Paul Cunningham

Paul Harvey Cunningham (June 15, 1890 – July 16, 1961) served nine consecutive terms as a Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa. First elected in 1940, he was re-elected eight times, and defeated in 1958.

Born on a farm in Indiana County, Pennsylvania near Kent, Cunningham attended the public schools. He graduated from State Teachers College, Indiana, Pennsylvania, in 1911, from the literary department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1914, and from its Law School in 1915. He was admitted to the bar in 1915 and commenced practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

During the First World War, from 1917 to 1919, he served as a first lieutenant in the Infantry.

He moved to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1919 and continued the practice of law. He served as member of the Iowa National Guard from 1920 to 1923. He was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1933, and served until 1937.

On February 4, 1940, Congressman Cassius C. Dowell died, thereby creating a vacancy in Iowa's 6th congressional district. Cunningham fell four votes short of receiving the Republican Party's nomination as its candidate in the March 5, 1940 special election. Although Robert K. Goodwin received the nomination and won the special election, Cunningham received his party's nomination for the 1940 general election, where he defeated E. Frank Fox.

Iowa's districts were reapportioned before the next election to reflect the loss of one Iowa seat, placing Cunningham's home county (Polk) in Iowa's 5th congressional district. In 1942, and in the next eight elections, Cunningham was re-elected to Congress from that district.

In 1958, Cunningham faced a challenge from Neal Smith, then seeking his first term. Two weeks before the election, Cunningham was slightly favored to win, based on a split within the Polk County Democratic Party's organization. However, Smith defeated Cunningham, winning his first of eighteen terms. Cunningham's congressional service began January 3, 1941, and ended January 3, 1959. Cunningham voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

After his defeat, Cunningham resumed the practice of law. He died at his summer home on Gull Lake, Brainerd, Minnesota, on July 16, 1961. He was interred in Masonic Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 15, 1890 (Indiana County), Died July 16, 1961 (Brainerd)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1913 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 55 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-13851 10-in. 9/24/1913 My lovin' melody man Peerless Quartet Male vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-15095 10-in. 7/29/1914 What a wonderful love that would be Ada Jones ; Billy Murray Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-18704 10-in. 11/13/1916 If it wasn't for you Ada Jones ; Billy Murray Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-22439 10-in. 11/29/1918 Have a smile for everyone you meet, and they will have a smile for you Sterling Trio Male vocal trio, with violin obbligato and orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-22880 10-in. 5/28/1919 The gates of gladness (On the road to Sunshine Land) Lewis James ; Shannon Four Male vocal quartet and soloist, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-23016 10-in. 6/18/1919 If you don't stop making eyes at me Arthur Fields Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-24378 10-in. 8/12/1920 Tripoli William Robyn ; Louise Terrell Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-25733 10-in. 10/27/1921 That's how I believe in you Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-26818 10-in. 8/7/1922 All over nothing at all Billy Murray ; Aileen Stanley Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-28682 10-in. 10/23/1923 You can't make a fool out of me Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with cello and orchestra lyricist  
Victor BVE-35458 10-in. 5/13/1926 Let the end of the world come to-morrow (as long as you love me to-day) Helen Clark ; Lewis James Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor BS-040625 10-in. 7/29/1939 Out of port Blue Barron ; Alan Holmes Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-041509 10-in. 8/7/1939 Scissors and knives to grind Les Brown Orchestra ; Herb Muse Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-044002 10-in. 10/24/1939 Piggy wiggy woo Marion Holmes ; Kassels-in-the-Air Orchestra ; Three Romeos Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio and female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-047282 10-in. 2/28/1940 Please take a letter, Miss Brown Clyde Burke ; Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-047740 10-in. 3/4/1940 You gorgeous dancing doll Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra ; Johnny Victor Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-050523 10-in. 5/7/1940 Please take a letter, Miss Brown Mitchell Ayres ; Fashions-in-Music ; Tommy Taylor Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-051548 10-in. 6/21/1940 Gentlemen of the jury Meredith Blake ; Gray Gordon ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-051550 10-in. 6/21/1940 I am an American Meredith Blake ; Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet and vocal ensemble songwriter  
Victor BS-056112 10-in. 9/13/1940 Autumn on the campus Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble songwriter  
Victor BS-057002 10-in. 10/17/1940 Oh! They're making me all over in the army Gordon Goons ; Gray Gordon ; Art Perry ; Tic-Toc Rhythm Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal ensemble songwriter  
Victor BS-058103 10-in. 11/27/1940 You're in the Army now Californians ; Abe Lyman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble songwriter  
Victor BS-068680 10-in. 12/18/1941 All for love Vaughn Monroe's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor D7VB-0699 10-in. 3/27/1947 I'm easy to get along with Dardanelle Trio Female vocal solo, with guitar, bass, and piano songwriter  
Victor D7VB-0944 10-in. 6/4/1947 Goodbye, good luck, get lost Pat Flowers ; Rhythm (Pat Flowers) Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band songwriter  
(Results 1-25 of 55 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Cunningham, Paul," accessed October 5, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/111123.

Cunningham, Paul. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 5, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/111123.

"Cunningham, Paul." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 5 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/111123

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