Insurance agent and Tennessee state legislator elected to US Congress in 1988. "Blue Dog" conservative Democrat: generally anti-abortion rights, anti-estate tax, anti-gay rights, pro-gun rights, pro-offshore drilling. Supported 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, 1991 Gulf War resolution, 2001 USA PATRIOT Act, 2002 Iraq War resolution, 2008 GM/Chrysler bailout, 2009 economic stimulus. Opposed 1998-99 Clinton impeachment, 2010 health care reform.
Served eleven terms with few legislative accomplishments, but was cited in the Starr Report as being the person President Bill Clinton was speaking with on the telephone while receiving oral sex from Monica Lewinsky. Did not seek re-election in 2010, and was succeeded in Congress by Stephen Fincher.
[1] Elder, First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.
Father: Emerson Beck Tanner ("Buzz", insurance salesman , b. 17-Jun-1921, d. 8-Apr-2004)
Mother: Edith Sumners Tanner (d.)
Brother: Robert Ty Tanner (physician)
Brother: Rodger Tanner
Mother: Carolyn Hubbard Tanner (stepmother, m. 1998)
Wife: Betty Ann Portis (one daughter, one son)
Daughter: Elizabeth Tanner Atkins
Son: John Portis Tanner
High School: Union City High School, Union City, TN (1962)
University: BS, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1966)
Law School: JD, University of Tennessee College of Law (1968)
US Congressman, Tennessee 8th (1989-2011)
Tennessee State House of Representatives (1976-88)
Tanner Insurance Agency Salesman (1972-88)
American Legion
Close Up Foundation Board of Advisors
Democratic National Committee
Freemasonry Western Sun Lodge #88
Gore 2000
National Student Leadership Conference Honorary Board of Advisors
Rotary International Union City
Tennessee Bar Association
New Democrat Movement
FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
Fahrenheit 9/11 (17-May-2004) · Himself
Official Website:
http://www.house.gov/tanner/
Copyright ©2025
AKA John Sumners Tanner