Cordell Hull was an outstanding US politician, who received the 1945 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the creation of the United Nations. The longest serving US Secretary of State, he began his career in politics as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Eventually, he was elected to the US House of Representative, representing the Fourth Tennessee District for 22 years, out of which he served a member of the House Ways and Means Committee for 18 years. Appointed Secretary of State in 1933, he played a vital role in the success of the Good Neighbor Policy and called for a reversal of high tariff barriers, which in turn enhanced international trade. The Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act he helped to pass set the pattern for tariff reduction on a most-favored-nation basis, becoming a precursor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.  However, he is best remembered for his role in the formation in the United Nations, being described by Franklin Roosevelt as the Father of the United Nations for his contributions.