Early in his career , Martin worked as a newspaper editor and served in both houses of the Massachusetts General Court . He won election to the United States House of Representatives in 1924 . He was elected House Minority Leader after the 1938 elections and continued to hold the lead House Republican position ( either Speaker or House Minority Leader ) until 1959 . He also served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1940 to 1942 at the behest of Wendell Willkie , the 1940 Republican presidential nominee . Martin presided over five Republican National Conventions and frequently became involved in presidential politics . He urged General Douglas MacArthur to seek the 1952 Republican presidential nomination , and supporters of Robert A. Taft accused Martin of favoring Dwight D. Eisenhower in Martin 's role as chairman of the contentious 1952 Republican National Convention . After Eisenhower won the 1952 election , Martin supported Eisenhower 's internationalist foreign policy outlook
1952 Republican National Convention
1952 Republican National Convention
Joseph W. Martin Jr.