We previously blogged the "Shop Talk" column in the Journal of Taxation on John Cox, the long-shot 2008 Republican presidential candidate who bragged about reading "the entire Internal Revenue Code, the regulations and something called the BNA portfolios on taxes — all cover to cover."  The column noted that, if elected, Cox would be the first Presidential tax lawyer.   

This month’s "Shop Talk" column corrects the record — President William McKinley was not only a tax lawyer, but was Chair of the House Ways & Means Committee and the author of a book on taxes.  In addition, John Nance Garner, Vice-President under FDR from 1932-40, was a tax lawyer and the Democrats’ tax policy leader from 1913-32.  Moreover, Wilbur Mills was a tax lawyer who served as Chair of the House Ways & Means Committee and later abandoned his quest for the Presidency in 1972.  Mills reportedly bragged about having memorized the entire Internal Revenue Code.