Charles Curtis
Charles Curtis (January 25, 1860 – February 8, 1936) was an American politician. He was the 31st vice president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 under President Herbert Hoover. Before becoming vice president, he had been a senator and a representative from Kansas.
Charles Curtis | |
|---|---|
Curtis in 1931 | |
| 31st Vice President of the United States | |
| In office March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933 | |
| President | Herbert Hoover |
| Preceded by | Charles G. Dawes |
| Succeeded by | John Nance Garner |
| 2nd United States Senate Majority Leader | |
| In office March 9, 1925 – March 4, 1929 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Cabot Lodge |
| Succeeded by | James E. Watson |
| President pro tempore of the United States Senate | |
| In office December 4, 1911 – December 12, 1911 | |
| Preceded by | Augustus O. Bacon |
| Succeeded by | Augustus O. Bacon |
| United States Senator from Kansas | |
| In office January 29, 1907 – March 4, 1913 March 4, 1915 – March 4, 1929 | |
| Preceded by | Alfred W. Benson Joseph L. Bristow |
| Succeeded by | William H. Thompson Henry J. Allen |
| U.S. Representative from Kansas | |
| In office March 4, 1893 – January 28, 1907 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 25, 1860 Topeka, Kansas |
| Died | February 8, 1936 (aged 76) Washington, D.C. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Annie Elizabeth Baird Curtis (died on June 20, 1924) |
| Children | Permelia Jeannette Curtis, Henry "Harry" King Curtis, Leona Virginia Curtis |
Curtis, the only Native American vice president in American history, was a member of the Kaw Nation. Curtis was the first vice president of color, the other being Vice President Kamala Harris. Curtis called himself "one-eighth Kaw Indian and a one-hundred percent Republican." In 1900, Kaw Chief Washungah called Curtis "one of our own men."[1]
Curtis grew up in Kansas and spoke the Kaw language. While he was in government, Curtis did some good things for Native Americans but some bad things. In 1898, he sponsored the Curtis Act of 1898, which took power away from tribal leaders.[1]
Charles Curtis Media
Portrait by C. M. Bell c. 1893–1894
Senator Curtis (right) with President Coolidge and First Lady Grace Coolidge on their way to the Capitol building on Inauguration Day, March 4, 1925
Curtis served as deputy to then–Senate Majority Leader Henry Cabot Lodge (R-MA), shown here in 1921, and would succeed him upon Lodge's death in 1924.
Portrait by Harris & Ewing c. 1929–1933
Prime Minister Ramsay Macdonald and British Ambassador Esmé Howard greeted by Vice President Curtis at the United States Capitol, 1929
Vice President Curtis receives a peace pipe from the Lakota Red Tomahawk, slayer of Sitting Bull.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Christine Hauser (November 10, 2020). "Before Harris, This Vice President Broke a Racial Barrier". New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/10/us/politics/charles-curtis-vice-president.html?action=click&algo=bandit-all-surfaces&block=more_in_recirc&fellback=false&imp_id=291588925&impression_id=4ece75c0-24eb-11eb-9ec4-f934bdc67534&index=1&pgtype=Article®ion=footer&req_id=834237316&surface=more-in-politics. Retrieved November 12, 2020.