In 1884 he was president of the board of Indiana University and was elected as a National Anti-Monopolist to the Forty-eighth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William H. Calkins, serving from December 1, 1884, to March 3, 1885.

[1] Shively graduated from the Law School of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1886, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in South Bend, Indiana.

Shively personally advised President Woodrow Wilson on the situation in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution.

Shively was a noted political ally and vocal supporter of the Wilson administration.

Indiana Governor Samuel M. Ralston appointed Thomas Taggart to fill Shively's vacant Senate seat.