Changes

Allied with [[Ohio]] senator [[Robert Taft]],<ref>Bowen, Michael D. [https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UFE0015635/00001 Fight for the Right: The Quest for Republican Identity in the Postwar Period], p. 19. ''University of Florida Digital Collections''. Retrieved August 13, 2021.</ref> who he joined in opposing President [[Harry Truman]]'s anti-[[inflation]] plan,<ref>Knowles, Clayton (November 24, 1947). [https://www.nytimes.com/1947/11/24/archives/reece-joins-taft-against-truman-fights-antiinflation-plan-in-gop.html REECE JOINS TAFT AGAINST TRUMAN; Fights Anti-Inflation Plan in GOP Editorial Entitled 'A Cop in Every Kitchen']. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 13, 2021.</ref> Reece succeeded [[Herbert Brownell]] (later [[United States Attorney General]] under president [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]) as the chair of the [[RNC]] in early April 1946<ref>April 2, 1946. [https://www.nytimes.com/1946/04/02/archives/republicans-elect-reece-as-chairman-stassen-is-critical-the.html REPUBLICANS ELECT REECE AS CHAIRMAN; STASSEN IS CRITICAL; The Tennessee Representative Wins on Third Ballot Over Danaher and Hanes NEGRO VOTE IS STRESSED Minnesotan Says Selection Does Not 'Constitute a Decision' on Party's Policy ... Dewey Said to Back Danaher Negro Vote Is Stressed REECE IS ELECTED BY REPUBLICANS Liberals" Backed Hanes]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 13, 2021.</ref> and presided over [[GOP]] victories in the [[1946 Midterm Elections|1946 midterms]]. Due to his independent wealth inherited from his father-in-law,<ref name=knoxvillefocuspart13/> Reece did not accept a salary.<ref name=tennesseeencyclopedia/>

Allied with [[Ohio]] senator [[Robert Taft]],<ref>Bowen, Michael D. [https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UFE0015635/00001 Fight for the Right: The Quest for Republican Identity in the Postwar Period], p. 19. ''University of Florida Digital Collections''. Retrieved August 13, 2021.</ref> who he joined in opposing President [[Harry Truman]]'s anti-[[inflation]] plan,<ref>Knowles, Clayton (November 24, 1947). [https://www.nytimes.com/1947/11/24/archives/reece-joins-taft-against-truman-fights-antiinflation-plan-in-gop.html REECE JOINS TAFT AGAINST TRUMAN; Fights Anti-Inflation Plan in GOP Editorial Entitled 'A Cop in Every Kitchen']. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 13, 2021.</ref> Reece succeeded [[Herbert Brownell]] (later [[United States Attorney General]] under president [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]) as the chair of the [[RNC]] in early April 1946<ref>April 2, 1946. [https://www.nytimes.com/1946/04/02/archives/republicans-elect-reece-as-chairman-stassen-is-critical-the.html REPUBLICANS ELECT REECE AS CHAIRMAN; STASSEN IS CRITICAL; The Tennessee Representative Wins on Third Ballot Over Danaher and Hanes NEGRO VOTE IS STRESSED Minnesotan Says Selection Does Not 'Constitute a Decision' on Party's Policy ... Dewey Said to Back Danaher Negro Vote Is Stressed REECE IS ELECTED BY REPUBLICANS Liberals" Backed Hanes]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 13, 2021.</ref> and presided over [[GOP]] victories in the [[1946 Midterm Elections|1946 midterms]]. Due to his independent wealth inherited from his father-in-law,<ref name=knoxvillefocuspart13/> Reece did not accept a salary.<ref name=tennesseeencyclopedia/>

During the 1945–46 congressional session, Reece voted with the conservative side 82% of the time.<ref>FascinatingPolitics (July 2020). [https://fascinatingpolitics.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/1945-46-civil-rights-converted.pdf 1945-46-civil-rights-converted.pdf]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 24, 2021.</ref>

In the 1945–46 congressional session, Reece voted with the conservative side 82% of the time.<ref>FascinatingPolitics (July 2020). [https://fascinatingpolitics.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/1945-46-civil-rights-converted.pdf 1945-46-civil-rights-converted.pdf]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 24, 2021.</ref>

During his tenure in leading the GOP on the national stage, Reece was a part of the conservative faction opposed by [[Minnesota]] [[liberal Republican]] [[Harold Stassen]]<ref name=tennesseeencyclopedia/> and [[Vermont]] Moderate Republican [[George Aiken]].<ref>November 27, 1947. [https://www.nytimes.com/1947/11/27/archives/aiken-asks-reece-to-quit-gop-helm-lays-failure-to-win-confidence-of.html AIKEN ASKS REECE TO QUIT GOP HELM; Lays Failure to Win Confidence of Voters to Chairman, Who Is Also Attacked by Tobey]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 13, 2021.</ref><ref>Krock, Arthur (December 3, 1947). [https://www.nytimes.com/1947/12/03/archives/futility-in-aikens-call-move-to-oust-reece-as-gop-chairman-doomed.html Futility in Aiken's Call; Move to Oust Reece as GOP Chairman Doomed by Senator's Party Irregularity]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 13, 2021.</ref> The more liberal wing of the Republican Party considered him to be an "Old Guard [[reactionary]]".<ref name=libertyuniversity/> In February 1948, Reece called for purging [[communists]] from the [[United States]], saying:<ref>February 1, 1948. [https://www.nytimes.com/1948/02/01/archives/reece-urges-purge-of-communists-in-us.html REECE URGES PURGE OF COMMUNISTS IN U.S.]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 13, 2021.</ref>

During his tenure in leading the GOP on the national stage, Reece was a part of the conservative faction opposed by [[Minnesota]] [[liberal Republican]] [[Harold Stassen]]<ref name=tennesseeencyclopedia/> and [[Vermont]] Moderate Republican [[George Aiken]].<ref>November 27, 1947. [https://www.nytimes.com/1947/11/27/archives/aiken-asks-reece-to-quit-gop-helm-lays-failure-to-win-confidence-of.html AIKEN ASKS REECE TO QUIT GOP HELM; Lays Failure to Win Confidence of Voters to Chairman, Who Is Also Attacked by Tobey]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 13, 2021.</ref><ref>Krock, Arthur (December 3, 1947). [https://www.nytimes.com/1947/12/03/archives/futility-in-aikens-call-move-to-oust-reece-as-gop-chairman-doomed.html Futility in Aiken's Call; Move to Oust Reece as GOP Chairman Doomed by Senator's Party Irregularity]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 13, 2021.</ref> The more liberal wing of the Republican Party considered him to be an "Old Guard [[reactionary]]".<ref name=libertyuniversity/> In February 1948, Reece called for purging [[communists]] from the [[United States]], saying:<ref>February 1, 1948. [https://www.nytimes.com/1948/02/01/archives/reece-urges-purge-of-communists-in-us.html REECE URGES PURGE OF COMMUNISTS IN U.S.]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved August 13, 2021.</ref>