McReynolds, Samuel Davis, 1872-1939

Criminal judge for the 6th judicial district, Tennessee, 1903-1923; and U.S. representative from Tennessee, 1923-1939.

Samuel Davis McReynolds (1872-1939) was a criminal judge for the 6th judicial district, Tennessee, 1903-1923; and United States representative from Tennessee, 1923-1939. McReynolds was born in Pikeville, Tenn., to Isaac Stephens McReynolds and Virginia Adeline Davis McReynolds. He attended People's College in Pikeville and Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn. He studied law for a year with James B. Frazier of Chattanooga, Tenn., later governor and United States senator.

In 1893, McReynolds practiced law in Pikeville, Tenn., soon becoming assistant district attorney of the old 6th judicial circuit. In 1895, he moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., where he formed a partnership with Judge John H. Cantrell. In 1903, McReynolds's former mentor, James B. Frazier, appointed him judge of the recently established criminal court of the 6th judicial circuit.

McReynolds served as a United States representative from Tennessee, 1923-1939. During his tenure, he served on the Immigration and Naturalization Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee. He was a delegate to the International Monetary and Economic Conference held in London, England, 1933. He also was instrumental in passing the Johnson Debt Default Act, by which the American money market was closed to the securities of nations in default on their debts to the United States or her citizens.

McReynolds's most significant work was that of administation spokesman in the House during the debates over neutrality legislation, 1935-1937. He advocated that a maximum of discretion should be left to the president in any such law. In the 1937 Neutrality Act, McReynolds was largely credited with retaining, over Senate objection, a provision giving the president power to decide whether of not to invoke cash and carry requirements on exports of other than war goods to belligerents.

McReynolds was married twice: in 1905 to Jennie Hutchins of Wincester, Tenn., who died in 1908; and in 1910 to Mary Caldwell Davenport, daughter of R. B. Davenport, a wholesale dry goods merchant of Chattanooga, Tenn. By his second marriage he had a daughter, Margaret Henriette.