Willis Chatman Hawley (May 5, 1864 – July 24, 1941) was an American politician and educator in the state of Oregon. A native of the state, he would serve as president of Willamette UniversityinSalem, 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 Act in 1930.
Willis C. Hawley
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 1st 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 Monroe, Oregon |
| Died | July 24, 1941(1941-07-24) (aged 77) Salem, Oregon |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Willamette University |
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Hawley was born on a farm in the old Belknap settlement near MonroeinBenton 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 from Willamette UniversityinSalem, 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 along with a Bachelor of Laws from the law department.[1]
Next, he served as president of the Oregon State Normal School at Drain south of Eugene from 1888–1891.[1] During this time he earned a master's degree from Willamette in 1890 and the following year joined the faculty at his alma mater.[1] 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.[3]
Then, he engaged in a variety of business and educational ventures before entering politics.[3] Hawley became a member of the National Forest Reservation Commission and a member of the Special Committee on Rural Credits created by Congress in 1915.[3] 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.[3]
Hawley won Oregon's 1st Congressional District as a Republican in 1906.[3] He was then re-elected every two years to Congress for the next 12 sessions of Congress.[3] Hawley served in Washington, 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 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.[3]
Hawley was defeated in his bid for renomination to his House seat in 1932, 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 interred at that city's City View Cemetery.[3]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | U.S. Representative of Oregon's 1st Congressional District 1907–1933 |
Succeeded by |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by | President of Willamette University 1891–1902 |
Succeeded by |
