Roll Call Reed

Thomas B. Reed is a little known figure but his legacy is still seen today. He was a Speaker of the House of Representatives during the post Civil War era and made significant changes to the institution. We often hear complaints about the gov't in deadlock today but the House at that time would make the current Congress look like workaholics. He was a tall, imposing man at 6' 2" and 300 lbs but he used his wit to get his way. Nicknamed "Czar Reed" he bluntly disregarded the rules in order to get more legislation through the chamber. He was so successful that they called the 51st Congress the "billion-dollar Congress." He had the size of Taft and the wit of Churchill.

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