born Nov. 5, 1901, Colorado, Texas, U.S.
died Nov. 14, 1972, Lufkin, Texas
U.S. politician.
He received a law degree from National University in Washington, D.C. in 1920. After practicing law in Texas, he won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (1931–45, 1953–59). Though originally a supporter of the New Deal , by 1937 he had turned against it. In 1938 he was named chairman of the newly created House Un-American Activities Committee ; popularly known as the Dies Committee, it pursued alleged communist subversives in New Deal agencies and labour unions. Wheareas conservatives applauded the exposure of supposedly disloyal government and union officials, liberals accused Dies of smearing reputations with unproved charges.