James A. Reed
Encyclopedia
James Alexander Reed was an American Democratic Party politician
from Missouri
.
. He moved with his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa
at the age of 3. He went to public schools and attended Coe College
. He became a lawyer and moved to Kansas City, Missouri
in 1887.
Reed served as a city councilor of Kansas City from 1897 to 1898, as prosecutor of Jackson County from 1898 to 1900, and as Kansas City mayor from 1900 to 1904.
As mayor, Reed rocketed to national fame after overseeing the "Kansas City Spirit" construction of Convention Hall
in 90 days in order to host the 1900 Democratic National Convention
. The original Convention Hall had opened in 1899. It burned down on April 4, 1900. The Convention was scheduled to be held on July 4. Reed marshaled resources and it opened in time for the convention.
In 1910, he was elected to the United States Senate
from Missouri as a Democrat
. He served in the Senate for three terms, from 1911 until 1929, when he decided to retire. Unlike many members of his party, he opposed the League of Nations
. He sought and failed to receive the Democratic nomination for President. He served as chairman of the Committee on Weights and Measures from 1917 to 1921.
One of his biggest contributions to the State of Missouri came in 1913 when he as a member of the Senate Banking Committee changed his vote to break a deadlock to pass the Federal Reserve Act
which resulted in Missouri getting two of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks (in St. Louis and Kansas City
). Missouri is the only state with multiple headquarters of the Federal Reserve.
In 1927 he opposed the reauthorization of the Sheppard-Towner act, which had been enacted in 1921 to reduce maternal and infant mortality and improve the health of mothers and babies, and attacked the Children's Bureau for its "excessive" federal funding and the "power and control" Sheppard-Towner gave to Grace Abbott, Bureau Chief. On the floor of the Senate, Reed ridiculed the Children's Bureau and suggested that "We would better reverse the proposition and provide for a committee of mothers to take charge of the old maids [in the Children's Bureau] and teach them how to acquire a husband and have babies of their own."
In 1929, as Reed was leading the Senate, H.L. Mencken wrote a tribute to him, praising Reed for his opposition to what Mencken called "demagogues" and "charlatans" from both political parties. Reed then retired from politics and moved back to Missouri where he continued to practice law. He was also an active Civitan during this time. He died at his summer home in Oscoda County, Michigan
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Biography
Reed was born on a farm in Richland County, OhioRichland County, Ohio
Richland County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 124,475. It is included in the Mansfield, Ohio, Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Mansfield–Bucyrus Combined Statistical Area....
. He moved with his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
at the age of 3. He went to public schools and attended Coe College
Coe College
Coe College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Founded in 1851, the institution is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . Its current president is James R. Phifer. It is one of the smaller universities to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa...
. He became a lawyer and moved to Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
in 1887.
Reed served as a city councilor of Kansas City from 1897 to 1898, as prosecutor of Jackson County from 1898 to 1900, and as Kansas City mayor from 1900 to 1904.
As mayor, Reed rocketed to national fame after overseeing the "Kansas City Spirit" construction of Convention Hall
Convention Hall
Convention Hall was a convention center in Kansas City, Missouri that hosted the 1900 Democratic National Convention and 1928 Republican National Convention.It was designed by Frederick E...
in 90 days in order to host the 1900 Democratic National Convention
1900 Democratic National Convention
The 1900 Democratic National Convention was a United States presidential nominating convention that took place the week of July 4, 1900 at Convention Hall in Kansas City, Missouri....
. The original Convention Hall had opened in 1899. It burned down on April 4, 1900. The Convention was scheduled to be held on July 4. Reed marshaled resources and it opened in time for the convention.
In 1910, he was elected to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Missouri as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. He served in the Senate for three terms, from 1911 until 1929, when he decided to retire. Unlike many members of his party, he opposed the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
. He sought and failed to receive the Democratic nomination for President. He served as chairman of the Committee on Weights and Measures from 1917 to 1921.
One of his biggest contributions to the State of Missouri came in 1913 when he as a member of the Senate Banking Committee changed his vote to break a deadlock to pass the Federal Reserve Act
Federal Reserve Act
The Federal Reserve Act is an Act of Congress that created and set up the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the United States of America, and granted it the legal authority to issue Federal Reserve Notes and Federal Reserve Bank Notes as legal tender...
which resulted in Missouri getting two of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks (in St. Louis and Kansas City
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City covers the 10th District of the Federal Reserve, which includes Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and portions of western Missouri and northern New Mexico. The Bank has branches in Denver, Oklahoma City, and Omaha. The current president is...
). Missouri is the only state with multiple headquarters of the Federal Reserve.
In 1927 he opposed the reauthorization of the Sheppard-Towner act, which had been enacted in 1921 to reduce maternal and infant mortality and improve the health of mothers and babies, and attacked the Children's Bureau for its "excessive" federal funding and the "power and control" Sheppard-Towner gave to Grace Abbott, Bureau Chief. On the floor of the Senate, Reed ridiculed the Children's Bureau and suggested that "We would better reverse the proposition and provide for a committee of mothers to take charge of the old maids [in the Children's Bureau] and teach them how to acquire a husband and have babies of their own."
In 1929, as Reed was leading the Senate, H.L. Mencken wrote a tribute to him, praising Reed for his opposition to what Mencken called "demagogues" and "charlatans" from both political parties. Reed then retired from politics and moved back to Missouri where he continued to practice law. He was also an active Civitan during this time. He died at his summer home in Oscoda County, Michigan
Oscoda County, Michigan
See also: List of counties bordering eight counties-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,418 people, 3,921 households, and 2,717 families residing in the county. The population density was 17 people per square mile . There were 8,690 housing units at an average density of 15 per...
.