=d59ESfh5G5ytmpvDVc3mLMfLrgL1ECic7pyoOAcEuSw%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3" data-ogsc="">Jack Miller Center</a>&nbsp;fellow, Jeff Bloodworth, shares the story of why McCormack reshaped his past, how he helped bridge the nation's Protestant-Catholic divide, and how his leadership helped make possible one of the most consequential immigration laws in American history.
Support the show (<a href="https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)">https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)</a>

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit, and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories

Our American Stories tells stories that aren’t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we’ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

Our American Stories tells stories that aren&rsquo;t being told. Positive stories about generosity and courage, resilience and redemption, faith and love. Stories about the past and present. And stories about ordinary Americans who do extraordinary things each and every day. Stories from our listeners about their lives. And their history. In that pursuit, we hope we&rsquo;ll be a place where listeners can refresh their spirit and be inspired by our stories.

The Congressman Who Invented His Own Biography: John McCormack

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/dff2d0bb-3751-44bb-833e-b49600544ab8/transcript