Wilbur Mills

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Wilbur Daigh Mills (May 24, 1909 – May 2, 1992) was an American Democratic politician and lawyer who represented Arkansas's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 until his retirement in 1977. As chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee from 1958 to 1974, he was often called "the most powerful man in Washington". Born in Kensett, Arkansas, Mills began a legal career after attending Harvard Law School. He served as the youngest ever county judge of his native White County, Arkansas, then won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1938, the youngest elected from Arkansas. As the youngest chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Mills was the Congressional architect in establishing Medicare. He was also the architect of the Tax Reform Act of 1969, lowering rates on the poor, raising rates on the rich, and creating the alternative minimum tax, as well as a strong advocate for infrastructure projects, especially the Interstate Highway...

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