Carey Stewart Cezar, the retired nurse from Baltimore who is descended from one of the legislators behind the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, has expressed her disapproval towards President Trump's recent announcement on imposing duties on goods imported into the United States. The act, which was signed by then-President Herbert Hoover during the Great Depression, is widely believed to have worsened the economic downturn and set off a trade war. Cezar, who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in last year's presidential election, believes that Trump's tariffs are "terrible" and potentially devastating. She emphasizes on people not remembering all the harm caused by tariffs in history.
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 was a significant piece of legislation during its time, increasing duties and leading to a trade war that many historians believe exacerbated the effects of the Great Depression. The act is considered one of the most controversial tariff acts ever enacted by Congress, as it not only increased import taxes but also set off a series of retaliatory measures from other countries.
Cezar's great-grandfather was Rep. Willis C. Hawley who sponsored the act with Sen. Reed Smoot. The law has been part of her family history and education, as she learned about it during her childhood. Her mother was "deeply embarrassed" by the association, which highlights the negative connotations associated with the act even within families that were directly involved in its creation.
The mention of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act in popular culture through movies like 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' has further reinforced the public perception of it as a failed policy decision. The comparison made by economics professor Doug Irwin, who stated that Trump's expansive tariffs are "bigger than Smoot-Hawley," highlights the concern among experts about the potential impact of such policies on global trade and economic stability.
In conclusion, Carey Stewart Cezar's opposition to President Trump's recent announcement on imposing duties on imported goods is rooted in her family history with the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930. Her perspective serves as a reminder of the potential harm that tariffs can cause and highlights the importance of learning from past mistakes when making policy decisions.
[Original Article](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/smoot-hawley-tariff-act-relative-rcna199405) #great-grandfather [Visit GhostAI](https://ghostai.pro/)
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