Willis C. Hawley
Encyclopedia
Willis Chatman Hawley was an American
politician and educator in the state of Oregon
. A native of the state, he would serve as president of Willamette University
in Salem, Oregon
, where he earned his undergraduate and law degrees before entering politics. A Republican, he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives
from Oregon from 1907 to 1933 where he co-sponsored the Smoot-Hawley Tariff in 1930.
in Benton County, Oregon
, on May 5, 1864. After he attended country schools, he entered college. In 1884, he graduated with a bachelor of science degree from Willamette University
in Salem, Oregon
. Hawley was the principal of the Umpqua Academy from 1884-86. In 1888, he received a bachelor of arts degree from the school along with a Bachelor of Laws
from the law
department.
Next, he served as president of the Oregon State Normal School at Drain
south of Eugene from 1888-1891. During this time he earned a masters degree from Willamette in 1890 and the following year joined the faculty at his Alma mater. Hawley became the president of Willamette, serving in that position from 1893 to 1902 while he was professor of history and economics for sixteen years at the school.
After wards, he had a variety of business and educational ventures before entering politics. Hawley then was a member of the National Forest Reservation Commission and a member of the Special Committee on Rural Credits created by Congress in 1915. Additionally, he served as a member of the Commission for the Celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Birth of president and general George Washington
.
Hawley did not win his party's nomination for his seat in 1932, and left office in March 1933. He returned home to Salem where he practiced law. Willis C. Hawley died on July 24, 1941, at the age of 77 in Salem and was interred at that city's City View Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and educator in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of the state, he would serve as president of Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, where he earned his undergraduate and law degrees before entering politics. A Republican, he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Oregon from 1907 to 1933 where he co-sponsored the Smoot-Hawley Tariff in 1930.
Early life
Hawley was born on a farm in the old Belknap settlement near MonroeMonroe, Oregon
Monroe is a city in Benton County, Oregon, United States. The population was 607 at the 2000 census. It is part of the "Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area"...
in Benton County, Oregon
Benton County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 78,153 people, 30,145 households, and 18,237 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 31,980...
, on May 5, 1864. After he attended country schools, he entered college. In 1884, he graduated with a bachelor of science degree from Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
. Hawley was the principal of the Umpqua Academy from 1884-86. In 1888, he received a bachelor of arts degree from the school along with a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from the law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
department.
Drain, Oregon
Drain is a city in Douglas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,021 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 1,075 residents. Drain is named after town founder and politician Charles J...
south of Eugene from 1888-1891. During this time he earned a masters degree from Willamette in 1890 and the following year joined the faculty at his Alma mater. Hawley became the president of Willamette, serving in that position from 1893 to 1902 while he was professor of history and economics for sixteen years at the school.
After wards, he had a variety of business and educational ventures before entering politics. Hawley then was a member of the National Forest Reservation Commission and a member of the Special Committee on Rural Credits created by Congress in 1915. Additionally, he served as a member of the Commission for the Celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Birth of president and general George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
.
Politics
Hawley won Oregon's 1st Congressional District as a Republican in 1906. He was then re-elected every two years to Congress for the next 12 sessions of Congress. Hawley served in Washington, DC from March 4, 1907 until March 3, 1933. While in Congress, he was chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means for the Seventieth and Seventy-first Congresses. Hawley was then a co-sponsor of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff in 1930, which raised import tariffs to record levels.Hawley did not win his party's nomination for his seat in 1932, and left office in March 1933. He returned home to Salem where he practiced law. Willis C. Hawley died on July 24, 1941, at the age of 77 in Salem and was interred at that city's City View Cemetery
City View Cemetery
City View Cemetery is a privately owned cemetery in Salem, Oregon, United States that was established in 1893. Its Mount Crest Abbey Mausoleum, opened in 1914, contains the remains of seven Governors of Oregon.-History:...
.