US Congressman. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1880 and became an attorney in 1883. From 1884 to 1889 he was Clerk of the Washington County Circuit Court, and he served in the Arkansas Senate from 1889 to 1891. From 1892 to 1898 Tillman was Washington County Prosecuting Attorney, and he was Circuit Court Judge from 1900 to 1905. From 1905 to 1912 Tillman was President of the University of Arkansas. In 1914 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Democrat and served seven terms, 1915 to 1929. As a Congressman he reacted to Nan Britton's publication of "The President's Daughter," a book detailing her alleged affair with President Warren Harding, by denouncing her and proposing a law to allow censorship of scurrilous works. Tillman also suggested that Britton's book was ghostwritten by a man, a charge that appeared to be proved in 1998's "The Strange Deaths of President Harding" in which author Robert H. Ferrell describes similarities between phrases in "The President's Daughter" and other works by Richard Wightman, Britton's employer. In response, Britton offered Tillman $1,000 and a $4,000 contribution to a charity he selected if he could disprove her book, a challenge he declined. In failing health, he did not seek reelection in 1928 and died just five days after the end of his final term.
US Congressman. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1880 and became an attorney in 1883. From 1884 to 1889 he was Clerk of the Washington County Circuit Court, and he served in the Arkansas Senate from 1889 to 1891. From 1892 to 1898 Tillman was Washington County Prosecuting Attorney, and he was Circuit Court Judge from 1900 to 1905. From 1905 to 1912 Tillman was President of the University of Arkansas. In 1914 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Democrat and served seven terms, 1915 to 1929. As a Congressman he reacted to Nan Britton's publication of "The President's Daughter," a book detailing her alleged affair with President Warren Harding, by denouncing her and proposing a law to allow censorship of scurrilous works. Tillman also suggested that Britton's book was ghostwritten by a man, a charge that appeared to be proved in 1998's "The Strange Deaths of President Harding" in which author Robert H. Ferrell describes similarities between phrases in "The President's Daughter" and other works by Richard Wightman, Britton's employer. In response, Britton offered Tillman $1,000 and a $4,000 contribution to a charity he selected if he could disprove her book, a challenge he declined. In failing health, he did not seek reelection in 1928 and died just five days after the end of his final term.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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