4.3: Hall of Flags

Portrait of Thomas Brackett Reed

Portland native Thomas Brackett Reed’s (1839 –1902) quick wit and political savvy made him a powerful speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1889–1891; 1895–1899).

Reed established House rule changes that increased his own influence and that of his political party. He famously remarked: “The best system is to have one party govern and the other party watch.”