Thomas Brackett Reed (1839–1902) was an American congressman who earned the nickname “Czar”. Thomas Brackett Reed introduced to the House of Representatives a code of rules that put an end to filibustering. He made it possible for the majority to transact business in the face of opposition. Under the ruling, a quorum was obtained by authorizing the speaker to count as present members who refused to vote but remained in their seats.
The “tyranny of Czar Reed” was the leading subject discussed in politics. The Supreme Court sustained the innovation. Thomas Brackett Reed was born in Portland, Maine. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1860 and practiced law in Portland. He was a paymaster in the navy during the War of Secession. He was elected successively to both branches of the Maine legislature.
From 1870 to 1872, he was attorney general of the state of Maine. He was a member of the national House of Representatives from 1877 to 1899 and Speaker for six years. In 1896, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for president. He wrote Reed’s Rides, a book on parliamentary law.
Thomas Bracket Reed died at 12:10 a.m. Sunday morning at the Arlington Hotel. Mr. Reed reached Washington a week ago, having come to attend to some matters in the Supreme Court. He was at the capital Monday, visiting friends and former associates in Congress, and witnessed the convening of the second session of the Fifty-seventh congress Apparently he was enjoying good health, but later he called on D. Gardner and complained of gastric distress.
The following day, his physician compelled him to remain in bed. Thomas Brackett Reed was averse to staying in bed, but a rise in temperature made it imperative that he remain there. Symptoms of appendicitis appeared, though his condition was not considered alarming. A trained nurse remained with him throughout Tuesday night, and the patient showed signs of improvement. Mrs. Reed and her daughter, Miss Kittie, arrived Wednesday and have remained with Mr. Reed at the Arlington hotel.
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