Terry Womack () was the Minority Whip of the US House of Representatives for the US Democratic Party, leading the Black Caucus. In 2013, he became the first African-American House Majority Leader, replacing David Rasmussen.
Biography[]
Terry Womack was from Missouri, and he was elected to the US House of Representatives as the congressman for Missouri's 5th congressional district. His district included the McCudden military base, which provided 3,000 jobs to people. In 2013, the Brack Commission decided to cut military spending by closing down military bases, so congressman Frank Underwood decided to take advantage of this by gaining Womack's support, along with that of the Black Caucus. He had his Pennsylvania congressman Peter Russo close down the Philadelphia Naval Yard and cut 12,000 jobs instead, which allowed for McCudden to remain open. Womack, indebted to Underwood, led the Black Caucus in support of a possible replacement of Bob Birch as Speaker of the House, with House Majority Leader David Rasmussen being said to have led them. Womack and all of the 13 supporters of the possible impeachment of Birch claimed that Rasmussen approached them, leading to Birch thinking that there was a party coup. Birch decided to support Underwood by making Womack the first African-American House Majority Leader and supporting his education bill, while Womack would replace Rasmussen.