Whiteaker was elected to Congress in 1878, as Oregon's Representative-at large.
The Democrats had been weakened in the House, and needed one vote to prevail in their nominee for Speaker of the House.
The vote was needed by March 18, 1879.
Whiteaker, already on his way to Washington, received word of this urgency while on a steamer between Portland and San Francisco.
Upon docking in San Francisco on March 12, he was met by a railroad agent, and rushed to a special Central Pacific Railroad express train at Oakland.
The regular transcontinental train was 25 hours out of Oakland, but Whiteaker's train managed to catch up with it.
He arrived in Washington on the morning of March 18, in enough time to be promptly seated by Congress and cast his vote.

The trip cost $1500 at the time, an expense widely criticized by the Democrat's political opposition and the media.
Many referred to it as "Whiteaker's ride".

In 1880, Whiteaker ran for re-election to Congress, but was defeated by Republican Melvin Clark George by 1,379 votes.
Following his defeat, he retired to his farm near Eugene.
Whiteaker was elected to Congress in 1878, as Oregon's Representative-at large. The Democrats had been weakened in the House, and needed one vote to prevail in their nominee for Speaker of the House. The vote was needed by March 18, 1879. Whiteaker, already on his way to Washington, received word of this urgency while on a steamer between Portland and San Francisco. Upon docking in San Francisco on March 12, he was met by a railroad agent, and rushed to a special Central Pacific Railroad express train at Oakland. The regular transcontinental train was 25 hours out of Oakland, but Whiteaker's train managed to catch up with it. He arrived in Washington on the morning of March 18, in enough time to be promptly seated by Congress and cast his vote.
The trip cost $1500 at the time, an expense widely criticized by the Democrat's political opposition and the media. Many referred to it as "Whiteaker's ride".
In 1880, Whiteaker ran for re-election to Congress, but was defeated by Republican Melvin Clark George by 1,379 votes. Following his defeat, he retired to his farm near Eugene.
John Whiteaker