Clyde M. Reed
Encyclopedia
Clyde Martin Reed was an American politician from Kansas
who served as both the 24th Governor of Kansas
and U.S. Senator
from that state.
Born in Champaign County, Illinois
, Reed moved to Kansas with his family when he was four years old. After completing a basic education, he taught school for a single year then began work as a federal employee, a position he would serve in different capacities for the next thirty years. He first worked for the railroad mail carrier service, rising to be superintendent
of several areas throughout the Midwest
and then to the Railway Adjustment Division, Post Office Department superintendent. He resigned to run his Parsons, Kansas
newspaper, the Parsons Sun. He then became Governor Henry J. Allen
's personal secretary.
Reed was elected Governor of Kansas
in 1929, after becoming known as a candidate for being extremely progressive
. Shortly after he moved into the governor's mansion, the Great Depression
began. Reed called an extra session of the state legislature
to combat the troubles faced by Kansans dealing with the depression. The governor decided not to run for re-election, and returned to newspaper editing. When the anti-Semitic preacher Gerald B. Winrod
ran for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate
in 1938 and seemed likely to win it, Reed was recruited by the mainstream
political establishment as a popular figure who could prevent Winrod's election. Reed won the nomination and the election, and was re-elected in 1944. While in the Senate, his fellow Kansas Senator was also a former governor, Arthur Capper
. Reed attempted to obtain the 1942 Republican
nomination for governor of Kansas but failed.
Reed died in 1949 while on a visit home from the Senate. The papers from his Senate years are said to have been destroyed. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Parsons.
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
who served as both the 24th Governor of Kansas
Governor of Kansas
The Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state for the State of Kansas, United States. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas. The Governor is the...
and U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from that state.
Born in Champaign County, Illinois
Champaign County, Illinois
Champaign County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 201,081, which is an increase of 11.9% from 179,669 in 2000.. It is the 10th most populous county in Illinois...
, Reed moved to Kansas with his family when he was four years old. After completing a basic education, he taught school for a single year then began work as a federal employee, a position he would serve in different capacities for the next thirty years. He first worked for the railroad mail carrier service, rising to be superintendent
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
of several areas throughout the Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
and then to the Railway Adjustment Division, Post Office Department superintendent. He resigned to run his Parsons, Kansas
Parsons, Kansas
Parsons is a city in the northern part of Labette County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,500...
newspaper, the Parsons Sun. He then became Governor Henry J. Allen
Henry Justin Allen
Henry Justin Allen was the 21st Governor of Kansas and U.S. Senator from Kansas .Allen was born in Warren County, Pennsylvania to John and Rebecca Elizabeth Allen...
's personal secretary.
Reed was elected Governor of Kansas
Governor of Kansas
The Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state for the State of Kansas, United States. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas. The Governor is the...
in 1929, after becoming known as a candidate for being extremely progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
. Shortly after he moved into the governor's mansion, the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
began. Reed called an extra session of the state legislature
Kansas Legislature
The Kansas Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kansas. It is a bicameral assembly, composed of the lower Kansas House of Representatives, composed of 125 Representatives, and the upper Kansas Senate, with 40 Senators...
to combat the troubles faced by Kansans dealing with the depression. The governor decided not to run for re-election, and returned to newspaper editing. When the anti-Semitic preacher Gerald B. Winrod
Gerald B. Winrod
Gerald Burton Winrod was a pro-Nazi and anti-Semitic evangelist, author, and political activist.-Biography:...
ran for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1938 and seemed likely to win it, Reed was recruited by the mainstream
Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct....
political establishment as a popular figure who could prevent Winrod's election. Reed won the nomination and the election, and was re-elected in 1944. While in the Senate, his fellow Kansas Senator was also a former governor, Arthur Capper
Arthur Capper
Arthur Capper was an American politician from Kansas. He was the 20th Governor of Kansas from 1915 to 1919 and a United States Senator from 1919 to 1949....
. Reed attempted to obtain the 1942 Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination for governor of Kansas but failed.
Reed died in 1949 while on a visit home from the Senate. The papers from his Senate years are said to have been destroyed. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Parsons.