Connally, John Bowden, Jr. [key], 1917–93, U.S. public official, b. Floresville, Tex. A lawyer, he became associated with Lyndon B. Johnson, managed the latter's successful senatorial campaign in 1948, and later served as Johnson's administrative assistant. He was named secretary of the navy in 1961, but he resigned (1962) to campaign for the governorship of Texas and was elected. When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Connally was accompanying him and was wounded. He was twice reelected governor, serving until 1968. A conservative Democrat, he was chosen (1971) by President Richard M. Nixon as secretary of the treasury and was instrumental in bringing about the institution of a 90-day wage-price freeze in Aug., 1971. In May, 1972, Connally resigned from the cabinet to aid the president's reelection. The following year Connally joined the Republican party and served a short term as a special adviser to the President after the resignation of key aides as a result of the Watergate affair.
See studies by C. Ashman (1974) and A. F. Crawford and J. Keever (1974).
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