Editing B. Carroll Reece (section)

===1920s===
Once in office, Reece established services to help constituents with problems both large and small, a precedent continued by later elected Republicans from Eastern Tennessee.<ref name=part1/> In 1922, Reece joined the majority of his House Republican colleagues in voting for the [[Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill]].<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/67-2/h169 TO PASS H. R. 13.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref>

====1930 defeat, 1932 comeback====
Following his first election, Reece was re-elected four consecutive times.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300757 TN District 01 Race - Nov 07, 1922]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300751 TN District 01 Race - Nov 04, 1924]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300750 TN District 01 Race - Nov 02, 1926]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300749 TN District 01 Race - Nov 06, 1928]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref> He lost in the 1930 midterms to Independent Republican [[Oscar Lovette]]<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300748 TN District 01 Race - Nov 04, 1930]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref> following backlash from constituents over the [[George W. Norris]] Muscle Shoals bill (the Senate version, which is considered a forerunner to the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]]) being vetoed by President [[Herbert Hoover]] as well as having failed to ensure the Cove Creek Dam being built.<ref>Hill, Ray (May 9, 2021). [https://knoxfocus.com/columnist/hill/carroll-reece-tennessees-mr-republican-pt9/ Carroll Reece: Tennessee’s ‘Mr. Republican’ Pt9]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref> Many of Reece's constituents turned against him due to his siding with private enterprise in his support of Muscle Shoals development over the government initiative to provide nitrates for farmers,<ref>Hill, Ray (June 13, 2021). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/this-weeks-focus/carroll-reece-tennessees-mr-republican-part-11/ Carroll Reece: Tennessee’s ‘Mr. Republican’ Part 11]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref> which Lovette emphasized his support for.<ref name=part7>Hill, Ray (April 25, 2021). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/ray-hills-archives/carroll-reece-tennessees-mr-republican-pt7/ Carroll Reece: Tennessee’s ‘Mr. Republican’ Pt7]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref> The incumbent congressman, who President Hoover offered to help in his sinking re-election bid, claimed that the Muscle Shoals bill introduced by Norris which emphasized a larger size and scope of the federal government "originated in Red Russia."<ref name=part7/>

Reece ran for his old seat in 1932, campaigning in part against the refusal of Lovette to maintain consistent affiliation as a Republican (Lovette ran as an "Independent Republican" in the general election, again).<ref>Hill, Ray (June 6, 2021). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/this-weeks-focus/carroll-reece-tennessees-mr-republican-part-10/ Carroll Reece: Tennessee’s ‘Mr. Republican’ Part 10]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref> During this period, although he was out of office during the time, his favorability among President Hoover ensured that patronage and significant influence went through his hands rather than Lovette's.<ref name=part12>Hill, Ray (June 20, 2021). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/this-weeks-focus/carroll-reece-tennessees-mr-republican-pt12/ Carroll Reece: Tennessee’s ‘Mr. Republican’ Pt12]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref> Reece narrowly re-emerged successfully and defeated Lovette,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=300747 TN District 01 Race - Nov 08, 1932]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref> who in turn claimed [[voter fraud]]. An investigation by a House subcommittee uncovered some "questionable" election procedures practices, though Reece was ultimately seated.<ref>Hill, Ray (July 25, 2021). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/this-weeks-focus/carroll-reece-tennessees-mr-republican-part-14/ Carroll Reece: Tennessee’s ‘Mr. Republican’ Part 14]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref>

However, the landslide defeats the GOP suffered nationally that year would mark the start of solid Democratic control in the federal government as the [[Great Depression]] continued.<ref name=part12/> Reece continued being re-elected consecutively until unsuccessfully running for an open Senate seat in 1948; afterwards he returned to the House yet again and continued serving until his death. According to Tennessee historian Ray Hill, a historian who writes for ''The Knoxville Focus'':<ref name=knoxvillefocuspart13>Hill, Ray (July 18, 2021). [https://knoxfocus.com/columnist/carroll-reece-tennessees-mr-republican-part-13/ Carroll Reece: Tennessee’s ‘Mr. Republican’ Part 13]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved March 2, 2022.</ref>
{{cquote|Reece never forgot why he had lost to Oscar B. Lovette in 1930; following his return to the House of Representatives, Carroll Reece became a supporter of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Reece frequently voted against the majority of his fellow Republicans, many of whom disliked the very notion of the TVA, to support the Tennessee Valley Authority. When asked why he didn’t go along with his party, Carroll Reece candidly replied no politician in Tennessee could survive politically by opposing the TVA. Reece had fought the bill sponsored by Senator [[George W. Norris]] of Nebraska, while Second District Congressman [[J. Will Taylor]] had supported it. Reece had lost his seat in Congress because of his opposition while the controversial Taylor had continued to hang on to his seat.}}