From 1903 to 1907 , Hull served as a local judge ; later he was elected to the United States House of Representatives where he served 11 terms ( 1907 – 1921 and 1923 – 1931 ) totaling 22 years . As a member of the powerful Ways and Means committee , he fought for low tariffs and claimed authorship of the federal income tax laws of 1913 and 1916 and the inheritance tax of 1916 . After his defeat in the congressional election of 1920 , he served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee . He was one of several candidates for president at the 1928 Democratic National Convention , which ultimately chose Al Smith as nominee . Hull was influential in advising Albert Gore , Sr. , then a state legislator , to run for the U.S. Congress in 1938
1928 Democratic National Convention
1928 Democratic National Convention
Cordell Hull