Charles Curtis

Charles Curtis
Strauss Peyton, Kansas City, Missouri · Public domain · source
Name	Charles Curtis
Order	31st
President	Herbert Hoover

Charles Curtis was a prominent American politician who served as the 31st Vice President of the United States under Herbert Hoover from 1929 to 1933. Born on January 25, 1860, in Topeka, Kansas, Curtis was of Kaw Nation and European-American descent, making him the first person with significant Native American ancestry to hold the office of Vice President. He was a member of the Republican Party and previously served in the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives, representing the state of Kansas. Curtis's life and career were marked by his involvement in Kansas politics and his relationships with notable figures such as Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.

● Early Life and Education

Charles Curtis was born in Topeka, Kansas, to Orren Curtis and Ellen Pappan Curtis, a Kaw Nation woman. His early life was influenced by his Native American heritage and his experiences growing up in Kansas during the late 19th century. Curtis attended Topeka High School and later studied law at University of Kansas, where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He was admitted to the Kansas Bar in 1881 and began practicing law in Topeka. Curtis's early career was marked by his involvement in Kansas politics, including his election to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1892, where he served alongside other notable politicians such as William Allen White and Arthur Capper.

● Career

Curtis's career in politics spanned several decades and included service in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1892, representing Kansas's 4th congressional district. Curtis later served in the United States Senate, where he was a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and worked to improve the lives of Native Americans, including those in the Kaw Nation and the Osage Nation. He was also a strong supporter of the Federal Reserve System and worked closely with other notable politicians, including Nelson Aldrich and Carter Glass. Curtis's career was marked by his relationships with other prominent politicians, including Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Calvin Coolidge.

● Vice Presidency

Curtis was elected as the 31st Vice President of the United States in 1928, serving under Herbert Hoover from 1929 to 1933. During his time in office, Curtis played an important role in supporting the policies of the Hoover administration, including the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act and the Federal Farm Board. He also worked to promote the interests of Native Americans and was a strong supporter of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, which granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States. Curtis's vice presidency was marked by his relationships with other notable figures, including Owen Roberts and Charles Evans Hughes, and his involvement in significant events such as the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the Bonus Army march on Washington, D.C..

● Personal Life

Curtis was married to Annie Elizabeth Baird Curtis and had two daughters, Permelia Curtis and Leona Curtis. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was involved in various charitable organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America and the American Red Cross. Curtis was also a strong supporter of education and was involved in the establishment of several schools and universities, including Washburn University and Kansas State University. His personal life was marked by his relationships with other notable figures, including Eleanor Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, and his involvement in significant events such as the 1928 Republican National Convention and the 1932 Republican National Convention.

● Legacy

Curtis's legacy is marked by his contributions to Kansas politics and his role as a prominent Native American figure in American politics. He was a strong supporter of Native American rights and worked to improve the lives of Native Americans throughout his career. Curtis's legacy is also marked by his relationships with other notable figures, including Theodore Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover, and his involvement in significant events such as the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression. Today, Curtis is remembered as an important figure in American history, and his legacy continues to be celebrated in Kansas and throughout the United States. He is commemorated by the Charles Curtis House in Topeka, Kansas, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is operated by the Kansas Historical Society. Category:Vice Presidents of the United States