Ronald E. McNair Program

Arron Buchanan

SCHOOL:  University of Mississippi    MAJOR:  Accountancy     MENTOR:   Dr. Tonya K. Flesher    EXPECTED GRADUATION DATE:  May, 2000    ORGANIZATIONS & HONORS:  Beta Alpha Psi (Accountancy Honary -V. Pres.) Order of Omega Lambda Sigma Ole Miss Ambassadors D.A.R.E. Role Model Golden Key NAACP Tutor Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  (President)

 On August 29, 1881, Byron Patton Harrison was born in Crystal Springs, MS, a small town with a population of 2000.  However, this small rural town could not have imagined the political force it contained.  Harrison began his political career after achieving minor success as a lawyer.  He received his first bid as District Attorney and in six years became a member of the United States House of Representatives.  In 1919, Harrison took his seat in the United States Senate.

 In the Senate, Harrison was termed the most admired member.  He was a man of witty words and came fully prepared for every meeting.  In 1932, Harrison was rewarded by his peers and elected as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.  Immediately, he went to work on tax legislation and tariffs.  He engineered the New Deal tax legislation; was active in passing the Lend-Lease Bill; helped stopped the wealth sharing tax bill in 1936; and dismantled the undistributed profits tax measure in 1937.

 Harrison’s strong stance against taxing the poor and paying high tariffs proved to be his vehicle into Tax Accounting History books.  His clashes with administration over tax theories are still sounding out today.  The controversy over whether the rich or the poor should pay higher taxes is still at the center of America’s attention.  By studying the tax contributions of  Senator Harrison, the importance of tax legislation is revealed.  Tax laws affect government revenues, taxpayer’s living income, and the strength of the national economy.

 The contributions of Senator Harrison to America’s tax laws are an important part of American history.  His hard work and struggles with political and corporate figures journey through the closing of World War I; Roosevelt’s New Deal; and the Depression.  In addition, his contributions lay the foundation for America’s future.  It is the existing tax legislation that will provide our present political leaders with knowledge and statistics to help determine more efficient tax laws to spread America’s wealth and to strengthen our economy.