Difference between revisions of "Louise Goff Reece"
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Revision as of 17:32, August 10, 2021
| Louise Despard Goff Reece | |
|---|---|
| Former U.S. Representative from Tennessee's 1st Congressional District From: May 16, 1961 – January 3, 1963 | |
| Predecessor | Brazilla Carroll Reece |
| Successor | James H. "Jimmy" Quillen |
| Information | |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Brazilla Carroll Reece |
Louise Despard Goff Reece (November 6, 1898 – May 14, 1970) was a Tennessee Republican from the state's 1st congressional district who represented the area in the United States House of Representatives for a brief period in the early 1960s, succeeding her late husband Brazilla Carroll Reece, a longtime congressman who died in 1961.
Reece's story is similar that of Irene Baker, who succeeded her late husband Howard Baker, Sr. in the House around the same time period for the state's neighboring second congressional district.
U.S. House of Representatives
In mid-March 1961, Reece's husband died,[1] reportedly of lung cancer. She soon announced her candidacy for the special election to succeed him, which local Republican politicians threw their support for. The only primary challenge was from oilman Leland Davis, and Reece handily won the primary.[1] She stated during the campaign:[1]
| “ | I thought of a lot of back roads my husband had forgotten. | ” |
Reece won the special election by a landslide over Democrat opponent William W. Faw,[2] who received the endorsement of U.S. senator Carey Estes Kefauver.[1] Upon entering the House, she established a record of conservatism and supporting business interests, advocating for President John F. Kennedy to bring back tariffs on certain products made from glass.[1] Reece also opposed using federal money to increase the salaries of teachers, saying:[1]
| “ | If that comes, the next thing they will do is to tell us what to teach. | ” |
This is somewhat similar to her husband's anti-Communist attitudes towards subversion; B. Carroll Reece was the chair and namesake of the Reece Committee during the 83rd Congress which investigated subversion among tax-exempt foundations.
Legacy
Reece was considered a trailblazer for women in GOP politics, and can be viewed as a forerunner to the current representative from Tennessee's 1st district, Diana Harshbarger. Historian Ray Hill of The Knoxville Focus commented in 2020:[3]
| “ | She left a legacy of devotion to the 1st District, the people of the 1st District, and you know, with her wealth, she did a lot of philanthropy that still remains there today, like the Archives of Appalachia and the Reece Museum, their papers are still there. They were just devoted – she and Carroll – were devoted to the people of the 1st Congressional District. You can’t really find a bigger or finer legacy than somebody who genuinely is devoted to their people. | ” |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 REECE, Louise Goff. US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ↑ TN District 1 - Special Election Race - May 16, 1961. Our Campaigns. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ↑ Marais, Bianca (October 13, 2020). First woman to represent Tennessee’s 1st Congressional District inspires new generations. WJHL. Retrieved August 10, 2021.