joseph william martin jr. (november 3, 1884 – march 6, 1968) was an american politician. he was the 44th speaker of the united states house of representatives from 1947 to 1949 and 1953 to 1955. he represented massachusetts in the united states house of representatives from 1925 through 1967. he was the only republican become speaker in a sixty-four year period from 1931 to 1995.