[3] In the years following World War II, Browning served in the Allied occupational government in Germany, and was a civil affairs advisor on the staff of General Dwight D.

[4] After graduating from Milan High School in 1908, Browning enrolled in Valparaiso University in Indiana, where he earned tuition money waiting tables.

In March 1915, he began practicing in the law office of George McCall in Huntingdon, Tennessee, in his native Carroll County.

During his final term in the House, Browning was one of the "managers" (prosecutors) in the impeachment hearings of California judge Harold Louderback.

[2] In 1934, Browning sought the Democratic Party nomination for the U.S. Senate seat that had been vacated when Cordell Hull resigned to become Secretary of State.

Bachman had the support of Memphis political boss E. H. Crump, who was at the height of his power after the downfall of his rival, Luke Lea, and Browning struggled with voters in East Tennessee.

Browning sought the party's nomination, his chief opponent being Campbell County school superintendent Burgin Dossett.

[5] Browning coasted to victory in the primary, and defeated the Republican candidate, Pat Thach, 332,523 votes to 77,392 in the general election.

[2] In the months following the U.S. entry into World War II, Browning consistently sought a commission in the U.S. Army, but was thwarted by political foes.

He initially served as deputy head of the Belgium-Luxembourg mission, which aimed to restore civilian government to these areas, and aided in the Allied victory at the Battle of the Bulge in early 1945.

In September 1946, Browning was appointed commander of the military government in the Bremen enclave as part of the Allied Occupation of Germany.

Crump ran attack ads against Browning and Kefauver, criticizing the former for issuing too many pardons as governor, and accusing the latter of being a communist sympathizer.

Returning veterans sympathized with Browning's military experience, while labor groups were angry with McCord for enacting a right-to-work law.

Republicans had added Acuff's name to their primary ballot as a publicity stunt to draw attention to the party, and he unexpectedly won the nomination.

[10] During his second tenure as governor, Browning enacted several measures aimed at further weakening Crump and other political bosses, including laws requiring permanent voter registration, open election commission meetings, and metal ballot boxes in places where voting machines were not used.

[5] Browning signed legislation that partially eliminated the state's poll tax, which political bosses had used for decades to control votes.

[1] In the 1950 governor's race, Browning beat back a primary challenge by Nashville attorney and state senator Clifford Allen, winning the nomination 267,855 votes to 208,634.

Clement derided Browning as "dishonest, indecent, and immoral,"[5] and criticized the state's purchase of an expensive office building in Nashville.