68th Congress
| US House Speaker Balloting, 1923 |
| Contender: Ballot | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Frederick H. Gillett NH | 198 | 195 | 195 | 197 | 197 | 195 | 196 | 197 | 215 |
| Finis J. Garrett TN | 195 | 193 | 196 | 196 | 197 | 197 | 198 | 198 | 197 |
| Henry A. Cooper WI | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | -- |
| Martin B. Madden IL | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Present | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
For the first time since 1859 and the last till 2023, more than one ballot was needed to choose the Speaker of the House. Although the Republican Party held a narrow margin in the body, some Progressive Republicans who had been ignored in the previous Congress demanded they be heard and forced nine ballots to be taken before a compromise was reached.
The first sign of the Republican revolt came during the Republican caucus. Gillett was re-nominated with 19
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68th Congress
| US House Speaker Balloting, 1923 |
| Contender: Ballot | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Frederick H. Gillett NH | 198 | 195 | 195 | 197 | 197 | 195 | 196 | 197 | 215 |
| Finis J. Garrett TN | 195 | 193 | 196 | 196 | 197 | 197 | 198 | 198 | 197 |
| Henry A. Cooper WI | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | -- |
| Martin B. Madden IL | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Present | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
For the first time since 1859 and the last till 2023, more than one ballot was needed to choose the Speaker of the House. Although the Republican Party held a narrow margin in the body, some Progressive Republicans who had been ignored in the previous Congress demanded they be heard and forced nine ballots to be taken before a compromise was reached.
The first sign of the Republican revolt came during the Republican caucus. Gillett was re-nominated with 190 votes to 15 for Cooper, 8 for Madden, and one for Edward Little of Kansas. Gillett's vote was less than a majority of the entire House, and the Progressives immediately went to the media to set forth their demands. [NYT 12/2/1923]
When the House assembled on 12/2/1923, 25 Republicans did not vote for Gillett, resulting in a deadlock. The regular Republican leaders agreed to the Progressive demands following the 8th ballot. Throughout the balloting, the "present" votes were cast by Socialist Victor Berger, Gillett, Garrett, and Cooper. Madden voted for Gillett, as he consistently stated he was not a candidate.
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215 (48.75%)