Reed, Thomas B

Reed, Thomas B(rackett)

(born Oct. 18, 1839, Portland, Maine, U.S.—died Dec. 7, 1902, Washington, D.C.) U.S. politician. He served in the Maine legislature and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (1877–99). As speaker of the House (1889–91, 1895–99) he introduced procedural changes that strengthened legislative control by the majority party and increased the power of the speaker and the Rules Committee. The Reed Rules were attacked by opponents, who called Reed “Czar Reed” for his vigorous promotion of their passage. Ten years later the speaker's powers were reduced.