Speaker of the House Thomas Brackett Reed of Maine

September 04, 1899

After serving 11 terms in the House, Speaker Thomas Brackett Reed of Maine resigned on this date.  First elected to the 45th Congress (1877–1879), Reed became chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the 47th Congress (1881–1883) and a member of the Rules Committee. Like many Republicans of the period, he advocated government efforts to encourage economic development with protective tariffs, business subsidies, and a stable currency based on the gold standard.  As a member of the minority party, Reed mastered parliamentary rules in order to obstruct majority legislation and to increase minority influence.  This knowledge contributed to his election as Speaker during the 51st (1889–1891), 54th (1895–1897), and 55th Congresses (1897–1899).  Speaker Reed reorganized House practices and instituted an array of parliamentary changes known as “Reed’s Rules.”  These included Reed’s successful effort to end the “disappearing quorum,” a minority delaying tactic that prevented the House from attaining the minimum number of Members necessary to conduct business.  Sweeping aside past tradition, Reed counted all Members on the floor as “present” even if they did not respond to a roll call.  “Rules should not be barriers,” Reed explained, “they should be guides.”  Retiring to pursue a lucrative law practice to support his family, Reed died on December 7, 1902.

Related Highlight Subjects

• Artifacts in the House Collection (113)
• Committee on Judiciary (16)
• Committee on Rules (9)
• House Rules (8)
• Institutional Reform (11)
• Quorum (6)
• Speaker of the House (74)
• Reed, Thomas Brackett (15)

Cite

Thomas Brackett Reed of Maine served simultaneously as Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Rules Committee. “Thomas B. Reed's Birthplace, Portland, Me.”, postcard, ca. 1950, Collection of U.S. House of Representatives