List of United States Political Families (D) - The Doughtons

The Doughtons

A political family from rural Alleghany County in the North Carolina mountains, they rose to considerable power in both Congress and the state government of North Carolina.

• Robert Doughton (1863–1954), U.S. Representative from North Carolina, 1911 to 1953. From 1933 to 1947 he was the Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which controlled how the federal government spent much of its money. He used his influence as chairman to help create and fund the Blue Ridge Parkway; the largest park on the parkway is named in his honor. He also played a major role in the passage of the Social Security Act.
• Rufus A. Doughton (1857–1946). The older brother of Robert Doughton, he served as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives and as the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina from 1893 to 1897.
  • James Doughton (1884–1973), North Carolina State Representative 1948–1957, Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives 1951–1957. Son of Rufus A. Doughton.