Harold Knutson (October 20, 1880 - August 21, 1953) was a Norwegian-born Member of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota, serving from 1917-1949, until he was defeated in 1948. In his last term, he served as the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
Harold Knutson became the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee after the Republicans gained control of Congress in 1946. Like the majority of Republicans, Knutson was against the continued occupation of Germany.
Literary comment
Knutson isn't named as the Chairman, but the Point of Divergence would not have affected leading House positions by this point in the story.
