Willis C. Hawley | |
|---|---|
 Hawley in 1923 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOregon's1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1933 | |
| Preceded by | Binger Hermann |
| Succeeded by | James W. Mott |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Willis Chatman Hawley (1864-05-05)May 5, 1864 |
| Died | July 24, 1941(1941-07-24) (aged 77) |
| Resting place | City View Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Willamette University |
Willis Chatman Hawley (May 5, 1864 – July 24, 1941) was an American politician and educator in the state ofOregon. A native of the state, he served as the president ofWillamette University inSalem, Oregon, where he earned his undergraduate and law degrees before entering politics. ARepublican, he served 13 terms as a member of theUnited States House of Representatives from Oregon, from 1907 to 1933. He is best known as a lead sponsor of theSmoot–Hawley Tariff Act in 1930.
Hawley was born on a farm in the old Belknap settlement nearMonroe inBenton County, Oregon, on May 5, 1864.[1] After he attended country schools, he entered college. In 1884, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree fromWillamette University inSalem, Oregon.[1] Hawley was the principal of the Umpqua Academy from 1884–86.[2] In 1888, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the school, and aBachelor of Laws fromthe law department.[1]
From 1888–1891, he served as president of the Oregon State Normal School atDrain, south of Eugene.[1] In 1890, he earned a master's degree from Willamette. In 1891, he joined the faculty at Willamette.[1] Hawley became the president of Willamette, serving as president from 1893 to 1902, while he was a professor of history and economics for sixteen years at Willamette.[3]
Then, he engaged in a variety of business and educational ventures before entering politics.[3] Hawley became a member of theNational Forest Reservation Commission and a member of the Special Committee on Rural Credits, created by Congress in 1915.[3] He served as a member of the Commission for the Celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Birth of President and GeneralGeorge Washington.[3]
In 1906, Hawley wonOregon's 1st Congressional District as aRepublican.[3] He was then re-elected every two years to Congress for the next 12 sessions of Congress.[3] Hawley served inWashington, D.C., from March 4, 1907, until March 3, 1933.[3]
While in Congress, he was chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means for theSeventieth andSeventy-first Congresses. In 1930, Hawley was a co-sponsor of theSmoot–Hawley Tariff, which raised import tariffs to record levels.[3]
In 1932, Hawley was defeated in his bid for renomination to his House seat, and left office in March 1933.[3] He returned to Salem, where he practiced law.[3]
He died on July 24, 1941, at the age of 77 in Salem, and was buried in Salem'sCity View Cemetery.[3]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | U.S. Representative of Oregon's 1st Congressional District 1907–1933 | Succeeded by |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by | President ofWillamette University 1891–1902 | Succeeded by |
 | ||
| Territorial (1849–1859) |
|  | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At-large seats (1859–1893) |
| ||||
| Districts (1893–present) |
| ||||
| 3rd district | |||||
| 4th district | |||||
| 5th district | |||||
| 6th district | |||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
